Stories of turning it around
January 22, 2025 12:56 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for stories of any format (personal experience, movies, podcasts, or other) of people who struggled with depression, anxiety, life circumstances or other issues that made them question whether they had a place in the world or the ability to succeed, perhaps even to get out of bed, who ultimately found their way to better things.
If you ever read Pilgrim's Progress, I've been stuck in the Slough of Despond, the only thing I remember about the book. The pilgrim has someone to dig him out but I'm going to have to bootstrap it. And right now I'd just like to see lots of reminders that it's possible.
Context: unemployed for several months, trouble getting out of bed and doing basic life stuff, trying to look for jobs but not finding anything that seems right, not having luck when I do apply.
If you ever read Pilgrim's Progress, I've been stuck in the Slough of Despond, the only thing I remember about the book. The pilgrim has someone to dig him out but I'm going to have to bootstrap it. And right now I'd just like to see lots of reminders that it's possible.
Context: unemployed for several months, trouble getting out of bed and doing basic life stuff, trying to look for jobs but not finding anything that seems right, not having luck when I do apply.
Joe vs the Volcano! The movie seems like a goof, but the beginning heading to work, the scene with the dog and the 1st taste of success but still has to spend the night alone all hit hard.
Belle and Sebastian - Expectations
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:18 PM on January 22
Belle and Sebastian - Expectations
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:18 PM on January 22
Brittany Runs a Marathon has gotten me out of a sad-bed more than once.
posted by moosetracks at 1:24 PM on January 22 [2 favorites]
posted by moosetracks at 1:24 PM on January 22 [2 favorites]
The Bear Season 2 Episode 7 ("Forks") where cousin Richie is made to become an apprentice at a fine dining restaurant doing grunt work while in the midst of a deep depression over not knowing his place in the world. If you don't feel like watching the entire show you could probably watch the one episode on it's own, as it's a bottle episode, and it's that good imo.
posted by windbox at 2:01 PM on January 22 [1 favorite]
posted by windbox at 2:01 PM on January 22 [1 favorite]
The HBO limited series (three seasons) Somebody Somewhere is about exactly this.
posted by bricoleur at 2:28 PM on January 22 [9 favorites]
posted by bricoleur at 2:28 PM on January 22 [9 favorites]
Also, more movies about this:
- Chef
- Stranger Than Fiction
- Erin Brokevich
posted by windbox at 3:04 PM on January 22
- Chef
- Stranger Than Fiction
- Erin Brokevich
posted by windbox at 3:04 PM on January 22
TV Shows: Somebody Somewhere on HBO, Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, and seconding The Bear, that episode in particular.
Movies: It's a Wonderful Life, Garden State, Inside Out, seconding Chef & Stranger than Fiction!
I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm glad you're in the world to ask this question and make me think about these stories again. Thank you. <3
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 3:33 PM on January 22
Movies: It's a Wonderful Life, Garden State, Inside Out, seconding Chef & Stranger than Fiction!
I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm glad you're in the world to ask this question and make me think about these stories again. Thank you. <3
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 3:33 PM on January 22
I love Brittany Runs a Marathon. There's other movies like that but I can't think of them right now. This might not be applicable but 12-step groups (you can often attend on zoom) can really help. There's Al-Anon, ACA, etc if you feel that maybe historical/relational issues may be affecting your current state. Honestly, when all else fails, there's always Oprah, listen to her "Super Soul Sunday" Podcasts. Eckhart Tolle "The Power of Now". There's also "I feel Pretty" the Amy Schumer movie which I like but a lot of people did not like (mindset shift affecting life circumstance shift). Also, anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds, although the trial-and-error period can be difficult/lengthy.
posted by bquarters at 4:46 PM on January 22
posted by bquarters at 4:46 PM on January 22
addiction memoirs
posted by j_curiouser at 6:15 PM on January 22
posted by j_curiouser at 6:15 PM on January 22
My shining example for this is writer Janet Frame. She wrote a multi-volume autobiography that Jane Campion made into the film An Angel At My Table.
The thing about her is, what she went through was so awful and prolonged, and she was so successful later, that it's hard to call her a role model because how can you duplicate something like that? Who has both that kind of misfortune and that kind of talent? But there is something about the way she describes her tribulations-- deaths of siblings; misdiagnosed mental illness that had her in horrible mental hospitals all through her twenties-- that's all the more inspiring to me when she becomes an author and world traveler. For me, the lesson is that she felt all the bad shit fully before trying to move on. "I grieved for all I had lost," she says in the memoir. And then she held out for what she wanted.
posted by BibiRose at 4:44 AM on January 23 [1 favorite]
The thing about her is, what she went through was so awful and prolonged, and she was so successful later, that it's hard to call her a role model because how can you duplicate something like that? Who has both that kind of misfortune and that kind of talent? But there is something about the way she describes her tribulations-- deaths of siblings; misdiagnosed mental illness that had her in horrible mental hospitals all through her twenties-- that's all the more inspiring to me when she becomes an author and world traveler. For me, the lesson is that she felt all the bad shit fully before trying to move on. "I grieved for all I had lost," she says in the memoir. And then she held out for what she wanted.
posted by BibiRose at 4:44 AM on January 23 [1 favorite]
The mention of 12 step programs earlier reminded me of comedian Maria Bamford's recent memoir "Sure I'll Join Your Cult!". She talks about her membership in many 12 step programs (and other "cults") but I finished the chapter on Debtors Anonymous thinking "wow! That group sounds super helpful and practical! " It is a book about digging out of a hole many times And it's really funny.
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 5:20 AM on January 23 [2 favorites]
posted by Jenny'sCricket at 5:20 AM on January 23 [2 favorites]
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posted by epj at 1:06 PM on January 22 [1 favorite]