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Bruce Springsteen, 71, has struggled with his mental health in the past. He revealed in an interview with Esquire, “I’ve had to deal with a lot of it over the years.” In recent years, Springsteen has been on a variety of medications, which he says “keep [him] on an even keel”.
He added: “Otherwise I can swing rather dramatically and…just…the wheels can come off a little bit.
“I have come close enough to [depression] where I know I am not completely well myself.”
In the same interview he discussed his family’s mental health history.
His father, Doug, was diagnosed with schizophrenia later in his life.
“All I do know is as we age, the weight of four unsorted baggage becomes heavier,” he said:
“With each passing year, the price of our refusal to do that sorting rises higher and higher.
“Long ago, the defences I built to withstand the stress of my childhood, to save what I had of myself, outlived their usefulness, and I’ve become an abuser of their once lifesaving powers.
“I relied on them wrongly to isolate myself, seal my alienation, cut me off from life, control others, and contain my emotions to a damaging degree. Now the bill collector is knocking, and his payment will be in tears.”
Depression is more than simple feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days, according to the NHS.
It explains: “Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you’re depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.
“Some people think depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They’re wrong – it is a real illness with real symptoms. Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can “snap out of” by ‘pulling yourself together’.
“The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a full recovery.”
The symptoms of depression can be complex and vary widely between people.
Psychological symptoms may include continuous low mood or sadness, feeling tearful, having no motivation or interest in things, and feeling irritable and intolerant of others.
Physical symptoms include moving or speaking more slowly than usual, unexplained aches and pains, and low sex drive.
Social symptoms include avoiding contact with friends and taking part in fewer social activities, neglecting your hobbies and interests, and having difficulties in your home, work or family life.
Doctors usually describe depression by how serious it is:
Mild depression – has some impact on your daily life Moderate depression – has a significant impact on your daily life Severe depression – makes it almost impossible to get through daily life; a few people with severe depression may have psychotic symptoms
If you experience the symptoms of depression you should speak to your GP.
You can also speak to someone at Samaritans by calling 116 123.
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