How do you deal with the sad/heavy stuff?

I'm curious to know how you guys deal with writing really sad/heavy things.

My current challenge (which I set myself up for), is to write another song, like my "Lead WIth Love." Or, at least on that level; meaning straight from the heart. I have a lot to pull from, but even with my love song, I had to tap into some really dark stuff and work up from there. It wasn't easy, by any measure. Yet, the song was written in one single night, after a couple months of contemplation.

It took months of that kinda of silent reflection that keeps a soul muted. When I finally sat down to write, I had nothing in mind except to speak from the heart, and what I learned from love. I don't want to put something depressing out there. What I want to write about is the lessons learned from that dark place; darker than night and blacker than death. I had to drink heavily just to get my there, emotionally. And this was for a love song.

My next project is to write about depression and anxiety. I've tried to get started a couple times, but I get gridlocked every time. I don't want to delve that deep into it that I need to start drinking to do it, yet I can't see it done without it. I don't mean for it to become a downtrodden type of thing. Quite the opposite. I want it to be something people can listen to and feel the depth of it, but still making it uplifting. However, I have to connect with that dark place again in order to do it, and I don’t do that well.

I’m most comfortable writing funny or philosophical stuff, and usually a combination of the two.

I realize now that my grand Sci-Fi work might never get done. I stopped writing for years. Even had to sorta prove that I was me once I started sharing things on this site again (and not someone who hacked my account). This Sci-Fi word is too big. It’s a mountain. Writing song lyrics is my new outlet, after I killed my blog. And it’s just my speed. The work is short, and the payoff comes much faster. The “dopey dolphins” as I call’em. Dopamine and endorphins. I get to write something I can see the end of, just like short stories for my old blog. I’m the type that burns out fast, and take a long time to recharge. Whenever I delve into sad/heavy things, that’s doubled, at least.

I am absolutely looking for advice (perhaps sympathy/empathy as well). I’m not above admitting that. To write something true and honest takes a lot of introspection, and it’s difficult. The fact that I’m sitting here tonight, feeling like this, wanting to talk about it, means that I am surely not the first one to struggle with this aspect of writing. Hence why I’m seeking advice from like-minded people (writers) like yourselves.