Thursday July 1, 2010, 6:39 am
ABRAHAM LINCOLN;WINSTON CHURCHILL-two more.....

Thursday July 1, 2010, 6:46 am
Thanks for posting.

Thursday July 1, 2010, 7:03 am
JAMES TAYLOR-MUSICIAN,POET.
ZELDA FITZGERALD-MUSE OF F.SCOTT

COMPOSERS?

Friday July 2, 2010, 12:51 am
Nobody has mentioned Kurt Cobain, John Cleese orBeethovan. Thank you for this positive post about mental health.

Friday July 2, 2010, 1:25 am
thanks for the artcile!

Friday July 2, 2010, 1:26 am
Thanks for the post. I know that many people stop taking meds because they do not agree with their bodies. Maybe they say they feel they stifle their creativity, because many of the medications being tested cause a person to not feel like themselves. It is hard to know how a persons brain chemistry is altered by these meds. Some are good, but some have side effects that are worse than the disease itself. With social support, love, structure, time the depressions will pass, then come again. But a person can learn to live with this. I think that our ideas of what is normal psychology as to what is not needs some more study. There are even prophets in the bible that would in our day be deemed mentally ill. Maybe there is the possibility that we are all not sheep. With out all these people the world would be a dull place. Many geniuses, artists, musicians, etc. definitely do not think as people usually do. But maybe they are not mentally ill, but maybe they just do not fit in society as it is. They have gifts, and I am thankful they share them. I hope for them to be ok as a human also. I hope for them to love the quality of life they have. I hope for them to have the support of people in their circle to help them get thru the times that are most rough.

Friday July 2, 2010, 1:27 am
Creative people do think differently. The real life examples seem to really validate this post. I guess a little bit of mental illness helps. Thanks for the post.

Friday July 2, 2010, 2:54 am
noted~ Thanks for sharing!!

Friday July 2, 2010, 7:02 am
Seeing beauty requires a heightened sense of awareness in the 21st century. Often this is accompanied by mental illness. More often it is a result of living outside the norms of society to be able to create. The concept of mental illness may have been invented to describe people who don't cooperate with the system. I don't dispute that there ARE mental disorders which require medication, only the link between mental illness and creativity. Lots of boring and unimaginative people are mentally ill, too, you know. Psychotropic medication made it possible for me to stop being creative for other people and have a life for myself.

Nobody knows the personal cost of creating beauty for others, but it destroys a lot more people than anyone recognizes. Being the person who creates beauty for others (who are too busy chasing money to make beauty or to see beauty) is often a terrible burden.

If people stopped programming their children to succeed, and let them BE children, all of us would retain our natural creativity and not depend upon others to create beauty for us. Filling up a child's human brain with specific things removes the sense of wonder at discovery. NOT seeing beauty is a perceptual problem, not a mental illness.
I realize I am ranting, but PLEASE think about what I am saying!

Friday July 2, 2010, 1:58 pm
Interesting article! Thank you!

Friday July 2, 2010, 2:21 pm
Interesting...thanks

Friday July 2, 2010, 4:23 pm
I like this:

Dr. Fredrik Ullen, described the connection between thought patterns and brain chemistry by saying, “Thinking outside the box might be facilitated by having a somewhat less intact box.” I have yet to hear any adequate explanation for what is wrong--and what is right--with me. This is as good an explanation as any.

http://www.examiner.com/x-21347-West-Palm-Beach-Depression-Examiner~y2010m7d1-A-Beautiful-Mind-creativity--mental-illness#

Friday July 2, 2010, 7:15 pm
Creative people think differently, work much much harder than people in ordinary, run-of-the-mill jobs, have much less employment security and are often subjected to unreasonable jealousy, ridicule and isolation. Only a very few achieve fame and fortune; most toil away for years, with little recognition or pecuniary rewards from society. These conditions may fuel emotional and psychological problems, which vary from one person to the next. Generalizations that link artistic creativity with mental illness are definitely NOT welcomed by artists, musicians, actors, dancers, writers, etc. Their rate of divorce, brushes with the law, breakdowns,alcoholism, drugs etc, is probabaly no greater than that of non-creative people. But whenever a well-known artistic person has such troubles, they are publicized just as much as when an athlete or a politician has similar problems. Most people just do not understand that fame imposes some pretty onerous pressures. Who would care to publicize Mr. Joe Nobody's infidelities? But the media has a feeding frenzy if it's Bill Clinton or Tiger Woods or one of the Beatles!

