Cpl. Darious Hart said the stress of his command and life left him depressed and unable to sleep. Then he found his outlet: fantasy fiction.

The Marine Corps weather forecaster has become a fantasy novelist, and in the process found a way to deal with the stress of service.

"Sometimes the work day drags, and you work with people who seem to want to make your day as long and stressful as possible," Hart said in a recent phone interview. "I think depression hit me hard because the people around me were depressed, too."

Even though Hart worried that writing wouldn't be lucrative, he realized it provided an outlet. 

"I wanted to escape reality just for a few hours of the day," he said. "I started because I felt that there was no other option for me to let out everything that I was feeling."

The meteorology and oceanography analyst forecaster is stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and has written "Mythianisty Part 1: Revenge," an e-book that blends Egyptian mythology with the story of a teenager who's struggling to find out what he'll do for the rest of his life. The character meets the wrong people and turns to Ra, the sun god, for help. The 129-page book is available on  Amazon.

"I started writing on February 8, and I finished March 13," the author said. "It didn't take me long to write the story at all. When it was coming to an end, I tried to prolong it because I didn't want to say bye to the characters."

This book was a way out for Hart: from family, from the Corps, from gloom.

Hart said his feeling of hopelessness began around the time his godmother died in the summer of 2015.

"That was a tough time for me in my life to get through, and me writing finally helped me release some of those evil demons in my head," he said. "Writing stories helped me survive in even my darkest times."

The outlet was especially helpful for Hart, who found it difficult to talk about his dark thoughts and feelings.

"You don't want to be portrayed as weak," he said.

And he knows other Marines who have gone through worse than he has. 

Hart said some Marines struggle because they have hit that point and feel there is no way to let it all out. Hart said he was unable to sleep, eat or enjoy life while he felt depressed. That's when he turned to writing: an interest he had as a child.

"I didn't realize how good I was at it until my teacher accused me for plagiarism on my final essay," he recalled.

"Mythianisty Part 1: Revenge" blends Egyptian mythology with the story of a teenager who's struggling to find out what he'll do for the rest of his life. The character meets the wrong people and turns to Ra, the sun god, for help.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Darious Hart

Hart said depression often hits people who feel that they are merely existing and not living.

"You have to find your purpose in life," he said. "No one was put on this planet to pay bills and die, but our society has painted that picture like that's how it is supposed to be."

Depression can be beat, but it's up to each person to overcome it, he added. 

Charlsy Panzino is a staff reporter for Marine Corps Times and writes features about veterans transition issues, entertainment and fitness. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.  

About Charlsy Panzino

Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

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