Thesaurus Creator Used Words to Escape Depression
One of the reference books that I frequently refer to in my writing is Roget's Thesaurus. You may remember using it in school. It provides lists of synonyms so you can avoid repeating the same word. What I didn't realize about this handy little book is that its creator, Mark Roget, suffered from depression and his work on Roget's Thesaurus sprang from his attempts to cope with his melancholia.
A biography about Roget's life entitled The Man Who Made Lists reveals that Roget suffered a great deal during his life of over nine decades. His mother suffered from dark depressions and paranoia and tried to dominate his life. His sister and daughter both had mental problems. His father and wife died at an early age. His beloved uncle slit his throat while Roget was attempting to pull the razor from his hands.
What was it that kept him going through all this pain and adversity? Making lists of words.
According to Joshua Kendall, author of The Man Who Made Lists, "As a boy he stumbled upon a remarkable discovery -- that compiling lists of words could provide solace, no matter what misfortune may befall him."
"The lists gave him an alternative world in which to repair," said Kendall.
Roget made his first attempt at compiling a thesaurus at the age of 26, but didn't actually publish it until he was in his 70's. He then worked on it for the rest of his life.
Although it was an instant success in Britain, the American edition did not become popular until Americans fell in love with crossword puzzles in the 1920's. It has been an indispensable tool for students and writers ever since.
Although I feel just a little bit guilty about the origins of Roget's Thesaurus, I do thank him for making my job much easier.
Comments
I have found playing with words to be soothing and fun.
For example, I love alliteration. During a stressful time in life, i had an almost daily habit of challenging myself by writing long sentences where every word began with the same letter. To some, it sounds like work. For me, the work was pleasurable. Often the outcome was very entertaining as well, and I would get further pleasure by sharing it with friends who would also be amused.
I think that whether it is through words or some other task you enjoy, it is worth searching for the simple task that offers pleasure, comfort and soothing. Finding that task and making it a habit is one step towards maintaining mental wellness.
I relate to the word thing too, but I think it doesn’t matter what the activity is, as long as it absorbs all of your attention and diverts you from the usual unhappy roads your thoughts travel down. It’s the switch of what you are paying attention to that makes the difference.