Stephen Fry, Trisha Goddard and Jim Brown share their experiences with anxiety and depression.

Coping with Depression

“You just want to step out of it, to step out of the whole race, the whole business. The monstrosity of life overwhelms you.” Following a nervous breakdown in 1995, actor and journalist Stephen Fry discovered he was suffering from bi-polar disorder – commonly known as manic depression. Symptoms of fear and sadness (often classed as ‘anxiety’ and ‘depression’ if they are diagnosed) are the most common ‘mental disorders’ in Britain that people seek counselling for. This collection of videos looks at what can happen when people are overwhelmed by such profound feelings of sadness that they can’t carry on with their everyday lives. Fry, along with Trisha Goddard and engineer Jim Brown, share their personal struggles and experiences with diagnosis and drug use, giving us a glimpse into the journeys they have taken.  

This material forms part of The Open University course D240 Counselling: exploring fear and sadness

'The Secret life...' footage appears courtesy of RTF and BBC.

Education

“You just want to step out of it, to step out of the whole race, the whole business. The monstrosity of life overwhelms you.” Following a nervous breakdown in 1995, actor and journalist Stephen Fry discovered he was suffering from bi-polar disorder – commonly known as manic depression. Symptoms of fear and sadness (often classed as ‘anxiety’ and ‘depression’ if they are diagnosed) are the most common ‘mental disorders’ in Britain that people seek counselling for. This collection of videos looks at what can happen when people are overwhelmed by such profound feelings of sadness that they can’t carry on with their everyday lives. Fry, along with Trisha Goddard and engineer Jim Brown, share their personal struggles and experiences with diagnosis and drug use, giving us a glimpse into the journeys they have taken. This material forms part of The Open University course D240 Counselling: exploring fear and sadness 'The Secret life...' footage appears courtesy of RTF and BBC.

Share Coping with Depression

Sign up to save your podcasts

Coping with Depression

Coping with Depression

More shows like Coping with Depression - for iPod/iPhone

The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics - for iPod/iPhone

Start writing fiction - Audio

Writing Poetry - Audio

Reading Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Mill - Audio

Start writing essays - Audio

Bon départ: beginners' French - Audio

Learning how to learn - for iBooks

David Hume: 18th Century Philosopher - Audio

Cory Doctorow: Computer and Internet Regulation - Audio

Andante: beginners' Italian - Audio

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Happy Place

Healing from Depression

The Rest Is Politics