[HPforGrownups] Sirius as Father Figure (was:Re: How Sirius' death suits Dumbledore?...)

[Ladi lyndi]

No: HPFGUIDX 130798

horridporrid03  wrote:
 
<snip>
But then suddenly, Sirius takes a deep dive into toxic-
adult land, that to my mind is just not explainable by, "I've been 
in this house for a WEEK, a WEEK I tell you!  I've gone MAAAAD!!"

Because that's the huge reason I think Depressed!Sirius doesn't 
work.  In the course of one week he slides from Grumpy!Sirius to the reckless and hateful Depressed!Sirius of the fire call?  I just 
don't buy it.  It's too schizophrenic.  It's not like Sirius has 
been in solitary or anything.  Within the first week of Harry going 
away he gets a letter from his godson asking for his help.  And how 
does Sirius handle the conversation that follows?  With a vicious 
attack on Harry that would give even Snape pause.  Odd behavior to 
my mind.

<snip>
Sirius isn't just acting illogically. He's being incredibly cruel.  
To Harry.  His attack is very specifically aimed at Harry. (I'm not 
an expert, but do depressed people generally lash out at loved ones 
like that?)

But what is most illogical to me is the 180 degree spin from helpful and supportive Godfather, to petulant and hurtful Godfather.  Within a time frame of less than two weeks.

<snip>
 
Lynn:
 
It is obvious you are not an expert on depression and it appears that you've also been fortunate enough not to have had to deal with a clinically depressed person on a regular basis.
 
First, not all depression is emotional; there is also physical depression.  This is when there is an imbalance in the seratonin levels in the brain.  Many people have "seasonal" depression particually in the Fall when the reduction of sunlight facilitates the imbalance.  
 
This may apply to Sirius.  From what we learned, Sirius was apparently living in a sunny climate and even when we last saw him in GOF, it was the beginning of summer.  When we see him again, he is in a very dark place.  That sudden shift could cause a seratonin imbalance which would bring on depression.  And no, it doesn't take weeks or months.  It can take as little as a week or less so for it to have been two week to a month is entirely plausible.  Add to this, Sirius would have emotional issues to contribute to any depression.  I think one of the biggest was that he didn't save his best friend and he also wasn't there to save Harry.  In this dark, dank house he hates, he has time to dwell on that.  He was dealing with a lot of guilt which is why I found Molly's comment about all those years in Azkaban particularly cruel.  Add to all this the fact that he feels worthless to the Order.  Oh yea, I can see a quick plunge into the depths of depression.  I see any amount of drunkness
 speaking more to trying to drown the pain he is feeling rather than alcoholism.
 
As to depressed people lashing out at loved ones, well you can ask my husband about that.  It is totally irrational and comes as a surprise from left field, and no, I'm not schizophrenic.  It is probably the biggest signal that I am in a freefall of depression and that I should start taking meds again. It is usually in the Fall but it can happen throughout the year depending on various stimulus such as lack of sunshine, diet, exercise, amount of sleep, stress and other factors.  All these factors appear to be an influence in Sirius's life at this point.  That he was still up so late when Arthur Weasley was hurt can point to insomnia, another symptom of depression.  It happens quickly and a person is there before they are aware of it.
 
Given the tenor of the WW, depression would probably be seen as a shameful thing, in fact, it still is today as many people still see people who suffer from this illness as weak, emotional cripples.  People are judged by those with insufficient facts regarding the illness and so people keep it a secret.  However, just as those with diabetes need insulin to keep their blood sugar levels stable, so people with the illness of depression may need medication to keep their brain chemicals stable.  However, I doubt Sirius would have sought help for it and it is obvious no one in the Order had a clue about any of it.  Given that Sirius cannot affect some of those things that contribute to the physical depression (lack of sun, lack of exercise, proper diet, continued stress) as well as the emotional depression (feeling worthless, being somewhere he hates, etc.) it is doubtful that he could "climb out" of it without help - help that he will neither ask for nor which is forthcoming from another
 arena.  There is no "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" with clinical depression no matter how hard one tries.  I believe his wanting to get out of the house as an instinctive knowledge that he needs to change his surroundings in order to fight through what he is dealing with.
 
We see no evidence of alcoholism prior to OOP and even in OOP, we only see Sirius drinking.  In fact, since it appears Sirius is able to function during the Christmas visit without any alcohol that we know of, evidence would point away from alcoholism rather than to it.  However, we can point to 13 years in Azkaban when searching for depression and it may well be that Sirius suffered with depression as a teenager given his home circumstances.
 
As usual, IMO based on personal experience
 

		
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