Creativity and Mental Illness

Feb 20, 2008 - 09:57 AM PST

We’re constantly reminded of the conflicted brilliance of some of the most creative artists and their mental illnesses: Van Gogh’s epic poems and his infamous ear shedding; Michelangelo’s mind-blowing masterpieces and his battle with depression; or even the more recent trend of talented and not so talented actors and musicians having breakdowns.

While these battles for sanity are tragic, they also perpetuate a very negative stereotype: that people need to avoid healthy approaches to dealing with their issues to maintain their creativity.



In speaking at a number of performing arts and design schools, I have had a lot of interaction with young artists from many backgrounds who are adamant about not seeking treatment for serious mental health issues for fear of losing their creativity. They often cite famous artists like the ones mentioned above as their inspiration.

There seems to be a massive fear among young artists that if they were able to control their inner demons they would not be capable of producing great art. There are a couple of trains of thought at work here. First off, it’s entirely possible that when you aren’t stable you can think your work is more amazing than it really is. Let’s be honest, the number of unstable people who create amazing art is miniscule compared to the number of unstable individuals who think their work is revolutionary.

Artists who produce their work by maintaining highs for extended periods of time- whether by drugs or other self-destructive behavior- will inevitably find themselves incapable of sustaining the same workflow when they hit their low. Living in self-destructively can only last so long before playing with fire may engulf you in flames. Just look to Kurt Cobain and a whole host of other celebrities who died too young.

I understand the argument against these points, the artist’s desire to keep the creative pieces of your mind flowing, but know that you’ll always be better off if you can find balance. Unfortunately, in this dramatic glorified society- in which we value anything resembling a train wreck over something positive- it’s sometimes hard to find artists who have dealt with their demons and are better off for it. Robert Downey Jr. comes to mind as one who is able to draw from his worst experiences for his film roles while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He is a great advocate maintaining his health. Artists who have that ability enhance their creativity. It gives them the ability to enlighten people not only about the dark days, but also about the light that can come out of them.

If you live self-destructively in the fear of losing your creativity, I hope you’ll keep what I’ve said in mind the next time someone asks you to go to rehab. Maybe you won’t say “no, no, no.”

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