Random Historical Figures Who Struggled With Depression (10 items)

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  (#7) Isaac Newton

  • Dec. at 84 (1643-1727)

  Sir Isaac Newton had a nervous breakdown in 1693, although it's unclear whether it was mental illness or a result of his experimentation with mercury. He reportedly tasted his experiments in over 100 instances, though many dismissed the theory that he had mercury poisoning because the symptoms did not fit.

  According to one scholar, Newton did exhibit several symptoms of depression, including insomnia, withdrawal from close friends, loss of appetite, and the belief that his friends were against him. Other experts think Newton suffered from manic depression. His childhood has also been noted as a possible contributor to his fragile mental state. His father died when he was three months old, and his mother left him from ages three to 11. After Newton recovered from his breakdown, he gave up his science career and became Warden, and then Master, of the Mint.
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  (#4) Sigmund Freud

  • Dec. at 83 (1856-1939)

  Sigmund Freud struggled with depression and occasional anxiety attacks, according to Ernest Jones, author of The Life and Work of Sigmund Freud. The psychoanalyst turned to cocaine in order to make himself feel better. Freud noted that he took it in small doses to combat "against depression and against indigestion, and with the most brilliant success."

  Unfortunately, cocaine wasn't the power drug Freud hoped it would be. What finally took the man out of his depression was recognition and validation from his peers. Freud's emotional state was boosted after he became an authority in the psychoanalysis, dreams, and sexuality fields. It's not uncommon for some people to be lifted from a depressive state when the community around them makes them feel worthwhile.
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  (#9) Edvard Munch

  • Dec. at 81 (1863-1944)

  Edvard Munch, known for his famous painting The Scream, battled anxiety, depression, and alcoholism. His mother and one sister both died of tuberculosis while another sister was mentally ill. Munch left Norway at 22 and moved to Paris. He struggled in his  – sometimes violent – relationships with women.  He drew on his feelings to make his Expressionist art, some of which centered on death. 

  He wrote in his diary about the inspiration for The Scream: 

  I was walking along the street with two friends – the sun was going down – I felt a touch of melancholy. Suddenly the color of the sky changed to blood red. I stopped walking and leaned against a fence feeling tired to death – I saw the flaming clouds like bloodstained swords – the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends went on walking – I stood there trembling with fear – and I felt how a long unending scream was going through the whole of nature.

  He later acknowledged that his mental anguish helped fuel his art.
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  (#1) Emily Dickinson

  • Dec. at 56 (1830-1886)

  Many scholars have long believed poet Emily Dickinson suffered from some kind of mood disorder. Some think she may have been manic depressive, while others think she suffered from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

  Dickinson's mood appeared to shift depending on the season. Professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine in Honolulu John F. McDermott examined her productivity and determined she was more prolific in spring and summer compared to winter, suggesting she had the winter blues. 

  A person diagnosed with SAD is affected by the amount of sunlight available each day. How did Dickinson's mood affect her work? She produced 1,800 poems, many of which focused on death and immortality. 
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  (#8) William Tecumseh Sherman

  • Dec. at 71 (1820-1891)

  During the first year of the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman was struggling from depression and requested to be relieved of duty. He returned home to his wife Ellen in order to recharge.  His wife told her brother-in-law that Sherman was suffering from "melancholy insanity." In his own words, Sherman wrote that he struggled as a commander and considered suicide. Five weeks after he left his post, the wire services blared, "General William T. Sherman Insane," which almost ruined his reputation. Sherman lacked confidence, battled insomnia, and lost his appetite. Some have speculated he suffered from manic depression. 

  But Sherman got a second chance and was given a command under General Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. He bravely led his men into battle, and the event boosted his confidence as well as his morale. His heroic efforts and recognition from others pulled him out of the depression that had plagued his life.
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  (#5) Franz Kafka

  • Dec. at 41 (1883-1924)

  Franz Kafka is most known for his story Metamorphosis. He was a very intelligent man who spent much of his time alone due to social anxiety. He also battled depression. It's speculated that he became depressed after a bout with tuberculosis. He was reportedly a hypochondriac who had migraines, boils, and insomnia brought on by the stress of his writing. Kafka's father was verbally abusive, and his fiancee eventually left him because she had a difficult time dealing with his moodiness. Writing and exercise, such as swimming and hiking, helped lift his spirits.

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