Are Artists Really Mad?

``if we cured the artists of their nuroses, would they no longer be able to create?``

A good article, raising valid points. A friend of mine, diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, took the decicion to stop taking any medication because he found it stunted his creativity so much that he was unable to earn a living (he makes special effects).
Maybe the acceptance of abstract sensations allows the person to explore them, where they would otherwise tell themselves to not `be silly`. -talking with one of my most `ill` clients, he launches into the most complex and creative lines of thought that are difficult to keep up with (but brilliant nonetheless).

keep it up!

Long ago reading psychology of soldiering, I read a book, `Anatomy of Courage` by Lord Moran. He was a Britich doctor with the frontline troops in WW1. One of his basic theories was that courage could be spent and there was a thin line between courage and cowardice. In short he meant that courage connected to emotions, high flow of andraline hormones etc was not replenishable.
Sensitive people are creative and loners. See our very own Roohi Bano, a Post Graduate in psychology and the mental wreck that she is in. There is also the case of Parveen Boby and Maralyn Manroe. Both committed suicide in depression.

Vey recently an A Level student of mine killed herself. She could write descriptive essays of um matchable prowess and deep down was very sensitive. She went on drugs and then died when she was hardly 20.

People such as them sap away from their resevoirs till they run out.

Lets admire and pray for them

An interesting and refreshingly different article but is their any empirical evidence to prove that madness and artisitic genius are related?

For every example you can give me of one, I can give you another to prove opposite.

Re: # 2

monroe was killed by the kennedys.
or the mafia. or both. depends which book you read about her!

Re: # 3
Dear Naqshbandi....creativity and insanity have been discussed in the books of poetry,

philosophy and mythology in the past. It is only in 20th century that science is taking lead

in these areas. Research is in infancy but there have been some breakthroughs to help

people with mental illness and decrease their suffering. Evidence is pointing that creativity

and mental illness has some connection and can run in the same families. Obviously further

research is needed to prove the hypothesis. Artists like Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway

and Vincent Van Gogh are some examples of that tragedy.Thanks for your

interest....sincerely sohail

It is self aggrandizing concept among the literati. No scientific basis for it. Much like the self-inflicted starving-artist syndrome.

Interesting article; well written and supported with the sources.

One question for Dr. Sahib. Do the drugs also induce creativity. I have heard that using charas is a great way to embark upon the journey towards unknown. Is it true?

You can creative people are rather emotional. These are the people who consider them mad and then eventually make them mad.

The article is good, Khalid Sahib

I wish your title was more sensitive?

People with Mental Illness are not ``Mad``.

Actually most people who ARE really mad in my opinion and commit really bad acts such as crimes are perfectly sane in the clinical way.

The one illness that is the mainstay of the connection between creativity and mental illness is Bipolar or Manic Depressive Disorder. Many people who are afflicted with this illness may appear to be bizaare, eccentric and what have you, but are hardly mad.....

Creativity is not just limited to art, but is the fountainhead of all innovation in human societies.

Inventors, Writers, Lawyers, Doctors, Surgeons, Scientists, Architects, Musicians, Chefs, Mothers, Fathers, are all creative beings........

I guess its the level of creativity that differs between all these people from all walks of life....

The mental high felt by Sufi Mystics through out ages would be considered Mania by today`s psychiatrists.........

What ignorant arabs believed to be divine revelations 1400 some years ago would be considered by many to be the ramblings of a very gifted poet well versed in Judeochristian traditions....and I am not saying whether they are or they are not........

Whether a person is experience spirit possession or psychosis is a matter of opinion and the cultural frame of reference....

One Man`s Spirit`s Possession is Another Man`s Psychosis easily cured by some Strong AntiPsychotics and Sedatives....HOLY Water or not.......Quranic Verses or Not......Jharoos or Dum ka Paani or NOT........

Re: # 7
dear khalid....you have an interesting question. Some creative personalities feel that using

some drugs inspired them for a while but then overusing it made it worse. In some people

alcohol disinhibits them and they can be creative in the area of their interest. I have not

read anything about charas. Thanks for your interest....sohail

Re: # 9
Dear Shore sahib.... Thank you for your interesting feedback. I feel creativity, insanity and

spirituality might have some similarities and also have some differences. As science

evolves we would be able to understand better. It is unfortuante that some people who

suffer from mental illnesses are not offered psychiatric treatment the way people with

medical illnesses are offered medical treatment so that they can choose to take or not take

the needed treatment. I did not mean to be respectful by the title. Thanks for bringing to

my attention. sincerely sohail

What is madness? Is not thinking coherently madness?

I guess artists are intense, so much so that some times they cross the threshold.

Sometimes I wonder if being an artist and radical and being Khassi are same.

No offence, but most of the artsy people are in love with each other.

#12> In fact, there is a school of thought that suggests everyone has a tendancy to some sort of mental disorder to a greater or lesser extent. This often presents itself in times of stress or breakdown.

What constitutes madness is somthing perpetually under debate, -generally a level of dysfunction that causes the individual, property, or the onlooker harm or distress. (personally not something I believe, but it`s a basic threshold).

``The idea that creativity and insanity are inter-related..`` indeed they are...

prime example creator God and His insane Universe -- as Naqshbandi sahib would surely agree......or an insane God with His creative Universe as Dr. Gill would probably concur......:)

great piece Sohail sahib as usual!

Sohail Sahib,

It is not only unfortunate that mental illness is so poorly understood but what is even more unfortunate is the stigma attached to it.

While there may be great sympathy for someone with diabetes or cancer, both organic illnesses; there is very little knowledge or sympathy amongst the masses for people with mental illnesses such as lets say schizophrenia or depression. Mental and Physical ailments are both organic in nature, yet physical ailments elicit a sympathetic reaction in most people whereas mental illness revulsion and blame towards the person afflicted..

Now that`s Unfortunate! Dont you think?

Depression is usually called the ``writer`s malady`` but most people think that clinical depression on its own or as a component of manic depressive illness is something that one can just snap out of.....

People say, ``If you are depressed, just snap out of it``. There is no such thing like that for clinical malingering depression.

Sohail Sahib,
I appreciate that you have recognized that the title of your article maybe percieved as insensitive.