A Creative Edge
- 27 Aug 07, 9:53 PM
Nobody can deny the severe disadvantages of bipolar disorder due to the disruption it causes to a person鈥檚 life and the stigma attached to mental illness. But is there any hope for the afflicted? Can bipolar disorder be advantageous in any occupation or career path?
If we take a look at the occupations of successful bipolars past and present then this can give us a clue. Bipolar disorder seems to be prevalent in creative occupations such as musicians, actors, actresses, artists, writers and poets.
The following are thought to be bipolar:
Ludvig van Beethoven (Composer)
Mozart (Composer)
Vincent Van Gogh (Artist)
Edvard Munch (Artist)
Mark Twain (Writer)
Kurt Cobain (Musician)
Adam Ant (Musician)
Carrie Fisher (Actress)
Stephen Fry (Writer/Actor)
Tony Slattery (Comedian/Actor)
Spike Milligan (Comedian/Writer)
William Blake (Poet)
Sylvia Plath (Poet)
Why are so many actors and actresses affected? My theory is that the bipolar range of mood gives us a deeper understanding of the diversity of the human condition so that we have greater insight into others and can portray them easily. Bipolar individuals are used to wearing a mask to hide how we feel due to the stigma that others attribute to the condition. When acting, all that we are doing is getting into somebody else鈥檚 head and wearing their mask.
Flights of ideas and the ability to manipulate words could be the link to writers and poets. I have experienced this myself when hypomanic and I just can鈥檛 get my ideas down on paper quick enough. In this state of heightened awareness, I am able to write succinct articles, clever poetry and to find creative solutions to difficult problems by making amazing connections between ideas and words that have never before been linked.
Provided hypomania does not deteriorate into mania and it is controlled, then it has the potential for great achievement. During this state, I have gained high marks in exams where it seemed like the subject was crystal clear, my writing flowed and I was able to solve difficult problems under pressure. This helped me get a 1st class degree.
But this was not easy, as it required a responsible approach to medication with good insight in order to manage the condition in a proactive way and take intervening action before it spiralled out of control into mania or clinical depression.
Musicians have even more scope for creativity based on the bipolar spectrum of moods giving them depth and soul to their composing or lyric writing ability. An example of this is the blues. A whole genre of popular music built around a mental illness.
So there is hope for other bipolars out there. Start writing a diary or a weblog. Join a creative writing class. Learn a musical instrument. Join an art class. Volunteer for the local amateur dramatics group. You may not become rich and famous, but it could be your opportunity to shine.
For advice and support for overcoming discrimination and managing bipolar disorder at work:
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Comments
With complete respect for your position and comments regarding bipolar disorder and creativity, I have a few things I would like to add.
I have suffered tremendously, and for years, with this disorder. I have very, very often heard of individuals who completely agree with your opinions about this matter.
It is quite possible, perhaps even likely, that there is some correlation.
I am a practiced poet and fiction writer, and I cannot say for certain that bipolar is not a contributing, if minimal, factor.
My only hesitation in COMPLETELY endorsing your position is that people without a thorough knowledge of bipolar (in my experience) very often raise the creativity issue as a kind of "plus," a desirable side-effect.
People with a (dangerously)small amount of information offend me greatly with ignorant comments such as, "Bipolars" refuse medication because they enjoy the "high" and it makes them more creative.
I find this very stigmatizing, and I tire of feeling as if I have to defend an opposing opinion.
It took me seventeen years, from the beginning of treatment, to find a medication regimine that relieved my symptoms to the point where my they are now managable, and severe episodes are further in between. I was unfortunate that only in the past few years did the medicine I needed enter the market. I am truly lucky to be alive, and immensely grateful.
There is absolutely nothing in the world that would possess me to stop taking medication. I would not endure that suffering even if doing so would enable me to write a great American novel, or win a nobel prize. Nothing.
When I am symptomatic, I feel ess focused on any task, including artistic ones. In short, manic symptoms bring lots of ideas, but very little output. I am not sure about you, or others, but I think the word "high" is a very poor discription of mania/creative bursts.
"High" implies a pleasurable state, and the uneducated should not have the false impression that there are any desirable aspects to such a trying condition.
In a broad sense, I do agree with you in principle, and I have no wish to be oppositional or narrow-minded. I completely agree with your positive attitude regarding the way in which you can find some good in this painful, difficult situation.
Part of my motive is admittedly selfish. I do believe, for myself, for you, and for others with bipolar disorder, that we deserve just as much credit for our artistic gifts as does an unaffected person. ALL of us, as people work so hard for our art!
In a sense, I feel that attributing our success partially to a disorder undermines the blood, sweat, and tears we invest.
I also think there is a dangerous flip-side to the logic that bipolar disorder facilitates such wonderful things as those we create through art.
Again, my message is very much for the benefit of as yet uneducated people who do not live with bipolar.
Another sterotype/discrimination, or just plain "slam" I encounter is that people with bipolar attribute their destructive behavior to bipolar symptoms.
Therefore, I avoid attributing any of my behavior to the illness. If I do claim that my "good" behavior comes from bipolar symptoms, then why wouldn't I (0r others) blame the "bad" on it as well. I am not suggesting any of us (readers) does this.
I AM saying I am very cautious of giving any well-meaning but uninformed person the idea that my illness has any sort of influence over me that incapacitates me to the point that it, rather than I, am in control of general behaviors that might be deemed good OR bad.
I am differentiating between symptoms and behavior. Undoubtedly, bipolar makes me FEEL suffering, but it does not dictate what I DO in response.
I recently encountered a person who called her boyfriend a "bipolar psycho" because he was manipulative. I asked her, if he was being a jerk, why not just call him a jerk?
Her comment was, to me, the equivalent of a racial slur. She knows I have this condition. To use its name as a part of such an insult is highly offensive.
I enjoyed reading your comments very much. It is rare to find another person who understands.
In short, I have often been stigmatized, my suffering grossly minimized because people tend to put a whole lot of weight on the particular point you mention, so I am careful as to when and how I approach it.
I wish you the best. It is wonderful to see that you find solace and understanding through your connection to art.
All the best,
Jane