connection between creativity and mental illness?

Question

What's the connection between creativity and mental illness?

Answer 1

creativity is a way to release stress and problems. People are creative as a means to solve internal conflicts.

Answer 2

I suffer from an illness called "Bi-polar dysfunctional disorder". I mean "suffer" I really would prefer to be a quadriplegic than have the absolute despair and suicidal anguish of my depressed state. I have for ten years a hatred of waking in the morning with a wish that I had died in the night because of my depression. When I am slightly manic I hate the day because I wonder "When today will the depression click in."

I've been so close to suicide so many times. Insulin needles already in my skin ready to push. But I mustn't. My daughter is also bi polar and has been critically ill from her serious suicide attempts. If I go, she'll go, so I stay alive.

I am not asking sympathy.I just explain that I am both personally qualified and well read to observe that a half of the greatest artists throughout history have shown strong evidence of bi-polar illness.

Research your favorite artist for this.

There is a recognized body of art work that defies catagories such as "modern", "Abstract Expressionist" and the like. For no better reason than this it is often called "Art Brut", ("bare art of the soul") first recognized for it's brilliance in mental institutions. For the record I am myself an accomplished artist/poet/writer what you will. I win rich prizes anyway so someone must think I'm good. I don't but then I'm mostly depressed!

I suspect from reading and friends that other mental illnesses are not particularly related to creativity.

I note the comment about autism but suspect that there is a "savant" element to this which may be a more analytical than "creative" characteristic. Patients with schizophrenia are probably more likely to use art as therapy rather than real creativity. I am of course quibbling over semantics and respect the other opinions though I don't agree with them.

Answer 3

The connection is that people with illness such as bipolar or even autism who show genius, have a natural ability to think differently than the norm. When we think outside of the normal mainstream, we can be considered creative. True there is overwhelming evidence of this occuring in art, literature, technology, and on. Check out the boy with the incredible brain video on google. This british kid among other things can recite pi to 25000 digits from memory with no errors. It's a great video, and in his case he has a form of autism but he can communicate normally...Really amazing. The sad thing is there is so much stigma for this population that they really get held down and we don't really get to see the half of what they could probably donate to "the normal" world.

Answer 4

the actuality is that the more advantageous creativity actual isn't greater, although the man with the affliction perceives that that's. The act of taking medicine ofr the affliction is frequently the foremost set off for most individuals with certain ailments. To be straightforward the same old reaction is that once someone has been supply a diagnoses and prescribed medicine they're going to take it for a shorter era of time feeling that they are more beneficial ideal and stop taking it or they sense that the medication motives a blockading of the creativity yet it truly is not any longer the case. the man is wanting to get the astounding euphoria and inventive euphoria back so that they stop their medicine. In some case they do no longer favor medicine or comply with take a milder dose as long as they sense nevertheless in administration of their inventive center. the relationship is one which's for the most section a heightened attitude from the sufferers view factor. i'm hoping that helps!

Answer 5

People who have extreme mental illnesses (e.g., brain trauma, extreme autism) sometimes have remarkable creative abilities, like drawing, sculpture, or music skills. Oliver Sacks wrote a wonderful classic, called “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.” It is light, fun reading, and it discusses several of his patients who suffered from mental illnesses and who possessed uncanny creative talents.

Answer 6

In the general population there are a number of people who suffer from schizophrenia, bi-polar, depression, and so forth. In the creativity range of people there people who suffer from schizophrenia, bi-polar, depression, and so forth.