Creativity, Artists and Depression

Tasra Dawson —  February 4, 2012 — 7 Comments

We’ve heard of so many great artists ending their lives early… either with conscious intention or unconscious recklessness. Depression can seem synonymous with artists.

Is depression inevitable for artists and creatives?

Arnold Ludwig, a professor and researcher at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, wanted to answer that question. So he performed a study of 1004 men and women over the span of ten years. His test group was a variety of accomplished people in art, music, science, business, politics, and sports.

The Research Proves…

  • 59-77% of creatives (artists, writers, musicians, etc.) suffered mental illness especially “mood disorders”
  • 18-29% percent of less “artistic professionals” suffered from the same mental illness or mood disorders

Other studies have demonstrated increased rates of depression in creatives as well.

Two Key Points…

  1. If you suffer from depression, even a mild form, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
  2. THERE IS NO SHAME in getting help and support even for “mood disorders” or depression you can’t seem to shake.
There is already a wealth of information about depression, how to identify it and where to get help, so I won’t repeat that information here…. other than to say DON’T IGNORE IT.
If you need more reason to not ignore it in yourself or someone you love, watch this 12 minute video about depression, suicide and survival. Do it now. It could save a life.


Take the time to watch this video. You may not suffer from depression or suicidal tendencies, but you may know and love someone who has, is or will. Increase your awareness.

In live inspired , , , ,
permalink

Tasra Dawson

Posts

Author, designer, photographer, teacher... just an artistic curious girl learning to live insanely great and sharing what I learn along the way.
  • http://www.cheriblogs.info Cheri Gregory

    Tasra – 

    Thank you so much for this post! Reading this and forwarding it to my daughter (who is a Fine Arts major who struggled with depression and anxiety during her freshman and sophomore years of college), it suddenly struck me: this is a generational curse on both sides of our family!

    We’ve not recognized it as such because of strict family taboos against admitting to problems, weakness, seeking help, psychology/psychiatry, etc. In fact, on both sides of the family there are strict codes about the necessity of fabricating stories — LYING — to cover up such truths.

    I just discovered  Elaine Aron’s books on the Highly Sensitive Person (she’s quoted in this week’s Time article on “introverts”, although 30% of HSPs are actually extroverts), and they are making a WORLD of difference in how my husband (a musician), my daughter (an artist), my son (an inventor), and I (a writer) see ourselves.

    My hope is that my daughter and I will be the ones to break this vicious cycle for our family! 

    • http://tasramar.com/ tasra

      thank you so much for sharing your story cheri! I think the reality of so many people hiding because of family taboos is more common than we realize. I’m so glad you’re finding openness and honesty with your family to help everyone see their lives in a new way!

  • Klaus Consine

    i have mixed feelings with this post, my major issue is that perhaps the idea is good (help the depressed) but i think that misses something about the real thing with depression & creativity
     maybe i’m over-reading but i get the message of that we are ill and need to be cured
     please correct me if i’m wrong and maybe we can share thoughts

    • http://tasramar.com/ tasra

      Sorry if the wrong message came across. I definitely don’t think all creatives and artists are ill and need to be cured! Nor do I think all creatives deal with it. 

      I have however met a high number of creatives who struggled with depression, mood swings or “black” periods. That doesn’t mean other people don’t deal with it, but the artist can sometimes feel that it’s okay to have those dark moments or that they can’t create unless their life is miserable. I even heard the singer Pink say she didn’t write anything good when everything was good in her life. She had to be miserable to create good art. That’s not a healthy mindset in my opinion and a misunderstanding of creativity.

      I’m not an expert on this by any means, but I do see it enough and see people’s shame and silence about the topic enough that I think it’s important to address and at least start a conversation. Even if just watching the video (which is not necessarily about a creative) but about the severity and urgency of treating and dealing with depression.

      Hope that helps clarify! If not, let me know. :)  

      What do you think the “real thing” is with creativity and depression? Would love to hear your thoughts and what you meant by that.

      • http://www.cheriblogs.info Cheri Gregory

        Tasra –

        I think I reacted so quickly and positively to this post because I have watched my daughter, time and time again, gush about a “new favorite” artist, author, poet, painter, etc. and then suddenly go, “Oh now, how did (s)he die?” She Googles them and her face falls: time and time again, it’s suicide. 

        As a mother, of course, it freaks. me. out. that she is SO drawn to the SPECIFIC “creatives” whose lives became so unbearable that suicide became the only option. 

        Your post helped me recognize that active dialogue with my daughter, with family members, and within the creative community will benefit us all.

        • http://tasramar.com/ tasra

          I am SO glad it connected with you and helped continue an important conversation. I can also empathize with your mother’s heart!! Keep the conversation going and you’ll be leaps and bounds ahead of so many that struggle because it can’t be expressed or talked about!

  • Fonzyinlayo

    thank you for writing this post. :)