Sirius Black and manic depression

[spicoli323]

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No: HPFGUIDX C7511
From: spicoli323
Subject: Sirius Black and manic depression
Date: 8/22/00 1:10 am  (ET)

Yeah, I think his laughter was probably of the hysterical sort, or else
the witnesses saw Sirius screaming in anger or fright, and mistook it
for laughter. . . .not as farfetched as it sounds.
As for why he didn't leave Azkaban sooner, although he did keep his
sanity, the dementors' presence was still rather opressive; he was
probably in practically a trance most of the time, which he would only
occasionally come out of, such as when he had a visitor like Fudge.
Azkaban and the dementors are a personification of depression, and anyone
who has suffered from depression will attest that is the worst feeling
imaginable, but it is often impossible to get out of, even if the sufferer
wants to more than anything. It is the same way with Sirius Black in
Azkaban: he would have wanted to get out, but couldn't rouse himself to
escape earlier than he did. He said that the one thing that kept him going
was his innocence; it was not a happy thought so the dementors couldn't
take it from him. But learning of Wormtail's whereabouts gave him the idea
of revenge, which was a happy though for him, though a rather bittersweet
one. It was that happy thought that was the catalyst for his escape.
Still, if one is to continue the depression analogy, it could be
argued that he was now in the manic phase of manic depression--that
was why he ruushed recklessly to Hogwarts and was so eager to kill
Wormtail. Mentally, he was still not all right, but hopefully after
being free two years now he will be all right. He didn't show any signs
of relapsing into depression in GoF, and that bodes well. I think as a
result of being in Azkaban, if he meets a dementor in the future, they
will always have as strong an effect on him as they did on Harry. This
could be a problem if Voldemort gets them on his side. I hope Sirius
learns a Patronus spell of his own.