Bo Burnham and depression (+Inside his “Inside”)

This article will discuss Bo Burnham, the comedian that made a special show called “Inside”, in which he depicts his depressive state. The article also explained who Bo Burnham is.

Bo Burnham and depression 

Bo Burnham, released in 2021, a special show called “Inside”. In it, the comedian plays himself, but in a way that made his fans worried about the state of his mental health. 

Throughout the special, which was recorded during the COVID-19 isolation period, he depicts a man that is struggling with isolation, and feels like he is trapped inside.

Little by little, his emotional condition deteriorates to a point he becomes completely self-conscious, his beard grows, and he is lying in bed all day, just eating cereal. It is not possible to know if Bo Burnham is really struggling with depression, what is known is that he has been dealing with severe anxiety for many years.

But through this Netflix special, many questions were raised. Even though the reality in the show is of Bo Burnham living in a small space, he is still a famous celebrity, known comedian, that has a long time girlfriend that lives with him, and two dogs. Is it possible that any of the feelings shown in the show are real?

It could be. People may be stars, have many fans, financial stability, and still struggle with depression, and other mental health issues. It also leaves us with the question of how much of the show is a true portrayal of depression. 

And even though it may be different from one person to the next, there are some matters that appear on “Inside” that pretty much anyone struggling with depression can relate to. The first thing is how depression makes everything sort of a performance.

In the show, at some point, Bo Burnham is so depressed that he has trouble changing, in his performance, from one line to the next. This can make us think about how everything, when you are depressed, seems to be acted out. 

You will hardly have the thought, or energy to do something. Rather than that, you can often be taken over by the “fake it until you make” strategy.

You go to work, talk to people, and try to interact in the way you think you should. You do that because when you are depressed you feel that, if it was as you wished, you wouldn’t do anything. You wouldn’t get out of bed, and you wouldn’t want to even exist.

Through the show, and the soundtrack that Bo Burnham created, people that have struggled with depression can also relate when he talks about “the funny feelings”. The comedian refers to that, in one of the songs, to that feeling one can get when they feel depression is just around the corner, and is starting to cripple in.

When you get that funny feeling, you may begin to feel that you are living just for the losses depression brings: the loss of energy, the loss of the ability to feel pleasure, loss of motivation, and even the loss of function. He depicts that when you are depressed, everything will turn into pain.

In another song the comedian wrote to fit the special, called “Hands Up (All Eyes on Me)”, he talks about something that seems to be extremely common in people struggling with depression. The ambivalence in which they perceive other people’s attention. 

Most people, when they are depressed, may want their loved ones, and people around them to look at them in a supportive manner. You can feel you are close to the edge, and may want others to give you a hand out of this horrible situation. 

But at the same time, you can feel that if you need to ask for attention, it may mean that your pain is not really that bad.

And this tends to attach to the idea that many people with depression can have, that they are worthless, and don’t deserve the help of others. So when others direct that attention towards you, you may not even know what to do. It is a constant battle between wanting the attention, and being terrified when you finally get it.

Through the special it may not be possible to get a deep reflection on the emotional state of Bo Burnham, and maybe this is not the most important thing on this piece of art. Rather than that, praising the importance of a show that puts itself to explore the darkest of the emotional states. 

This can lead many people to understand more about mental health, and depression. And because of that, many may have become aware of their condition. When it was made and released, the world was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and it had a huge emotional toll on people.

By making this very explicit show, in which the character feels the isolation deep down in their core, many may have related to the last years we spent, locked in our houses, fearing the unknown, and unable to deal with what was happening in the world.

Who is Bo Burnham?

Bo Burnham is a comedian, rapper, musician, and singer born in 1990 in the United States. He has become famous because of his Youtube videos, in 2006. His videos have had more than 169 million views. 

In 2008 he signed his first contract with Comedy Central, and in it he released his first EP. He went on to release other albums with the company, and later on he wrote some MTV shows, and signed a contract with Netflix, where he released the special “Inside”. 

