The Great Prime Minister And His Depression

Winston Churchill was born on November 30, 1874, to an aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. He was a famous British politician, and military officer, and served as Great Britain’s Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and 1950 to 1951(Winston). In May of 1940 during the time of World War II, after a debate in parliament, there was a vote of no confidence for prime minister Chamberlain, in which King George VI appointed Churchill as prime minister and minister of defense (Winston). Winston Churchill became famously well known as a great prime minister, yet was soon found to have been deeply troubled by his depression.

Churchill had called his depression “the black dog.” His daughter wrote, “Despite his eulogies, accolades, and honors, Winston still had a void in his heart, in the heart of his being, which no achievement or honor could completely fulfill.” Countless times he thought of suicide and was later diagnosed to have had a form of depression known as Manic-Depression during the time, later to be known as bipolar depression in modern times.

An insight into Churchill’s suicidal thoughts, he had stated “I don’t like standing near the edge of a platform when an express train is passing through. I like,e to stand back and, if possible, get a pillar between me and the train. I don’t like to stand by the side of a ship and look down into the water. A second’s action would end everything. A few drops of desperation (Ghaemi).” When Churchill was struck by his “black dog” he would have an absence of energy, lose his appetite, consume vast amounts of alcohol, and would not be able to concentrate on his tasks (Ghaemi).

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This form of depression had not just occurred out of the midst of the stress and his involvement with the fight against Nazi Germany but had occurred in earlier years before becoming prime minister as well. During his dark periods, it would last for a few months before the “black dog” went away, and he would come back to his normal self. However, his normal self was considered abnormal compared to the common man. Churchill would stay up late with dozens of his books, talk consistently with his thoughts, and contain high amounts of energy (Ghaemi). Ironically, the future of Great Britain was within the hands of a man who had been diagnosed as mentally ill during one of the crucial times of the twentieth century. However, Churchill’s physician, Lord Moran, had prescribed amphetamines for his recessive episodes and a barbiturate to help him sleep (Ghaemi). Along with Moran, Churchill found comfort in animals, painting, and his wife (Sergeant).

Bipolar depression is a distinct branch of the family of depression. Depression in general terms is unipolar, where there is no “lightened” period and a constant feeling of anguish (Bipolar). Bipolar depression was once known as manic depression but was soon changed due to the negative connotation and loaded term for the term “manic” (Florio). Bipolar depression contains symptoms of “mania,” an unusual and persistent delighted or irritable mood that lasts at least one week and with increased energy (Bipolar). Bipolar depression there are three types: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder (Bipolar). Bipolar I contain at least one manic episode, regardless of moments of depression that had occurred (Bipolar). Bipolar II contains at least one depressive episode with an episode of an elevated mood known as hypomania. These patients experience more depressive episodes and fewer hypomanic episodes (Bipolar). Cyclothymic disorder is a chronic variation of moods containing countless episodes of hypomania and depression. The symptoms of bipolar depression are characterized by mood swings that shift between depressive lows and manic highs. Manic is a period of abnormally high moods and increased activity lasting at least one week. The effects of bipolar depression can cause impairment in social and behavioral functions or at the extreme require hospitalization to avoid trauma. Suicide is a major risk factor, especially when there is a history of substance abuse in the patient. Treatment for bipolar depression includes therapy, cogitative behavioral therapy, family therapy, and medication management (Bipolar). However, with medication, most people are not helped by prescribed antidepressants, instead, there is a risk of making the case worse (Bipolar). Treatment for bipolar depression is long-term and can be needed much greater than medication.