Saturday July 3, 2010, 12:15 am
Except for the seriously mentally ill, we may never know who has a problem and is creative about it.
But for those creative souls I say BRAVO!

Saturday July 3, 2010, 6:04 am
Mental illness can be a difficult and painful thing to live with for many who suffer from it (and for their families). In fact, for some it is a terminal illness since it can sometimes result in suicide or behaviors resulting in unintended death.

It does seem likely that some forms of mental illness do result in heightened 'creativity' in some areas. And, as the article states, the goal is to treat each individual patient appropriately and carefully so as to diminish the negative symptoms of the illness without making the patient feel as though they have lost their individuality. And to ensure that any drug therapy is tailored to the individual to try and minimize negative side effects.

My mother was mentally ill. And an extremely creative person in every area of her life - far more so than most people I've known. But the creativity did not in any way compensate for the misery in her life that her illness brought her. It was a lovely side effect that was completely overshadowed by the unhappiness and depression and destructive tendencies she also felt.

We can foster a love of beauty and creativity in life while still treating the sometimes horrific symptoms of mental illness.

Saturday July 3, 2010, 1:03 pm
Temporal Lobe Seizures are connected with genius and mental illness. These are electrical in nature.

Let's not forget how ELECTrical we all are. In history, those deemed as "touched by Divinity" (i.e. "mad", "insane", etc.) were called the "Elect", and considered to be chosen by the Higher POWER (i.e. God)--- set apart from the rest of the people---for special CREATIVE services; a type of conduit of THE CREATIVE FORCE ministering to and progressing its creation.

We have lost track of that utmost respect for those who are odd or different. How sad that is.

Saturday July 3, 2010, 2:26 pm
Thanks for posting this!

Saturday July 3, 2010, 2:29 pm
Tracking comments....

Saturday July 3, 2010, 10:42 pm
Many years ago, when I was in high school, one of my classmates got some of her poetry published in a leading magazine. We always thought she was a little odd, and after the teacher read one of her poems to the class, a jealous girl kicked her in hockey practice. She had a stock answer for her and for the rest of her classmates: "I may be a little unusual, but I am DEFINITELY NOT CRAZY!" I wish I could have been a better friend to her at that time. Now, years later, I think this article is unfortunate and to judge by many of the comments, it has irresponbsibly encouraged readers to link creativity with mental illness. Never forget: when Thomas Edison was a little boy, his whole community thought he was nutty and stupid, and if not for the encouragement and defense of his mother, he might never have invented that electric lamp that you are now using to read.

Saturday July 3, 2010, 11:20 pm
I come from a family filled with artists, writers and poets, and also clinical depression, suicide and bipolar disorder. I tell kids and young people in our family that along with their extensive creative and artistic gifts they need to understand the need for medication and education of their psychiatric illnesses.

Sunday July 4, 2010, 12:25 am
Thanks for the article.

Sunday July 4, 2010, 7:03 pm
Creative people think differently, work much much harder than people in ordinary, run-of-the-mill jobs, have much less employment security and are often subjected to unreasonable jealousy, ridicule and isolation.

