To keep her breathing: a novella exploring how long-term depression affects women's health

This creative thesis incorporates a cyberpunk dystopian narrative to study the effects of long-term depression on women's physical health by showing the connection between psychological stress and physical decline. It highlights the often-overlooked reality that untreated stress can manifest as chronic pain, sleep disturbance, and cardiovascular issues. These ideas will be developed into a cyberpunk dystopian novella supported by Slavich and Irwin’s Inflammation Theory of Depression (2014) and the concept of Socio-economic Marginalization by Hall and Carlson (2016), which explains how childhood trauma can result in physical illness. The narrative mainly focuses on Li, a woman who suffered from depression throughout her life because of childhood trauma and continuous emotional abuse. As her mental health deteriorates, she experiences migraines, insomnia, and hypertension. Her physical and mental health deteriorates due to prolonged depression and inability to obtain proper medical treatment. As the narrative goes on, Li is offered the opportunity to get better using psychological treatment and stress-reducing practices like meditation. Her journey provides a reminder that recovery is possible by facing trauma, taking back control, and gradually coming to terms with her condition to improve her health and self-worth.

RACHEL IMMANUEL Liliek Soelistyo (Advisor 1); Dwi Setiawan (Examination Committee 1) Universitas Kristen Petra English Digital Theses Undergraduate Thesis A Creative Thesis A Creative Thesis No. 01012455/ING/2025; Rachel Immanuel (A11210066) DEPRESSION IN WOMEN--FICTION; CYBERPUNK FICTION

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