A question about BIPOLAR DISORDER and the beneficial effects of ART?

Question

Could you help me please? I am writing a dissertation, the topic being whether art (be that painting, writing, photography etc) can be effective in helping the sufferer cope with the distressing symptoms of the illness, and bring (if only temporarily) a release and comfort to him/her. If YES, could you please explain why this is so. Thank you

Answer 1

any form of art is a theraputic element to most illnesses. this would only benefit the bipolar inflicted person when they are actually in the (normal) mode. otherwise. when they are manic or depessive. no form of art will help them because they cannot focus on the concepts of art in either of the above. being that bipolar is the outcome of the brains chemical imbalance, initiating the proper medication and dosages are the initial goal. once that has been accomplished and the patient is stablized, as we refer to (normal), then by all means, using art is a great idea.

i was married to a bipolar person for the last 19 years. when she went into the depression mode, she cried, slept alot, went into seclusion, complained about how miserable life was...that was all she could focus on.

when she was in her manic mode, oh boy. all hell broke loose, fighting, argueing, busting-breaking things. screaming loudly. getting into the peoples faces...again. art would not have helped as her focus was on the aggression.