Creativity and mental illness

[BriarRose]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-19959565

[axegrinder]

Tell me about it! - although sometimes I take comfort in the thought that maybe I was given the gift (I am a musician) as a way to deal with things, rather than the other way round. Artists generally endulge in deep thought, and this can be dangerous, but on the other hand, it can produce some good work!

[stde]

I fully agree with this connection, but allthough an interesting article....It gave me a great laugh when it said that e.g. dancers and photographers were at risk......

My sense of humour (which I lost..didn,t.even smile for years) said....." well just change your job and you,ll be ok".......ha ha ha(sorry)

all the best for 2013...xx

[BriarRose]

ROFL!!!! Yeah, like a prima ballerina who's trained for decades is going to go of and do - what??? And - surely it's the talent/urge to be creative that is linked with MH problems - I mean, i write - I don't CHOOSE to write, i HAVE to! Not an option not to! Glad it made you laugh anyway xx

[Hidden]

Sorry, totally confused.!! I always thought it was the other way round. By having any sort of mental (how I hate that word when associated with 'nervous' illness) disorder you are more lkely to be creative. Creativity does not create mental disorder. Oh for God's sake. Talk about the blind leading the blind!!!!. Regards. jonathan.

[BriarRose]

ROFL!!!!! I dunno, Jonathan - chicken and egg? But i do know that an awful lot of "high-achievers" - not just creative ones - DO suffer from MH probs - Churchill being an obvious example - and he did all right lol!

Love Rose

[Teddysmum43]

I'm creative too,went to art college then train inked as a florist and had my own florist shop until fibromyalgia got the better of me. I've been encouraged to get creative again as its been dormant for four years. I've done the odd arrangement for someone and really enjoyed it,I'm going to start doing collage work as its something that really appeals to me. Am hoping it will help me with my mental health.

[Optimistic9]

Being creative is a true gift . I cannot believe psychiatry is trying to link it to mental illness. What these days is NOT a disorder in the minds of psychiatrists ?. They scrutinise and overanalyse every human feeling and emotion under the sun., whether it be kids misbehaving or someone with a talent for painting. Maybe THEY are the ones with the problem!

[BriarRose]

Hmmm.... you could be right, Optimistic - I've always suspected people go into psychiatry cos they've got issues of their own! xx

[Optimistic9]

Creativity is a true gift . It is an insult to the millions of talented people in this world to try and link it to mental illness. Not everything is a disorder!

[Optimistic9]

I absolutely love creative people and also eccentric people. They make the world a more interesting place . x

[BriarRose]

Me too! "Normal" people are really boring xx