Crafty Tuesday Creativity and Depression

[puppetmaker]

There is a weird notion that creative people are more creative when they are depressed. They point out that Van Gogh did his best work as he slid into madness. They bring up others artists that produced what is believed to be their best work during times of deep despair.

There is the panic factor of meeting a deadline. Not going to deny that but that is sheer adrenaline going and is not a healthy way to get things done.

I had an actor who felt that he did his best acting while high on heroin. He was a brilliant actor. Your eye went to him on the stage because he had such presence. After a series of events that were rather horrible, he went into rehab. Once he came back from rehab, he felt that he was not as good as he had been and it reflected in his performance. It was not as sharp as it was and I could see that his self-doubt was interfering with his abilities not that he wasn’t high.

I can’t function creatively when I am at my darkest. I have tried but it just doesn’t work. I get so wrapped up in my head about what I am not doing that I find myself practically paralyzed to get anything done. And I get more down on myself because I am not doing anything creative. So it becomes a vicious circle that just spirals down.

I do agree with Peter that when the chips are down one doesn’t have time for writer’s block.

Right now I am at a tipping point and I recognize that I am there. I know what I need to do to tip the right direction. Now I just have to do it.

I am grateful for lessons learned.

Comments

[siobhan-1.livejournal.com]

I think, for me, that the medication for depression levels me to a point where I just don't care - about anything. In that way it was worse to be on. I wasn't crying in a corner but I also didn't care about anything. At all. There really is a balancing point.