by Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN
http://www.dianaraab.com
Remember sadness is always temporary. This, too, shall pass. – Chuck T. Falcon
It has been said that creative persons, such as authors, artists, actors, musicians, performers and poets are more often plagued with the demon of depression. One of the reasons is that creative types tend to feel powerful emotions which could aid in their creative endeavors. If we examine the lives of accomplished artists, such as Vincent Van Gogh, Charles Darwin, Virginia Wolf, William Styron, Anne Sexton, Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath, we will observe that they all battled with depression at some point in their lives. If you’ve ever been depressed then you understand the sense of helplessness and numbness which accompanies this illness. Sometimes a sense of helplessness drives creative individuals to the drawing or writing pad, but other times, it can be immobilizing.
Approximately seven percent of the general population is affected by depression or bipolar disorder, and studies have shown that this number tends to be higher amongst creative types. Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of mania and major depression. Typically, someone who is manic depressive tends to swing from excessive highs (mania) to profound hopelessness (depression). In between these episodes, they typically they have periods of normal mood. Some people can also have mixed symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time, while others may have more moderate symptoms of mania.
In his book, Van Gogh Blues, Eric Maisel proclaims that virtually one hundred percent of creative people suffer from episodes of depression. He verifies this by saying that every creative person came out of the womb ready to interrogate life and determine for herself what life would mean, could mean, and should mean. He believes that depression in creative individuals is thought of as a crisis caused by chronic, persistent uneasiness, irritation, anger, and sadness about the facts of existence and life’s apparent lack of meaning. In fact, those who try to understand the reason for their own existence will most likely be more prone to depression. This theory refutes the belief that depression has genetic roots, and this would be a good subject for another article.
Kay Redfield Jamison, a foremost expert on bipolar disorder and someone who has also suffered from the disease since childhood, believes that most artistic geniuses are manic depressive. Jamison is also author of Touched With Fire and professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her book makes a powerful link between depression and creativity.
When a writer is depressed, he or she may turn to writing to ease the pain. The writing process can help the creative person make sense of their lives and helps to validate what they are feeling. Writing brings us face-to-face with reality. The act of moving the pen across the page or the fingers on the keyboard can be meditative and calming. Expressing your feelings helps to give meaning to your life, something which is helpful for us all to do!
About DIANA M. RAAB
Diana Raab is an award-winning writer and teacher specializing in personal writing and memoir. She is a guest blogger on numerous websites. She teaches at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and at various conferences around the country.
Her most recent memoir/self-help book is called, Healing With Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey and has already received stellar reviews and she’s set up for many interviews.
Her memoir, Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal (Beaufort Books, 2007)) won the 2008 National Indie Excellence Award for Memoir and the 2009 Mom’s Choice Award for Adult Nonfiction.
She’s editor of the anthology, Writers and Their Notebooks (University of South Carolina Press, January 2010).
She has three poetry collections: My Muse Undresses Me (2007), Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You (2008), winner of The Reader Views Award and Allbooks Reviews Editor’s Choice and The Guilt Gene (2009).
She’s the recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Book award for best health and wellness book for her book, Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant: Overcoming Infertility and High Risk Pregnancy. It has been translated into French and Spanish. In 2009 the book was updated and released in its 20th anniversary edition, under the title, Your High Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide in collaboration with Dr. Errol Norwitz of Yale School of Medicine.
For more information, please visit her website: http://www.dianaraab.com. and blog, http://www.dianaraab.com/blog.
Diana,
What do you think is more common…people writing to bring themselves out of a depression or depression being a part of the writing process(people get depressed as a result of writing)?
Hi, Jodi!
Personally, I’ve never had to deal with depression – thanks be to God! So I have no idea just how dark that particular darkness is. But I have experienced loss, sadness, disappointment, and a host of other emotions and trials that everyone (with the exceptions of Big Bird and Mary Poppins) feels.
I’ve found that writing is extremely therapeutic. When I suddenly lost my mom a few years ago, pouring the flood of emotions into writing helped me so much, I can’t even begin to tell you. After September 11, my husbands company lost a lot of money and we lost our beautiful home. Writing about it allowed a lot of emotions out that might have done some intense damage had they stayed inside their host. Tis the stuff bitterness is made of!
