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I’m even more proud of J.K. Rowling than ever before, and I didn’t think that was possible. The books are infused with her wonderful, giving spirit; that’s why we love them and that’s why they help us. I’ve been depressed, not clinically depressed, but close to it many times. I read Harry all the time because there is a lot of hope and love and joy in those pages and we all need that.

that’s the reason that I LOVE JO soooooooo much she never forgets her past and speaks of it she is such astrong person in those ways

A life without Jo?! That’s terrible!!! I know that she has a very hard life but she also has so many good things. She has to think positive-about her children,all people who loves her,about fans about herself-how many great things she accomplished,how great she is,how she is the bigest and most admirable idol in our lifes. I love her so much,she changed my life. Where would I be without Jo? Nowhere.

wow, she had a bad case of the dementoids!

It’s good to hear her speak so openly and frankly about her suffering. It’s good to know cognitive behavioural therapy worked for her, I am participating in that, as I am clinically depressed and have suicidal tendencies. Harry Potter helped me through, and I’m eternally grateful to Jo for giving me that lifeline. It sounds corny and stupid, but it’s true. I hope the dementors are kept at bay for you, Jo :)

OMG that crazy well Jo. i am so glad you better and i know what you been through becuase we all have been depressed once in a while. I am Happy you good now and we LOVE YOU DONT YOU EVER 4GET THAT…

But i think is kind mess up that this was published this is Jo. personal life please keep that private….

so many parts of that interview are perfect examples of how amazing a role model this woman is. Love you Jo

Thank you Sue for bringing up the subject. I admire Jo for risking the truth. She reminds me of another very classy lady, Eleanor Rooseveldt. (Hmm… a Democrat!).

I’d have been surprised if she hadn’t suffered from some sort of mental illness at some point in her past! People don’t just sit down to write books that are as creatively inspired and ambitious as Harry Potter without having some sort of emotional deficiency elsewhere in their lives. I am so glad that she is open and honest about it though, and I’m glad she sought help and went through the cognitive behavioral therapy and all that. I love Jo!

Only a completely abnormal person would have been unaffected by the situation she was living. She did the right thing by seeking help, and thank God, she found it.

What a loss for all of mankind if she had not succeeded. It was a close call.

De Gratias!

Ahh and I thought I couldn’t love her any more!

I’m helping out with a campaign at uni about mental health awareness & I’ve been writing to famous people who’ve spoken out about their illness to ask for help- I wrote to Jo regardless of how much she’d talked about it, because I just wanted an excuse to write, and now this! I REALLY hope she reads my letter… Whether she’d be more or less inclined to help because it’s her old university, I don’t know!

What a strong woman to admit all of this when it’s the norm to make fun of those with mental illness… It doesn’t matter how much money she makes or how much fame she has… Jo is a human being who managed to pull through for her daughter. I’ve been clinically depressed since I was 7, (I’m 25 now) and my whole life people, especially adults, have made light of my struggles. What people don’t know is that it paralyzes your brain from functioning the way you WANT to. I’m so glad Jo brought up cognitive therapy when pills are pushed more often. Yes pills can work but studies have shown time and time again without CBT they are not as effective. Having an unbiased person to help you break down your thought patterns is really important, but it’s not something that stops over night. I fight everyday, sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. But having an outlet like HP and even Pottercast makes things seem… a little lighter. Hazel and Leah, thank you for being so open. Please keep fighting and keep faith that you’re worth fighting for.

Leah, what a remarkable posting, and so thoughtfully written….there’ll be ups and downs throughout life, you know that, so just remember there will always be a brighter day ahead ;-)

Leave this woman alone! Think of her children having to read this ‘hearsay’. Even if she did have a suicidal thought, she never acted on the impulse. Every person, at one time or another, has asked themselves, ‘Would the world be a better place without me?’ Haven’t you seen “It’s a Wonderful Life”? Obviously, she was a smart enough woman to realize that her roller coaster ride was going to take a turn uphill. She made the neccessary choices to regain control of her life. The underlying theme here, and in her books, is “Make the Correct Choice”.

I think she has done well in turning her life around and I applaud her efforts and achievements. She is lucky to have her daughter and if that isn’t an amazing story on how she changed JKR’s life , I don’t know what is.

stray thoughts re this interview

first, you gotta love the sophomoric journalism student writing style…because I sure don’t. once the student’s rhetoric is stripped out, there is actually very little content

howerver, the fact that this young woman had the nerve to simply walk up to JKR to ask for an interview is wonderful…I’ll admire her confidence in approaching JKR to ask. What baffles me tho is that she did this despite the fact that she claims to know nothing about HP, and made absolutely no effort to prepare for the interview! how many people in the UK know nothing about HP at this point? and what kind of journalist would not make an effort to learn, fast, everything possible? very odd.

second, JKR must have a very alert, yet very discreet and very sensible security group, capable of protecting her while allowing access to fans….

and third, of course, that JKR agreed to be interviewed says volumes about her. By granting the interview, she has contributed, in a very real manner, to the student’s career development (wouldnt you seriously consider hiring a new college grad that managed to get an interview with JKR?)

in terms of the interview’s conetent, the bit about her depression during a remarkably difficult time in her life is simply one segment; unfortunately there wasn’t any really new information offered at all, perhaps because the interviewer is a self-proclaimed Muggle and didn’t know what questions to ask

has anyone listened to the audio tape, is it worth a close examination?

I am so glad she’s not ashamed of being depressed. This just makes me love her even more! Having suffered from depression since my teens, I know what a uphill battle it is and there is such a stigma still attatched to it. With people like Jo talking about it freely, this stigma might start to wear off finally. I hope so. Being depressed is not something to be ashamed about. It’s an illness like any other. Thank you for being so honest, Jo.

I am so glad she’s not ashamed of being depressed. This just makes me love her even more! Having suffered from depression since my teens, I know what a uphill battle it is and there is such a stigma still attatched to it. With people like Jo talking about it freely, this stigma might start to wear off finally. I hope so. Being depressed is not something to be ashamed about. It’s an illness like any other. Thank you for being so honest, Jo.

What´s new is the fact that she stopped going to church with 17. That improved my view of her. But today you can read in german tabloids that Jo was suicidal. If she dislikes the media so much why is she constantly giving them food?

I found it funny how she evaded the answer to question what she thinks about losing her anonymity.