Did Jim Morrison have depression?

In this blog we will discuss Jim Morrison’s mental health history and depression. 

Did Jim Morrison have depression?

Many people, fans and biographers, speculate that Jim Morrison had what is known as “Clinical despair” by philosophers and what we now know as clinical depression.

It is not officially known whether Morrison had depression or not however in the interview on The Guardian, Robby Krieger one of the key players of The Doors argued that:

“I think Jim had some real mental issues – manic depression, or whatever.”

Writers at Rolling stone Mangazine also noted that some witnesses reported that Morrison sometimes lapsed into depression where he was unable to create and would often take to writing suicide notes.

Jim Morrison was the famed front- man of the rock band The Doors. He had attained fame very young, and had lived a lavish lifestyle that had been attained by fame, artistic recognition and adoration by many. 

It has to be mentioned that it is his fame, artistry, and his lifestyle that pushed him into a place in this life where he felt lost and hopeless that was caused by a full blown existential crisis. 

Morrison struggled with addiction, and what appears to be manic episodes similar to what is observed in Bipolar disorder.

Any speculation of a depression diagnosis comes from the body of Jim morrison;s work. It is widely understood- in this interviews and his lyrics or in his songwriting that Jim Morrison had been in the middle of depression during his career. Most of his work reflected not only  an identity crisis but possibly a loss of meaning and purpose in life. 

When an individual has no purpose and meaning it is easy for a person to move into despair and hopelessness about their own lives which can lead to what is known as “clinical despair” by philosophers who explored the notion of an existential crisis. 

Jim Morrison, like his favourite existential philosopher and thinker, fell victim to nihilism, and was very much influenced by existential philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. His lyrics and his poetry often touched on themes related to hopelessness, meaninglessness, and despair. 

What is depression?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a leading publication used for diagnosis of mental disorders by mental health professionals, Major depressive disorder or depression is a serious mood disorder.

Depression is marked by the following symptoms:

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day- either by their own observation or observation made by others.
• Diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia. 
• A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.

Depression symptoms also include extremely low mood and fatigue and is often accompanied by thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness which can lead to suicidal ideation and even attempts. 

Depression related symptoms such as inability to focus, lack of energy, and hopelessness can impact a person’s ability to work and meet the demands of their daily lives. 

People with depression often struggle with low self esteem and self worth which can cause them to negatively assess themselves. They may fear rejection and abandonment from other people which may cause them to isolate themselves in a bid to protect themselves.

This social withdrawal can make it difficult for them to maintain social commitments and relationships as they might choose to push people away especially when they do not have the skills to communicate and manage their emotions and thoughts. 

While these are some of the ways depression impacts a person, the disorder itself can cause the quality of life of people who have it to drastically decrease and in extreme cases, if the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to suicide attempts and death. 

How to cope and manage if you have depression?

Here are a few things you can do to cope with depression:

Seek professional help

If you have not been diagnosed, do not stick to self diagnosis based on your symptoms. Seek out professional consultations starting with your GP who can refer you to specialists in the field. 

There may be different medications- some which might work for you while others that might not help you. 

Taking time to find a doctor who can help you with estimating the right dosage of medication and the right medical treatment can make the quality of your journey to recovery drastically different. 

Reduce stress

If it’s a job that is causing you immense stress, maybe it is time to consider taking a leave of absence. Or it could be your own family environment that is causing your symptoms to flare up- consider moving out if your financial situation persists. 

The intent here is to reduce or remove the things in your life that add stress. If it is a certain relationship, taking the time to set boundaries or communicate that you are taking time out can be one way. 

By reducing stressors, the thought of waking up and facing your day may seem a little less daunting, you might even look forward to it. 

Learn and apply coping skills

If you are depressed, you can learn coping skills and techniques and apply them at least once a day when experiencing depression. 

This can be learning how to tackle your anxieties and negative moods by regulating your breathing and engaging in deep breathing techniques. 

You can also try grounding techniques to help you cope with spiralling down a negative rumination. Make goals for each day and let your goals be small, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound, 

Make plans for your day that suit your pace- if today is especially difficult, make a step by step plan from your bed to the bathroom in the mornings. Reward yourself when you succeed and be kind when you slip up. Remind yourself that you are learning. 

Exercise

Engaging in exercise, even if it is only a 15 minute stretch can be a wonderful step towards loving yourself and caring for yourself. 

You can opt for joining the gym however, if this is too much you can consider yoga or pilates that you can start gradually; you can also go for walks or runs alone or with your loved ones. 

Getting out of your house and doing something that allows you to get your blood pumping in itself can be a great way of self care. 

Eat a healthy diet

Diet is an important aspect of overall health and is an important component of maintaining a positive state of mental health. 

There has been plenty of research studies that have been linked to what we eat and higher risks of depression. Research finds that well balanced meals with adequate intake of vegetables, fruits, grain, and healthy fats are related to lower risks of depression.

Sleep well

Take time to improve your sleep hygiene. Research has found that sleep disorders are also a core symptom of depression. Irregular sleep and not enough sleep can make your healing process difficult and can even heighten the risk of relapse. 

Some of the things you can do to improve your sleep hygiene are

• Avoid substances that impact your sleep, this includes caffeine. 
• Exercise daily
• Avoid heavy dinners
• Change your sleeping environment to be more soothing and sleep inducing. 
• Make changes in your pre-sleep routine such as taking relaxing baths before sleep, avoiding gadgets two hours before sleeping time.

Connect with loved ones

Reaching out to people who love you and letting them know that you are having a hard time now, can bring you closer to people who truly love and care for you.

These are positive relationships we want and need around you as you begin your journey to recovery. Positive relationships help you discover joys and meaning to your life. 

Make plans to meet them for lunch, or go for a walk with them. Make sure you make clear what you can and cannot do and agree on something that both you and them can enjoy. 

You can also take the step to connect with other people who are coping with depression through group therapy or support groups.

Oftentimes, listening to other people’s successes can instil hope, it also gives you the opportunity to learn new perspectives of living and life along with new techniques to cope. 

Conclusion

In this blog we will discuss Jim Morrison’s mental health history and depression. 

FAQ related to jim Morrison depression

What really happened to Jim Morrison?

Jim Morrison eventually succumbed to addiction and his mental health afflictions and died due to heart failure in 1971. 

Why is Jim Morrison so popular?

Jim Morrison was the famed front- man of the rock band The Doors. He had attained fame very young, and had lived a lavish lifestyle that had been attained by fame, artistic recognition and adoration by many. 

The main reason for this adoration would be the body of his work that reflected much of what other people were also goingt through in their lives- of existential cirsis, the struggle of finding meaning and living life. 

Was Jim Morrison lonely?

Because jim Morrison was a deep thinker and a sensitive lover. It is possible that he felt alone and lonely because he was often isolated as he had no tolerance of pretence that he saw in the lives of others which made it hard for him to connect with others. 

References

Elif Ozden. The Doors Guitarist Addresses Jim Morrison’s ‘Real Mental Issues’ Rock Celebrities. Retrieved on 25th April 2022. https://rockcelebrities.net/the-doors-guitarist-addresses-jim-morrisons-real-mental-issues/

Stephen A. Diamond. The Mysterious Demise of Mr. Mojo Risin Psychology Today. Retrieved on 25th April 2022. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evil-deeds/201501/the-mysterious-demise-mr-mojo-risin

Robby Krieger Says Jim Morrison Dealt With Mental Issues. Music News. Retrieved on 25th April 2022. https://www.kwfrfm.com/2021/12/06/robby-krieger-says-jim-morrison-dealt-with-mental-issues/