Pete Townshend has opened up about his battle with “chemical depression” in a new interview. The legendary guitarist and songwriter of The Who even went so far as to reveal that he is “really suicidal” when he wakes up every morning.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member said Sunday weather who used to see a therapist in the 1980s, but now copes with his depression by writing in journals, among other tactics.
“After the third year [of therapy]I realized that the woman advising me had only said about three words,” Townshend said. “I was just listening to myself. So now I just write diaries. Every morning I rebuild myself in a sense with tea, coffee and some vitamin pills.”
He continued, “When I first wake up I'm suicidal, I'm actually suicidal,” adding that he prefers to get up between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., explaining, “I'm still in the state I was in the day before.” Even with that strategy, you still need half an hour to get rid of suicidal thoughts.
“I have a couple of cups of tea, two digestive biscuits (apparently equivalent to 17 sugar cubes) and I feel happy,” he added. “If I start journaling before I have a cup of tea, I will paint a very bleak picture of my life. Even though I have everything I want and everything I need… And I have had a truly extraordinary life.”
Townshend, 79, who has also struggled with alcoholism, has been sober for more than four decades. However, he said he is hesitant to share his own advice on mental health issues. “I think it's especially due to social media, the way we carelessly share not only our anxieties but perhaps our solutions,” the guitarist explained. “We're a little sloppy about it because what works for me won't necessarily work for you.”
The Who legend made headlines earlier this month when he said that “someone needs to occasionally slap Rick Rubin” when discussing the producer's creative methods. And last month, he also caught fans' attention when he said The Who would return in 2025.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
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