Writing is great for the mind, body, and soul – whether it’s a blog, book, or simply a personal journal that no one sees except you and your cat.
re: Van Gogh Blues: I found this report to be very helpful and insightful. How interesting that creative people such as such as “authors, artists, actors, musicians, performers and poets are more often plagued with the demon of depression.” Because they have to feel more to be creative. I think this is a fact as I am familiar with several creative friends who suffer from bipolar disorder. Now I see this is not by coincidence.
It would be wonderful to see a book review on my recent favorite book of daily reflections: “Little Gifts of Sustainable Contentment” by C.J. Good which will dramatically change ones thinking, and therefore change lives. It is so wise and insightful. Please take a look at it if you can. I think your readers will appreciate your review. Especially those who suffer with depression. It might revive them to a certain extent.
here is the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/145284416X?ie=UTF8&tag=sustainaweb056-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=145284416X
I enjoyed your article.
I think it maybe possible that creative people feel very high & powerful when they experience that exhilaration of creativity.
The flow from that inner source of creativity is very fulfilling.
It’s the birthright of every human being.
The problem comes when an individual can’t maintain their connection with that iinfinite creativity that they taste from time to time & they get depressed for the lack of it. The more they feel the flow the more they miss it when it’s not there & frustration & self depreciation results.
There is research that Transcendental Meditation decreases depression & there are studies going on I gather to measure the results of TM on bipolar disorder. I think TM is an efficient way to easily, consistently, systematically draw on the innate creativity within so freeing up the creative channel for more satisfying artistic achievments.
Somehow those very creative physiologies are refined enough to tap into high voltage creativity but not stable enough to maintain it. Hitting the ultimate jackpot & loosing it again is distressing. With TM over time, in a gentle way, the body becomes accustom to the growth of creativity & changes becoming able to maintain it without blowing a fuse.
I’d guess great nutrition & good regular exercise would also help the body normalize. Ayurved would also be helpful to bring balance in a wholistic way.
I use writing to help me work thru my depression, as part of my therapy. That is what my blog has turned into recently, my journey thru the wilderness.
Bernice
http://bernicewood.wordpress.com/2010/07/29/journaling-as-a-tool-for-self-discovery-and-healing/
Bernice, I agree – Writing is very, very therapeutic! I used writing as a way to sort through my nightmarish feelings after losing both of my parents. I honestly think it kept me sane. Best of luck with your blog and all that you do!
Wonderful Post! I see the link between creativity and depression.
I am an artist myself and I have always felt this curiosity about life that does not get answered by the “traditional statements” in this society.
I feel that great artists have been so brilliant because they’ve refused to settle with conventional ideas and they decide to go further, to push the envelope, to invent something anew… And because of that they may feel that people don’t get them and that can be very frustrating! In many cases they accused of being crazy just because they are freely expressing their feelings… No wonder so many great artists suffered from deep depressions and ended up alone and poor…
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How I wish I was Twenty Years, younger, bcsauee I have always been a Person that is very creative, I remember when before I retired for the night, back then I would start being creative in my thoughts as to how I was going to make my dress for my daughter’s upcoming Wedding, and come Morning I would make a be-line to my sewing Machine and start sewing, and I had always been like that, but when I became Ill about five Months ago my enery has gone down the drain, and I find myself being angry at myself, since I cannot function like I used too.But I am not a wishful thinker, since I find ways to finish any task I started. I am a creative Person, when I get an idea in my Head I make sure I do it, or my name isn’t, Ana.
It’s nice to see an article that focuses on the good that can sometimes come from depression. I’m not the most creative person but have suffered from major bouts of depression. Depression exposes people to a depth of feeling that most people never experience. It makes sense that those who are creative can use their creativity to give voice to those feelings and express them.
I definitely agree that writer can reduced its depression through writing, it serves as an outlet for them. In my opinion artistic geniuses are most often depressed because of their vast ideas that because of too much thinking it affects their mental capabilities.
Understand that antidepressants will only do so much. They’re useful, they’ll level you out and give you the time you need to figure out your own path to getting well. They can be helpful. There are lots to choose from. They may not be for you, and even if they are, they take some time to kick in. Conversely, they may not be for you. Work with your doctor.