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Comedian Ruby Wax Battles Unexpected Mental Health Crisis
19 Nov
Summary
- Ruby Wax's depression, diagnosed in the 1990s, unexpectedly returned after 12 years.
- The relapse occurred during a spiritual retreat while researching a book on life's meaning.
- She missed her usual warning signs, leading to hospitalization and a changed book project.

TV personality Ruby Wax has revealed a harrowing health battle, with her depression unexpectedly returning after 12 years in remission. The 72-year-old comedian experienced this relapse while abroad, gathering research for a book intended to explore life's deeper meanings post-pandemic. Her retreat to a monastery, recommended by a friend, became the setting for this unforeseen crisis.
Despite being a master of mindfulness and having earned a master's degree in the subject, Wax found herself unable to predict or manage this episode. She described depression as a relentless "black hole" that attacks the mind. This time, she missed her usual tipping point, which led to her psychiatrist advising immediate hospitalization.
The incident drastically altered the trajectory of her book project, which was retitled "I'm Not As Well As I Thought I Was." Although Wax also visited other locations like a refugee camp and a silent retreat, she acknowledges that depression is a lifelong condition she must continuously manage.




