Porter Robinson shares how depression made him feel (+And he is dealing with it)

This article will center on Porter Robison, and how the musician has struggled with depression and self-doubt to a point it made it hard for him to keep working. The article will show how he says he managed to get out of it, and what he managed to create ever since.

Porter Robinson shares how depression made him feel

Porter Robinson, a known artist, and music producer has stated how dealing with the success of his first album had an impact on his mental health. The album in question was Worlds, released in 2014. 

Through 2015 and 2017, he dealt with depression and persistent self-doubt. He has stated that the first few years after the first album he just kept trying to prove to himself that he could release an album, but it just made him even more anxious and trapped in a dark place.

This all seemed to start after his first work was critically and publicly acclaimed, and it even reached position 97 on Billboard’s list of Greatest Albums of the 2010s. But that was something he may have never imagined would happen. After it, he felt like he wouldn’t be able to make music again.

But with time, especially with the release of a mini-album with his friend Madeon, in 2017, he began to feel like being back at work again was possible. They released the album and performed in some places, such as Coachella to end their collaboration. And when they were done Porter felt like he could go back to his solo work.

He focused on it, and by 2021 he released Nurture, his second album. This was a lot different than the first one, and it even came with the tagline “everything we need is already here”. He said that differently from the first one which had a more dreamlike aura, the second album was a way to deal with reality.

With it, he moved away from that place of a distorted view of himself. He said that during this time nature was what fed his reality, what showed him where he should be, and how balanced things are. And this emotional change is seen in Nurture’s songs.

There are some more uplifting songs and others that are extremely emotional. Some of them are directed at his girlfriend, and portray the sweetness of love, such as “Sweet Time”, and “Blossom”. 

Others have a more motivational tone, and seem to explain what he went through over the last years like “Musician”, and “Look at the Sky”. In the last one, he even refers to believing he tamed his self-doubt and says he can make something good.

Showing how through dealing with his music, and expressing his emotions he may have found the balance he was looking for.

Who is Porter Robinson? 

Porter Robinson, fully named Porter Weston Robinson, was born on the 15th of July, 1992, in North Carolina. He has been producing music since his childhood, and when he turned 18 he signed with a record label. In the same year, 2010, he started releasing some work.

He was accepted to university, in UNC, but didn’t attend it since he was already working on his music at the time. It was in 2014 that he became known through the release of his first album. And after a battle with depression, in 2021 he released his second album. 

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that causes the person to experience intense sadness. It also leads the person to lose interest in things, even what they used to love, and also lose their purpose. A person with depression may feel hopeless, empty, guilty, and ashamed.

They may feel less energetic and have trouble focusing. It can also lead them to low self-esteem and feel worthless. People with depression may become more irritable, and experience changes in their eating and sleeping patterns. 

It can lead the person to have a more negative view not only of themselves, but of the world in general, and they can begin to isolate themselves. In the same way, as stated by Porter, depression will lead the person to avoid, which is hard to get out of. 

To some people, depression can lead to self-harm, and even thoughts of death, and suicidal thoughts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Is Porter Robinson depressed? 

What are the most common causes of depression? 

Depression can happen because of some factors. It can be related to genetics, which means that when a person has a family history of depression, they will have a higher chance of going through it. 

Aside from that, depression may be related to a chemical imbalance in the person’s brain. When the person has a high level of some hormones, such as cortisol, and a lower level of some neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, for a prolonged period, they can develop depression.

And finally, depression can happen as a reaction to a traumatic situation. This means that when the person is going through or went through something traumatic, such as the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even being criticized for their work, they can develop depression. 

What are the best treatments for depression? 

To treat depression, usually people will go through a joint treatment with therapy, and medication. With the first one, you will be able to have a better understanding of your emotions. You may learn how to navigate them in not such a negative way, and you may even find the root of your depression.

The medication, which is usually prescribed by a psychiatrist, will allow your symptoms to be less intense, and it will also reset the chemical imbalance that may be going on in your brain. But there are also some things you may do in your day-to-day life that can help you cope with depression.

The first thing is to try and have a healthy lifestyle. This means caring for your eating and sleeping, which can help you feel more energetic. Aside from that, try to exercise, you can start even with a short walk. By doing so, you may reduce your stress levels, and feel a significant improvement in your mood.

Meditation or breathing exercises can also be extremely beneficial when you are going through depression. They can help you center yourself in your time of need. By practicing them, you may focus more on yourself than on the negative thoughts going through your mind.

Maintaining yourself close to your loved ones is also important. And even though it can be hard when you are depressed, you should try. Being with them means you will have people you can vent to.

It is also a way of distracting yourself from the misery that depression can bring, and it may even be good to see yourself from the positive perspective your loved ones see you.

And finally, you should try to open yourself up to new things. You can start to do volunteer work, or take a new hobby like gardening. Do things that can bring you some positive feelings, and that can also give you some sense of accomplishment.

How can I help a friend that is depressed?

If you have a friend that is depressed, the first thing you may want to do is talk to them. They may find it difficult to share their feelings. They can be afraid of worrying others, so they tend to just shut themselves. Ask how they are doing, don’t get in the problem-solving mode, but be supportive.

Keep in mind that more than wanting to find help, they might need someone to listen to them. And if there is an opportunity, ask about their treatment, or if they need any help finding the proper treatment. 

You may also ask them what have been the hardest moments for them. For example, if they say that they haven’t been eating because they don’t have the energy to cook, this is a way you can help. 

Go have a meal with them, or do their groceries. Be supportive, and try to be present, be it physically, or even virtually. With your support, the support of the rest of their network, and the proper treatment, they may feel better soon.

Can self-doubt lead to suicide? 

It can be that self-doubt has such a huge emotional impact on the person that can lead them to consider suicide. Self-doubt is commonly related to depression. That is because the condition tends to make you feel worthless, leading you to question your ability to do anything.

If this goes on for a prolonged period, and you feel paralyzed by it. Like you can’t move past your self-doubt, at some point you may start to think about ending everything. And even if you are just wishing to move away from this loop of negative thinking, at some point you may feel the impulse and act on it.

So if you feel depressed, and have a sense that you have been doubting yourself too much, you may want to look for professional help.

What are suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts, also called suicidal ideation, are thoughts a person may have around ending their own life. It can happen in two manners, a more passive one, and a more active one. The first one can lead the person to think about how it would be to end their life, but they have no concrete plan around it.

The second form is more active and leads the person to plan how, when, or where they would end their lives. This tends to be a more dangerous suicidal thought since the person may act on it in an impulsive moment. 

It is important to know that when a person is having suicidal thoughts, there may be signs in their behavior. They can begin to act more agitated and become irritable. Their sleeping patterns will change, and they may get insomnia. 

Aside from that, they may start to give away their belongings, and say goodbye to their loved ones. When they are contemplating suicide, they can start to show intense curiosity about violent facts, death, and even suicide when it comes up on the news or tv.

Conclusion 

This article showed how the artist Porter Robinson experienced depression after the release of his first album. It explained how it made it hard for him to work because he had a lot of self-doubts, and how he managed to overcome them.

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

References

Electronic artist Porter Robinson opens up about creative drought, depression on new album

Porter Robinson discusses depression in new interview, feared he, ‘wouldn’t be able to ever make music again’

https://edm.com/.amp/news/porter-robinson-opens-up-about-overcoming-depression-to-produce-nurture

Amidst Success As a DJ, Depression Crippled Porter Robinson