Creativity 'closely entwined with mental illness'

[Ninja'd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19959565

Creativity is often part of a mental illness, with writers particularly susceptible, according to a study of more than a million people.

Writers had a higher risk of anxiety and bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, unipolar depression, and substance abuse, the Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute found.

They were almost twice as likely as the general population to kill themselves.

The dancers and photographers were also more likely to have bipolar disorder.

As a group, those in the creative professions were no more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders than other people.

But they were more likely to have a close relative with a disorder, including anorexia and, to some extent, autism, the Journal of Psychiatric Research reports.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Kyaga said the findings suggested disorders should be viewed in a new light and that certain traits might be beneficial or desirable.

For example, the restrictive and intense interests of someone with autism and the manic drive of a person with bipolar disorder might provide the necessary focus and determination for genius and creativity.

Similarly, the disordered thoughts associated with schizophrenia might spark the all-important originality element of a masterpiece.

Novelist Virginia Woolf, who wrote A Room of One's Own and To the Lighthouse, had depression and drowned herself
Fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid, had depression
US author and journalist Ernest Hemingway, who wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls, had depression and killed himself with a shotgun
Author and playwright Graham Greene, who wrote the novel Brighton Rock, had bipolar disorder

Dr Kyaga said: "If one takes the view that certain phenomena associated with the patient's illness are beneficial, it opens the way for a new approach to treatment.

"In that case, the doctor and patient must come to an agreement on what is to be treated, and at what cost.

"In psychiatry and medicine generally there has been a tradition to see the disease in black-and-white terms and to endeavour to treat the patient by removing everything regarded as morbid."

Beth Murphy, head of information at Mind, said bipolar disorder personality traits could be beneficial to those in creative professions, but it may also be that people with bipolar disorder are more attracted to professions where they can use their creative skills.

"It is important that we do not romanticise people with mental health problems, who are too often portrayed as struggling creative geniuses.

"We know that one in four people will be diagnosed with a mental health problem this year and that these individuals will come from a range of different backgrounds, professions and walks of live. Our main concern is that they get the information and support that they need and deserve."

Mandatory comment: Terry Goodkind is apparently safe.

 

[zll]

Well that explains a lot. I'm a writer and artist.

 

[Ninja'd]

Well that explains a lot. I'm a writer and artist.

Hopefully it's not too bad. I'll check out your page in your sig when I'm home.

 

[zll]

Ugh. I tend to go through patches of anxiety and paranoia, possibly tied to my dad's long list of mental issues. I've gotten most of it sorted out with lifestyle and diet changes as I refuse to take medication. I also suspect I'm a bit OCD but I've been working on breaking those types of thought patterns.

I've found working out regularly (five times a week) has helped me a lot. Probably the most out of everything. It's weird how when I'm lifting weights that I forget about all my "problems". Another benefit is that even though I'm skinny I'm started to look ripped

Just realised my blog disappeared from my sig. Must have accidentally deleted it a while ago. Updated my sig with that as well

 

[Thugscub]

Nothing wrong with me.