Poll: Depression and Creativity
Tuesday March 17, 2009
Are you an exceptionally creative person? Many famous artists, composers and other highly creative people have also had mood disorders. This has led some to speculate that there is a link between creativity and depression. Don't be shy. Vote in our poll and tell us how creative you are.
Comments
I have both Bipolar and high ideaphoria. When i am high i cannot stop the flow of ideas, I in some ways wish that i was just a normal person whom dose not think. But like most people like me i really have very few freinds as people bore me with there uninteresting conversations. I am eccentric when i am high and do feel better than everyone else in this stage, this makes people think that i love myself but it is not true. Life is harder living with a very inventive mind, but at least i can realise that the world only moves forward when people are Eccentric.
As a published author that suffers from major depression, I can say that there is definitely a link. I think I suffer from depression in part because I am so sensitive, and my sensitivity makes me more creative.
Wendy Aron, author of Hide & Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness
http://www.wendyaron.com
I am bipolar and have no doubt that there is a relationship between my illness and my creativity. I believe that certain kinds of mental illness alienate those who have them from the crowd and leave us outside looking in.
This results in our being keener observers and freer to experience and describe the world around us in different ways. Temple Grandin describes her experience being autistic as concentrating more on the trees and having a more difficult time with the forest.
If we are fortunate, we have a “functioning” self that permits us to interact with people and in my case, often enjoy it. I’m in a profession that certainly requires it. On the other hand, I have to have a lot of control over “down” time and I require a lot of time alone. My husband is profoundly depressed and both understands and appreciates my understanding of his needs. We also enjoy each other.
I once wanted to be normal (whatever that is)and not feel so much. Not an option.
Depression has been a big part of my life as long as I can remember. In the 5th grade I started to think seriously about suicide. Yes, I’m on meds (and meds, and meds). Yes, I am in therapy - years and years of therapy. Yes, I am religious. Yes, I know getting out of myself and helping those less fortunate is suppose to help me. I’ve read the books and I try so very hard to beat this, but depression is winning. I realize the importance of nutrition and exercise. However, I isolate and walking out the door to exercise is often like trying to walk through a brick wall. I am extremely creative. You name it and I’ve probably done it, and pretty well. Unfortunately, no matter how others see me, I still feel very inadequate and live my life looking through a black fog. My life has been wasted trying not to drown in an ocean of my own tears. (violins, please) I am overly sensitive. The Autumn (almost Winter) of my dreary existence has arrived and death is not something I dread. On the contrary, I’ll have peace - at last. I can hear your criticism, “Get over your drammatic self and get a life”! You are probably right.
I’ve been creative all my life, drawing, painting, writing. I didn’t know what the symptoms meant until I was about 25. I’m much more prolific, in every medium, just after a major depressive episode.
There is a book about this topic. It is called “Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament” by Kay Redfield Jamison.
I find tremendous creativity when I can actually involve myself in it, but for the past few years I’ve been blocked. That is the hardest part for me.
Although I try to walk daily, getting out the door IS like going thru a brick wall.
yes hi you all, there is a definate link between depression and being creative. as i read in one of the other comments — people who suffer from deppression are much more sensitive than the average folks. — that in itself is a blessing and curse. i am being treated with a variety of meds which i “think” may hold it to a level which, with my faith in god, makes it where i KNOW there is light at the “end of the tunnel” whether i see it all the time or not. one of my biggest problems with the medical professinals is they prescribe all these POWERFULL drugs and don’t even know HOW they work!! especially when given several kinds at once. which makes me wonder if i should try a more “holistic/natural” approach. either wicth way,NEVER GIVE UP!! — with god’s love, u’r friend in knox,tn LEIGH
I have noticed that I am really emotional and I up heave with abstractions in different forms when I can’t settle down. When I get tired though from working so hard I just want to sleep becuase that is the only way I can be creative.
I can set up amazing displays, build carpentry things without previous experience and do most of the things I want to, yet I have trouble tying knots and figuring out simple tasks, also I’m left handed and consider myself smarter than the average person who does’nt have mental problems.
I am not sure what is wrong with me but I seem to feel bad without any reason. I just start hating myself and it becomes very difficult to stop. I usually can not work on anything when this is the case. And not being productive also make me feel worse.