Creativity and Depression

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I went to Gallery Row yesterday. It is small strip of Prince St., in Lancaster Pa., where many local artists have their art galleries. I had hoped to visit two of my friends  today; but, I ended up being to tired to get to the second gallery. 

I adore going to my friend's gallery. The music is calm, the gallery quiet and beauty surrounds me. The place is serene. The bonus there is not only do I get to talk with my friend, but I also get to watch him work.  If I am very tired, I can climb onto his comfy lounge chair in the back and watch him work and take a nap, if I need. 

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While there I showed him my blog and the ManTherapy website; I thought he'd get a kick out of it. This brought us to the topic of depression and creativity. For centuries, melancholia/depression has been linked to those involved in the creative arts. As a professional artist, he said he could understand why this is. He said "artists and creative types are part of the few that are willing to look within and delve depths of their souls. And as hard as it is to do this, we do this because we aren't willing to live a hum drum life. This self exploration allows us to become fully alive".

Now I dabble in fabric arts and crafts at times. I've often written poetry and I even have a published book. Yet, when in the midst of my deepest depression, like most poets, artists and composers, I am unable to work during this periods of severe depression. "In fact, many have found their inability to create while depressed to be an impetus for ending it all. Virginia Woolf, for example, unable to write during the onset of a depressive episode, filled her pockets with stones and submerged herself in the River Ouse."

According to Psychology Today there are 4 reasons that are believed to be connections between creativity and depression:

Artists and writers use their craft as a form of auto-therapy for depression. Their creativity helps to ward of  melancholia.

THE SCREAM    source

The experience of depression may provide subject matter for artistic creations: for example Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream:


A person needs to experience both the joys and sorrows of life to fully comprehend the human condition, so they can or convey it meaningfully in their creative work. "Thus, depression provides the existential angst from which great art arises".

 Recovery from depression that inspires creative work: according to recent research it may just be the recovery from depression that is the inspiration for creative work rather than the depression.


Early I spoke about being in my friend's gallery. I thought you might like a glimpse inside it too. Below is a video of my friend, Freiman Stolzfus, inside his gallery. You'll some of his work in progress and he'll be speaking about the quilts (another art form) in Lancaster, county PA. I thought you might enjoy this YouTube Video entitled:

Lancaster Heritage Quilt Fund.m4v

References:

Ashby, F.G., Isen, A.M., & Turken, U. (1999). A neuropsychological theory of positive affect and its influence on cognition. Psychological Review, 106(3), 529-550. Jamison, K. (1989). Mood disorders and patterns of creativity in British writers and artists. Psychiatry, 52: 125-134.

Let's Speak Up About Mental Health Issues

Have you seen that new commercial that is on TV. Well, I guess technically it is a Public Service Announcement (PSA). It is the one with Glenn Close in it. Well here's your chance in case you missed it:

I was in shock when I saw the PSA on TV. Literally, I stopped dead in my tracks. Oh, there have been commercials before pedaling antidepressants or antipsychotics, but this the first one I have have seen that talked openly about Mental Health Issues. 


Not less than 24 hours before I was filling out a survey about commercials. What can I say, I was bored. Anyway, it asked if I had every seen commercials for the diseases that I had. Well, I answered no, of course, after all I have so many of them. There just weren't ones that included depression from having chronic illnesses, or adjustment reactions, or mixed connective tissue disease, among other things. This PSA gave me hope that maybe people will finally speak up about behavioral health/mental health issues.


Now I've spoken up about the enormous mental health issue faces our nation and our world. Now it is your turn to get involved. I will be talking more about Mental Health issues in this blog again as National Chronic Invisible Illness Week is coming up, Sept 10 - 16. It is important to address this issue especially that during that week, as half of all Americans will sometime during there life have a mental illness. Please go to Bring Change 2 Mind for more information. 








*The PSA came from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUaXFlANojQ

Coping With Chronic Illness

*This is Video is Called Invisible Illnesses Are Everywhere, "Every Day"




Today  isn't one of my better days. Therefore I am re-posting an article with the permission of the American Psychological Association entitled Chronic Illness:

Chronic illness

There are many types of chronic illness, from diabetes and AIDS to arthritis and persistent fatigue. While medical science has made great strides in developing effective treatments for the physical effects of these diseases, many victims still face a staggering challenge to their mental and emotional health.

One of the biggest fears is the uncertainty associated with a chronic illness. The condition may be sporadic, lasting only a short while. Or, it could be permanent, gradually worsening over time.

Chronic illness can force many potentially stressful lifestyle changes, such as giving up cherished activities, adapting to new physical limitations and special needs, and paying for what can be expensive medications and treatment services.

Even day-to-day living may be difficult. A study of patients suffering from chronic tension headaches experienced diminished performance in their jobs and social functioning, and were three to fifteen times more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety or mood disorder.

The need for emotional endurance

Over time, these stresses and negative feelings can rob you of the emotional energy necessary to move forward with your life. Lack of progress in your recovery or worsening symptoms can trigger negative thoughts that heighten feelings of anxiety and sadness, often leading to depression.

Acting quickly to address depression is essential. In studies of patients recently diagnosed with various types of chronic illnesses, the highest risk of depressive symptoms occurred within the first two years. While these symptoms usually diminished, patients with heart disease maintain a significantly higher risk for depression as long as eight years after diagnosis. Physical limitations imposed by heart disease and other chronic illnesses such as arthritis and lung disease are also a common source of depression, particularly among older adults.

Because depression often leads to poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and inconsistent hygiene, it may actually complicate your recovery from a chronic illness and worsen your overall physical condition.

Those battling heart disease are especially at risk. Prolonged depression in patients with cardiovascular disease is a known contributor to subsequent heart attacks and strokes. And heart attack survivors suffering from major depression are three to four times more likely to die within six months.

What to do

Coping with the mental and emotional challenges of a chronic illness requires an approach that is realistic, but also positive. Adapting to your condition or feeling good about the future may seem impossible at first, but it can be done. A recent study of kidney patients undergoing multiple dialysis treatments each week found that their perceived mood and life satisfaction was no different from a control group of healthy people.

A qualified psychologist can help you build the emotional resilience necessary to navigate the difficulties of chronic illness. Working with your physician and other specialists, the psychologist can help develop appropriate coping strategies that will not only reinforce your treatment program, but also help you fulfillment in life regardless of any physical limitations.

Here are some other suggestions for coping with chronic illness:

Stay connected. Establish and maintain quality relationships with friends and family. Many health organizations also sponsor support groups composed of other people experiencing similar challenges. These groups will not only aid your own well-being, but also provide rewarding opportunities to help others.

Take care of yourself. Don't allow worries about your illness to get in the way of eating property, getting rest and exercise, and having fun. 

Maintain a daily routine of work, errands, household chores, and hobbies as much as possible. This will provide you with a feeling of stability amid the chaos and uncertainty of your illness..

The American Psychological Association gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Rosalind Dorlen, PsyD, ABPP, and the Council on Psychological Health of the New Jersey Psychological Health Association in developing this fact sheet. 






*Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgn8jHCQ8Jg
Found originally on the Invisible Illness Week Website