Mental Illness and creativity - Page 3

rickjf · #31 03-30-2007, 11:24 AM

I work in a Mental Hospital as a chaplain with 19 years of experience with folks of all range of diagnosis of mental illness. We use art as a rehabilitative tool for many patients. I have sadly seen a number of really talented artist and musians have their lives interupted by their illness. I think the illness interfears with creativity. Most of our patients are like most folks in that their skills (not talent) is on a elementary school level. There are a lot of paintings by patients displayed around the hospital with varied skill levels. There is a big difference between the "bi-polar" patient and the psychotic patient.

phix95 · #32 07-23-2012, 04:13 PM

I've had anxiety, depression, panic disorder since I was 14. Now I'm supposedly down to just anxiety disorder. I've been on meds since that age. I tried to get off them recently b/c I was feeling numb and my feelings for my bf were gone, I didn't feel excieted about anything. I got down to 20 mg Prozac (also seroquel and xanax), started getting hot flashes/sweats near my period, I shook for an hour one night--I don't know, still, what caused that, and am forever scared of it coming back. The ER didn't know either. Back up to 30 mg Prozac, lower on the others. Most times I don't feel like drawing. I think that's also a little bit, due to that when I mess up, I get pissed and don't want to start again. By not drawing, I can't get upset at myself.

artyczar · #33 07-23-2012, 06:50 PM

I have bipolar and I've been on meds for it since 2007, before that, life was a struggle and I was suicidal. I'm an advocate for meds, but I do think they are over prescribed on a general basis.

I also had panic and anxiety - very bad, and I know that if you're just on meds for that, it's not enough. You also need cognitive therapy concurrently with the meds or you'll never get better or be able to dose down.

I also worked with a GREAT workbook called "Anxiety, Phobias & Panic" and it saved my life. (http://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Phobia.../dp/0446670537)

Bipolar is a different animal and whoever says it's not a real mental illness is on crack. For one thing, it's hereditary. My mother had it much worse, and yes she was on Lithium back in the 70s before the invention of the SSRI, but once Prozac came onto the scene, she didn't so much as mention suicide anymore. She attempted it countless times before that. Before 1994 and after, it was like night and day, and she lived to old age.

If you're not feeling right on your meds, talk to you Dr. about changing them up. No one here can tell you what to take and/or how much. Only your shrink can help you with the meds.

jemmett · #34 07-24-2012, 09:43 AM

Sensitivity is linked to creativity and mental illness. Why? Because people are in inner conflict. You don't suspect.

Being around a lot of people is a perfect way to become depressed by their inner conflict. And you may not even know why.

Use Her Name · #35 07-26-2012, 11:44 AM

I was depressed all my life. I was thrown into an intolerable childhood, and went on to a "trapped" and un-fulfilling adulthood. I seriously consider that my depression was caused by "real things" like child abuse, and then later, the inability to find work that was mentally stimulating, and in line with my abilities and aspirations, as well as the "drama" of the people around me. I was on pills for a few years, under a doctor's care, etc. After much reading and study, several years ago, I decided to treat my problem through natural therapy, rather than psychiatric drugs, and it has worked fairly well.

I have reduced the processed "Americanized" foods from my diet. I eat a plant based diet, lots of whole grains, and beans, and fresh greens and fruits. I sometimes eat a little meat, but not much. I exercise, getting plenty of sunshine and movement. I take a few vitamins and herbs known for helping with mood. I have also gotten out of the "rat race" where people have such huge expectations of perfection.

One thing that I have done that has worked fantastically, is that I stopped participating in the "crazy" high stress lifestyle that generates manic/ depressive mindsets.

I think the biggest improvement I have made in my quality of life is reduced the emphasis of "success." In fact, mentally I treated my artwork as a reward for success, (as in, when you are wealthy, you can afford to paint) and since I did not reach that level, I did not do any art.

Once I changed my paradigm, and made art the main focus of my life, rather than just an activity to be done after the "real" work was done, the other things fell into place, and my mental state became better.

I figured that a lot of what people take pills to fix can be relieved by diet change, and re-focusing ones life to cut down on the stress. I am sure I am in the minority but I just do not see how a person can get better by doing nothing to actually fix the problem, and instead take a pill. I think the problem is either caused or exacerbated by lifestyle. In the same way that diabetes, certain cancers, and heart and vascular disease are the "diseases of civilization" so is depression, anxiety and a lot more forms of psychiatric disorders. Eliminate the causes and the disease will resolve on its own.

musket · #36 07-27-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phix95

I've had anxiety, depression, panic disorder since I was 14. Now I'm supposedly down to just anxiety disorder. I've been on meds since that age. I tried to get off them recently b/c I was feeling numb and my feelings for my bf were gone, I didn't feel excieted about anything. I got down to 20 mg Prozac (also seroquel and xanax), started getting hot flashes/sweats near my period, I shook for an hour one night--I don't know, still, what caused that, and am forever scared of it coming back. The ER didn't know either. Back up to 30 mg Prozac, lower on the others. Most times I don't feel like drawing. I think that's also a little bit, due to that when I mess up, I get pissed and don't want to start again. By not drawing, I can't get upset at myself.

