Bipolar Disorder and Creativity is Not a Myth

Bipolar disorder and creativity is not a myth. You can check out the lengthy list of famous people with bipolar disorder for proof (and these are just the ones we know about). The energy and inspiration that can come with bipolar disorder can allow you to reach levels of creativity that other people can’t.

“If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the Muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the performances of the inspired madman.” (That’s you : )

Socrates

Poetry and art are not the only intersection where bipolar disorder and creativity meet. Creativity is also an asset in business, relationships, invention, and pretty much everywhere else. There might be an artist inside of you that you don’t know about yet. You should try to harness your “manic powers” and focus them on some kind of work or activity. Try the "how long can I focus on one things" game @ http://www.depressiondodging.com/howlongcanifocus.html.

“The volitional excitement which accompanies the disease may under certain circumstances set free powers which otherwise are constrained by all kinds of inhibition. Artistic activity namely may, by the untroubled surrender to momentary fancies or moods, and especially poetical activity by the facilitation of linguistic expression, experience a certain furtherance.”

Emil Kraepelin

Here are some activities where your bipolar disorder and creativity might be an asset: work, invent things, draw, paint, write/play music, make movies, act, sing, make sculptures, or spend time on any hobby you have. You might find something that you like and that you’re good at.

“From a part of the brain preternaturally elevated, but not diseased, the mind sometimes discovers not only unusual strength and acuteness, but certain talents it never exhibited before…Talents for eloquence, poetry, music and painting, and uncommon ingenuity in several of the mechanical arts, are often involved in this state of madness…The disease which often involves these new and wonderful talents and operations of the mind may be compared to an earthquake, which by convulsing the upper strata of our globe, throws upon its surface precious and splendid fossils, the existence of which was unknown to the proprietors of the soil in which they were buried.”

Benjamin Rush

You can accomplish a lot of great work with bipolar disorder, but you need to discipline yourself and focus your energy on one thing instead of letting it scatter all over the place.

Personally, my mood has improved tremendously and stayed high ever since I decided to focus all of my energy on this website and playing music. I used to want to do everything and as a result I accomplished nothing. Bipolar disorder becomes a gift instead of a curse when you focus on something that is important to you and forget about everything else.

Use your gift of creativity!

Go here for a list of famous people with bipolar disorder: http://www.depressiondodging.com/famouspeoplewithbipolardisorder.html

Go here for inspiration: http://www.depressiondodging.com/inspirationtherapy.html