The special was critically acclaimed, and won 3 Emmy Awards, and even the Grammy Awards for the songs he wrote for the special.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Is Bo Burnham depressed? 

What is derealization?

Derealization is a mental condition that causes the person to feel detached from their surroundings. When a person is going through that, they may feel like people and objects that are surrounding them are not real. 

And even though pretty much everyone will experience this on some level during their lifetime, it is not something that should go on for long.

You can be experiencing derealization when you feel like you are in a dream, or you feel like a wall or a veil is separating you from reality. Derealization can also lead you to feel like the world is lifeless, muted, or even fake. You can also see things as if they are blurred, bigger, or smaller than what they are in reality. 

As for sounds, when you are experiencing derealization, it can make you feel a distorted sound, and they can become too loud, or even too soft. Your perception of time can also change, you can feel like it is moving too slow, or even too fast.

It often can be related to dementia, seizures, or when a person abuses the use of drugs. Other mental health issues such as panic attacks, schizophrenia, and even depression can lead you to experience derealization. 

It can also be triggered by some situations such as physical or sexual abuse, traumatic experiences, such as the death of a loved one, or even being affected by a natural disaster. As well as having PTSD.

What is the difference between dissociation and depersonalization? 

Both states talk about states of altered reality, but in dissociation we are talking about a state in which the person feels detached from the things that are surrounding them. As for depersonalization, it refers to a feeling of being detached from your own body, or identity.

They both can be a response from a traumatic event, or a reaction to dealing with things that you feel you can’t deal with emotionally. But sometimes it may also be related to a chemical imbalance in the person’s brain.

What is a fuzzy brain?

The fuzzy brain, which is also known as brain fog, is a condition that causes the person to have a lack of clarity, memory, and difficulty focusing. It can happen when the person is going through intense stress, or is having sleeping problems, or have even been spending too much time facing screens.

A fuzzy brain will lead you to experience insomnia, headaches, low energy levels, or even become fatigued. It can also have a negative impact on your mood, making you more irritable, making you less motivated, and even a little depressed.

To help you cope with a fuzzy brain you should spend less time facing screens, and focus on doing more things you enjoy, as a way to help you cope with stress. Having a good diet will also help you feel more nourished, and energized. The same is true for exercising and avoiding stimulant drinks closer to your bedtime.

Aside from that, having a more positive outlook in life, and managing stress in a better manner can also help you cope with a fuzzy brain.

How can I stop bottling my feelings? 

The first thing you need to do to allow yourself to express your emotions is naming them, which will allow them to have a shape. Writing about what you are feeling can also be a way for you to put your feelings out, even if you don’t know the exact name of what you are feeling.

In trying to externalize your feelings, you can try talking to someone. It can be a friend, or even a therapist that will maybe help you look at things from a different perspective. You can also keep yourself active to improve your mood, and help you see what is upsetting you differently.

You can also try to understand where your emotions are coming from, so you can begin to understand how to deal with the matter. And finally, find a way to deal with your emotions. You can try to externalize it through art, so it doesn’t eat up on you.

How can I find emotional healing?

The first thing to do towards healing is to look at yourself through a compassionate eye. And be appreciative for what you have done so far. Keep in mind that you don’t need to heal all at once, and that you shouldn’t do it alone. 

You should also know that healing is not linear, so it is not everyday that you will feel great, but it is important to support yourself through the pain.

Conclusion 

This article centered on discussing the comedian Bo Burnham. It showed how he depicted a depressive state in his special show “Inside”. The article also explained who Bo Butnham is.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write it in the section below.

References

https://pt.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Burnham

https://slate.com/culture/2021/06/problem-with-bo-burnham-inside.html

https://www.allarts.org/2021/07/bo-burnham-inside-genz-mental-health-crisis/amp/

https://themighty.com/2021/06/inside-bo-burnham-mental-health-depression/