Boy, Katrina, you really described my life! I have Asperger Syndrome, which is a type of autism/on the autism spectrum. I couldn't tell you how many times I have had to start from square one in jobs and career all my life because "normal" people completely misunderstand me, and I think, a lot of times, hate me for the fact I am different. I know they have seen that I have an exceptional level of intelligence, but they are still bigoted and self-conceited. As a result of these bigoted employers, I am only earning what I would have as a high school grad, if that, and I have a four-year degree and support myself. I have no guardians nor payees, nor will I allow anyone to try to control my life that way. Sometimes, people even think I have mental retardation after seeing the physical manifestation of Aspergers, a physical clumsiness, but it is not difficult to show up these close-minded bigots. My strongest suit is verbal, and I was reading on a fourth-grade level when I was in first grade and never lost a spelling bee. Yet, the grade-school teachers where I went to school PUNISHED me for reading so far ahead and locked me in the closet. Due to that treatment, I became the butt of jokes and ridicule among the students as well as teachers-for my excellence, which I am sure they were jealous of, just like employers later on. Now, I work at a disability rights advocacy agency (non-profit, which means lower pay), and am 57 years old, so trying to find something that pays more is just not going to happen since employers are allowed to "practice" flagrant age and disability discrimination without state human rights commission or the EEOC being of any real help. Bigotry is in style. I guess if a person is bigoted, it is a status symbol anymore. It means they are "superior." One thing for sure, whenever I get the opportunity to confront a bigot, I put them through a lot of mental hell for their self-conceit after they've revealed themselves as bigots by patronizing me or trying to tell me I can't and won't succeed at anything. I already have succeeded more than anyone has ever allowed me to believe I could. In grade school, I was told every day in front of my schoolmates that I will never amount to anything, and in high school, voted least likely to succeed and nearly booed off the stage when I accepted my diploma. Is it any wonder I LOVE the movie 'Carrie?'

Sunday July 4, 2010, 9:47 pm
I have several creative people in my family who are unhappy and depressed any time they are not allowing their imaginations to soar!

Sunday July 4, 2010, 9:50 pm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - musician/composer, Edvard Munch - artist (The Scream)
Thanks for the article, the more I learn about bi-polar disorder and depression, the more my own illnesses are starting to make some sense, or at least the symptoms are.

Sunday July 4, 2010, 9:52 pm
I wish to repeat even more strongly than before: This article, and others like it, do more harm than good, by encouraging the public to scrutinize any and all unusually acomplished people for "symptoms" and to discredit them socially or professionally with implications that they are "crazy." Somebody named Lisa even posted a list of famous, accomplished people whose private, personal difficulties have been publicized, as if to reinforce the ignorant theory that creative people are "nuts." Such a post reeks of jealousy, stigmtizing and is on the borderline of libel. I am going to mark it "inappropriate" and I hope it will be removed from this column.

Sunday July 4, 2010, 10:38 pm
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing, Lisa :)

Monday July 5, 2010, 2:44 am
Mental illness is for me not the correct definition.
I prefer "mental disorders".
Or excessive sensitivity.

Monday July 5, 2010, 6:04 am
very interesting, thanks a lot for posting!

Monday July 5, 2010, 9:34 am
Thankyou Lisa. This is slightly off topic but I have a ``trait`` that I have lived with my whole life, and did not understand until about 5 years ago. It is called ``The Highly Sensitive Person`` or H.S.P. About 20% of the population have it, or 80% do not have it. There are a number of different dynamics to this trait for different people. But we are intuitive, deep thinkers, and empathic. Because of this we get overwhelmed very easily as we process so much more in our brains. So it is essential for hsp`s to have alot of down time, or quiet time to refill our resevoir of energy.
HSP`s are also very contiencous and caring. So in a world that is so fast-paced, competitive, agressive, and the need to do succeed, HSP`s can be easily overwhelmed.
My question is who has the so called``mental disorder``? The creative,or the empathic people; or the other 80%?

Monday July 5, 2010, 5:57 pm
Wow Lisa the list is endless. I know Winston Churchill had dyslexia and Beethoven suffered from depression and anger because he became deaf and couldn't hear his music anymore.
Don't agree with you Catrina - the more people are aware of these problems - the more likely there will be help forthcoming and people will no longer be discriminated against. I think depression would have to be one of the worst case scenarios because of lack of understanding in the community. Depression is something you can't see - not like a broken limb etc.

Tuesday July 6, 2010, 7:57 am
What an interesting article. Thanks for posting.

Tuesday July 6, 2010, 10:51 pm
Asperger's syndrome is so often misdiagnosed, misunderstood and mishandled that it is nothing short of tragic. Deborah W. and I had many of the same experiences, endured no doubt much of the same punishment for reading ahead, reading too far above our grade level and occasionally correcting a mistake in a textbook. I am confident that someday people will realize and accept that we aren't mentally ill or defective--our brains are just wired differently.

Saturday July 17, 2010, 8:42 pm
I am Bipolar. I guess that's why I am a muscian and write poetry! :)

Monday December 20, 2010, 2:53 am
thanks for this article.