The Common Link Between Writers & Mental Illness

Many well-known artists, writers and musicians havehad a history of mental illness, in factsome of them have becomeso deeply depressedthat they eventuallyended their own life in an effort to stop the pain and suffering.So, could there actuallybe a link between artistic creativity, brilliance,and mental illness?Several studies have suggested that there is indeed a very strong link and thatwriters or people with strong creative capabilities are more likely than others to suffer from a class of mental illnesses that fall under various categories from mood disorders to major depression, and manic-depressive illness.

An examination of writers concluded that poets tend to be the most emotional and introspective among all writers, and had a much higher rate of mental illness than nonfiction writers who tend to be the most rational and analytic.Many researchers that have surveyed people with creative minds speculate that mood disorders allow people to think more creatively. In fact, one of the criteria for diagnosing mania includes sharpened and unusually creative thinking.

Writers block can inhibit deep emotional feelings that leave an otherwise creative writer feeling as though they will never write again. This is typical of a creative mind and writers eventually overcome writers block and continue with their brilliant thinking process oncetheir thought pattern isrefreshened and sharp.Mood can play a big role in the out come of how a piece will turn out. Mood disordersusually go along withdeep emotions and feelings. A writer can easily become depressed when their mood blocks clear thought patterns that stop them from being productive. Once they find their niche again, and have an outlet for clearing their head, usually on paper, they can once againrely on theirartistic creativity.

Depression

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