Aye...this summer has been a long, warm slog :/
Yer friends understand mate

Just take care and keep enjoying drawing as we enjoy discovering every new art of yours.

We also almost melted away due to the heat. It's a good thing that it gets cooler again.

take care! the heat will go away eventually.

A few centuries after the fall of civilization should do the trick.

you mean, after the fall of mankind.

Yeah, that's totally different. Thanks for clearing that up.

I've more or less been there. A change of circumstances helped me. Is there anyplace you've dreamed of visiting?

I have a thought. You have been keeping up with the CPAP machine when you sleep, yes?

Also I echo what Karno said, and that a change of scenery might help.

Steve, is there anything folks can do to help...?

Nah, this time my intent was more of explanation of my relative inactivity rather than a petulant plea for a sympathy suck. I got to get over this on my own much more than the minor bits of egoboo I can get from my output.

Well, OK. The main reason I ask is because of bad past experience. Some years ago, a friend in the community took his life. It was very much out of left field for me and a lot of other people; if there were warning signs, they were damn near invisible. His true reasons were recently explained to me, and it's entirely possible there was nothing I or anyone else could have done. However, in the wake of that, I've vowed to at least try to be more proactive and observant of others who might be at any kind of similar risk. If you're not -- if it's just a transient state of mind -- then I apologise. Though I'd rather have to awkwardly apologise time and again for being obsequious than wake up one day to horrible news again, if you know what I mean.

Back in the really bad old days, suicide was a desireable option, but circumstances interceeded. I don't consider it anymore at all, so no worries. That being said, if in the throes of a terminal illness, that's a whole other thing. Not that I expect any drama in that direction.

You're not the only one being depressed: I'm suffering of a really nasty depression right now due of, along many factors, loneliness and the fact that I'm already turned 39 and I haven't did anything useful in my life after I graduated from university 7 years ago and it's very likely I will have to move to another country if I don't find a good job here in Mexico. In fact, my family is planing to move to Vancouver and my mom, her couple and me we are going to go there next year in April to check out how's Vancouver life is.

Obviously enough, moving to another country will be a very drastic decision, but I need to do something with my life and staying here in Mexico will likely not going to help me at all, especially when I grow old and weak to work at all.

Take care, hopefully this dreadful summer ends soon.

Take care, you bronze war god!

I'd like to talk to you about this, but it seems you don't like me much.

From personal experience I will tell you this; Depression, kit comes, it goes, but mainly it blows.

Lack of motivation I got a lot. I want to advance on writing/fixing my main story but I just do other stuff and not writing much.

Sorry to hear you're 'under the weather,' so to speak.

I know there's another reason, too, but I'll keep my peace.

Echoing everyone else, I am sorry that you're feeling as you are. Truse me, I know and understand all too well.

And here I go...Steve, take steps and be seen by a psychiatrist and/or your doctor. Depression literally wears your body down besides your mental health. Yeah, it probably means medication, but despite how meds for mental health are looked at, it can literally save your life.

I'm speaking from experience. My own depression ran for my whole life, add to that anxiety, and it was a nasty cocktail.

Please, go seek medical help. I've lost many friends, I don't want to add another too the list.



-- Lia

I'm on meds now, but being a fat old man in atypically warm weather makes me miserable. Visiting friends would complain about how unheated the house was in the cooler seasons. 65F is my preferred temp, maybe 68F. Anything above about 75F gets uncomfortable, doubly so with higher humidity. We've had temps regularly in the 80sF for much of the summer.

Good you've gotten help. So it's just the weather getting you down? :(


-- Lia

You could look through FA to look for al lthe wannabe storywriters and offer advice.
Not only will that be a neverending task, but, too, ...
WRYYY!
Help from a Profi?
I barely dared posting my old shortstory of the God under the Ice in Baen's Slush-pile!

Besides, as the others say: The weather will become better again.

I would not be very good at that, as I don't have a lot of insight on what makes for good writing. I just go with my gut on what seems to work. There are some basics, but beyond that, it gets awfully subjective.

