The Dark Passenger. The name I gave my depression a long time ago. It has popped up in stories, poems, and even in one of my novels. Why the dark passenger? Well, there is a story for just about everything in my life. I am a writer, after all.
First, I like the thematical element. My depression has always felt like it comes into my life, always at the wrong times. It is a part of me, but as I learned over time, it can go for periods of my life. The idea that depression is this thing in my mind means I can fight it and eventually leave me.
The dark passenger then became a motif in my work. It is said that your life as a human being often comes into your writing, and over the last year, there is some sobering truth to that idea. The dark passenger reminds me of the raven coming to the man in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, and sometimes I imagine that my dark passenger is a white raven. One that can talk, putting evil thoughts into my mind and put me in the worst parts of my personality. It reflects in some of the darker themes in some of my work.
The thing is, this dark passenger is not all bad. It taught me that its okay to not be okay. That this thing called depression is something that we can fight. The dark passenger wants me to fight when depression becomes my only true friend.
The white raven is one of the rarest birds out there in the world. I am not comparing it as my depression is unique, but rather the dark passenger helps me identify when my depression is taking over my life. Like a bird, it eventually flies away. I have been on the other side of depression, and so I know it will not always be this way.
Depression is not a forever thing. I once was so depressed for over four years straight with no real end. Then it ended. It took hard work and surviving a suicide to finally meet my depression, my dark passenger, as part of me that lives inside and outside of James. We can separate, but we will always be in one another’s life. That is not so bad only at the moment when you are at your darkest. So know your dark passenger or whatever you call it is not forever. I like to say always keep fighting because it’s true.
Here is a video I wanted to end my post with, if your suffering from depression, know that you are not alone.
Always Keep Fighting
James
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Thanks for your honesty about depression, James.
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My finger hit send before I’d finished. I think that your metaphor of the white raven.
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is a great way to acknowledge and define your depression, as is your dark passenger. I wish you well this difficult week, this challenging year after your mother’s and aunt’s passing. -Rebecca
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Thank you Rebecca. The dark passenger always comes as a white raven in my mind. I always feel connected to my depression and so for it to be this entity makes sense for me. Thank you stopping by.
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If we can define our reality, I believe we can come to terms with it. Peace, Rebecca
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What a great post! I love the fact that you’ve named your depression. This is a great idea for being able to address it. If you can put a unique name and “face” to it ….then it could be easier to deal with. Stay healthy.
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That’s how the dark passenger came about.
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That’s one way of seeing negativity by the lens of positive thoughts. Good work
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Thank you. It has helped with keeping the negative thoughts from completely taking over.
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Inspiring post, thank you 😊 Love the white raven, your story behind the symbolism and the photo ❤️👌
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I thought it would help people understand when I talk about depression as my dark passenger
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It’s true nothing lasts forever…we just have to embrace our demons and we will live through it…just like the night passes so does our sorrow
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James you are a loving, caring person this should only ever bring you joy & never upset. Superb post what negative thoughts do you have? What I’d challenge is your belief that it’s okay not to be okay you are capable of resolving anything don’t resign yourself to anything negative you are doing your level best.
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