George R.R. Martin says he's fighting 'sadness and depression'
Author George R.R. Martin has shared that he is struggling with sadness and depression while balancing professional successes and the challenges of aging. He noted that his progress on 'The Winds of Winter' remains a point of public interest amid his personal difficulties.
Why it matters
The transparency of a high-profile creator regarding mental health provides insight into the pressures of creative industries and public expectations.
George R.R. Martin says he fears "the worst may be yet to come" as he opened up about the personal challenges that ran parallel to a year of professional highs. The fantasy author, who created the world of HBO series "Game of Thrones," said in a post published to his website on Monday that he has "battled sadness and depression" amid a "stressful" and "overwhelming" year of some exciting endeavors, "dreams coming true" and "nightmares." In his blog post, his first since February, Martin wrote that he has lost friends — he did not provide names — and briefly mused on aging: "I turned seventy-seven last September, and I tell you, getting old is no fun." "But there have been amazing times as well," he continued, "I suppose that's just life. Of course, I knew that."
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