Albedo was where my road started with Furry (and in many ways, comic collecting period). I know you have it in you to get past this, and I'll be rooting for you from the other end of our shared continent. Collecting and enjoying your work got me through some of the crappiest times of my life, certainly of my adolescence, and I'm more than proud to still be an Ermanoid. ^_^

-2Paw.

I too started furry with Albedo. Mine was #3. I would like to think you have a page of a retirement ceremony for Erma if you ever get out of comics. I do wonder one thing, though. is the song right? is it in fact better to Burn out or Fade away?
what then are the benifits to each one?

Well, it's hard to stay motivated. Maybe take a break, maybe examine what you've done and what you'd change.

*Nods* I dig, I hate the heat, Goddess alone knows why I keep movin' to deserts. Hopefully when the heat vacates, you'll feel better.

It could be worse. We don't have to deal with oppressive humidity on top of the heat, unlike those poor unfortunate souls east of the Mississippi. It's a nice dry heat here in the Pac NW

I agree with you on the heat, I've been parked next to the AC most of the summer, spending my days online.
Hope you can find something to help you recharge and fight the apathy, I've been keeping my sanity by watching videos to make me laugh while I wait for the weather to cool.

Hopefully the winter will invigorate you. Just keep treating that depression with meds, sunshine, exercise and activity!

Hoping for the Zootopia sequel to spark that creative streak, perhaps. Sticky humid heat doesn't help in the mood much either. Fall after Indian Summer should be a comfortable time.

Houston has it worst.

Sometimes you need to kick back, relax, and have an iced tea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2L84dvoag

I was just about to write that journal myself, but you beat me to it.

You're not alone in that - I'm equally inactive and with the on-off depressions making my life colourful.
There's only one cure, walk until tired every day. If you have the energy, socialise as well, just for a cuppa coffee and a short natter.
All the best.

Long walks and getting out in public is part of my recovery, yes. The hottest weather precluded that for a while.

Bring lots of water and wear a nice hat works there I find.

Man it's been stupid hot around Seattle. I've been struggling to get anything done too and I like it hot.

Yeah, there is merely a bit sultry, then there is sweat-shower hot.

One of the things that really helped me was when I started taking St. John's Wort, you'd be suprized how strong some of these herbal supplements are. As for the heat, it's pretty nice up here in Southeast Alaska. Lots of rain in some places, but it is a very rare occasion to get anything over 75f, even on a sunny day. You could get a dog as a hiking buddy, go fishing, ect. Basically it sounds like you need the proverbial midlife crisis. It's never too late to change, to get fit, to find that spark of life.

Never give up, Never surrender.

For what it's worth you've done some brilliant art during the last few years on FA – not just your time before where created all that stuff – you're still making great art!

I find that having (measurably achievable) goals helps keep the depression bear away.

E.G., age 40 to 50 was getting the inking skills back i had in my 20s (before going into animation biz and doing nothing but pencils for 15+ yrs...) and then trying to move further. 50 to 58 has been trying to learn to paint realistically (James Gurney's “Color and Light” was a life raft/bridge/etc) – and having a graphic novel to or two to do...having goals with visible progress keeps the bear at bay for me.

And a regular stupid day job (retired from animation 16 yrs ago <16 hrs per day 7 days a week at a desk – no thanks>) where people depend on me being there – that helps too – gets me out of my head, socialized, chatting with people, helping others...Mentoring a few artists...Working on music, cooking, online chat with old friends..walking in the woods...reading a good book, watching as good movie, listening to amazing music – it all helps motivation and positive chemicals flowing. The bear is always there...doubt, loneliness...working to move forward is also always there – almost as bad as the bear...

i yatter. Just want you to feel well and happy

I try and get at least one Thing done a day. Might be typing a letter, doing housework, doing the weekly Couch Kitties strip, doing something. Sitting around brooding is the worst thing to be doing, though.

i sorry you're feeling like this, i hope it'll be a little better soon ;-; <333

This are better since then. If nothing else, summer heat is over, and I'm slowly getting back up to speed. And how are you doing? Our favorite little Squirgle.

I'm not as active on FA as I was before, so I'm only reading this now. Sorry to hear about the chronic depression, I know how that goes... Hope you get your creative mojo back again with a little time!