Pollock had a significant confidante, a like-minded fellow traveler, but he wasted the gift. He used alcohol to ride the ups and downs. He died violently in an alcoholic haze. For me, daily writing first thing after I wake up functions as an inoculation against minor depression, and there's nothing like finishing a good painting to cheer me up, even if I have to paint four hideous ones before the good one finally appears. Long walks and swimming laps for an hour in the middle of the night help me blow off steam and every once in a while the best thing I can do for myself is to spend a day watching movies.
Good deeds work, too.
A few hours doing portraits over at the hospital E.R. and giving them away always helps to put things back in perspective for me. In my former life I was a happy collaborator working with talented artists, designers, writers and concept people. My connection to reality is art exhibitions were I can interact with collectors and get a sense of purpose. Having a show energizes me and keeps me going with renewed vigor. Bottled up emotions will come out at the worst times, as we all know.