Is this stuff being prescribed by your PCP, or a psychopharmacologist?

Carcharhinus · #37 07-27-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallen

Many artists are what currently called Bi-Polar, but I want to say, I do not consider Bi-Polar a mental illness, it is a normal way of processing information and experiences for some people. I believe that society's current trend to medicate for Bi-Polar will soon be replaced with an appreciation for and a more enlightened understanding of the mechanics of Bi-Polar functioning.

Bipolar is incredibly serious and can take over people's lives, stop them from functioning, cause them to commit suicide. To pretend that it is anything less is ridiculous. Either by making comments like this or trivialising it as some do by saying they have a version of it (or similar) to make themselves seem more interesting.

Whether you do not consider it a mental illness isn't even relevant. It is a serious mental illness, it is recognised as one by every half-decent medical institution in the world.

jemmett · #38 07-28-2012, 12:00 PM

Another possible reason for depression is believing you need something or someone to be happy....

Suppose it's not present? The natural outcome has to be unhappiness, depression.

But Bipolar is serious and not simply explained, you should use medication.

noodlecake · #39 08-04-2012, 06:33 PM

I suffer from depression and social anxiety. I find it difficult to do any work when I'm feeling low. There aren't really any upsides to it. I am most prolific when I'm feeling less depressed and anxious, definitely!

tylerzachary412 · #40 08-08-2012, 04:47 AM

Does anyone really can make anything in depression? It's the stage when your mind and people around can help you.

jemmett · #41 08-11-2012, 07:00 PM

Sugar is a probable reason for depression, even though you're already diagnosed. In cases of Bipolar, it may also lead to worse, like arguing.

jemmett · #42 08-11-2012, 11:41 PM

Everything is spiritual, mental, and physical. I've given my understanding, however the best understanding is to take medicine.( I don't remember I have a mental illness because I remember to take medicine.)

Biblioscape · #43 08-19-2012, 01:45 PM

I've noticed that when I'm depressed, I'm very self-centered in the sense of thinking about how bad I've got it and how worthless I am. If there is any way for you personally to help someone else, it will help you, too; not in an instant karma way but it will help you feel better and get your mind off yourself. If you can't BE happy, make someone else happy. If you can't make things right, you can often make them better by thinking of what you can do for yourself, even if it's sweeping the filthy floor. If nothing else, it will get you moving. This won't get rid of depression but it might help you get through bad patches.

js1268 · #44 09-06-2012, 02:09 PM

i suffer from all kinds of afflictions when i'm riding a creative wave....it's a sacrifice i'm often willing to make....

but sometimes it gets unbearable and i'll have to pull myself out of it...i'll start stretching, working out; buy a new pair of sneakers and some jcrew t-shirts...and then i'm happy again... =-)

...until the cycle starts all over again

Border Corpsman · #45 09-07-2012, 01:21 AM

I am a combat veteran with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and recently diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). I agree that there is a cycle of creativity that comes and goes, maybe in part to psychological disorders. I spent a year doing Neuro-Feedback training with the Brainpaint program http://neurofeedback-training.info/
and a professional counselor. Not only was it the most effective tool for managing my conditions (beside God's grace) but it also greatly reduced the severity of them. I strongly believe that continued training could potentially cure PTSD.

Anyway, after returning home from the war I became less and less creative. I found very little interested me or held my attention anymore. To take on any creative endeavor was not of any interest to me despite being an incredibaly creative person prior to combat. Its not that I didnt have ideas, its that I had no desire, will, or motivation for implementing these ideas. I almost felt like either the world around me was dead and in muted tones or I was dead to the world and nothing more than a passing breeze in it.

Since I completed a year of neuro-feedback, I have started learning (and playing, writing) classical guitar, piano, and oil painting. It is important for me to acknowledge that at the same time I also focused more on my spiritual beliefs and came to know Jesus as my God, father, and savior. I believe he used the Brainpaint program to help me. I digress...

Ok so anyway, the point is that I came to learn that creativity is directly impacted by certain brain waves. All sorts of things can inhibit these "creative" brain waves. Things such as environmental factors, diet, stress, injury, illness, emotional trauma, physical trauma, increases in other brain waves, so forth and so on. Once we targeted key brain waves for training and focus, we essentially brought balance back to the brain. This allowed my creativity to once again begin to blossom as it used too.

I figured I would share this just in case anyone would like to look into it. It may be the thing you need that you haven't tried.

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