How Creativity And Mental Illness Are Linked

[@belle3744]

It's weird when I get depressed I do find my art work gets more inventive and I find myself working harder at it

[@squirtlesquirtle94]

Placebo is a powerful stimulant... your depression is most likely from chronic low level lead poisoning.

[@oreganopotatohead8901]

@@squirtlesquirtle94 no it isnt

[@squirtlesquirtle94]

@@oreganopotatohead8901 Perhaps you would like to present some scientific evidence if you would like to criticize a well supported claim.

[@amysteriousdisease7168]

same, i write the best poetry when i'm having an episode

[@marcoszeidler7156]

@@squirtlesquirtle94 Says the guy that gives a diagnosis through a KZbin comment, lmao

[@UrsulDaniel]

you know what sucks, its when you have lots of ideas on different projects, inventions and new ways to do something they say its always been done like this, ideas that are out of the box, but you don't have the financial possibility to realize any of them

[@jonesnj07]

+Ursul Daniel focus on one and try and make it a success, then the others will fall into place.

[@UrsulDaniel]

Nathan Jones its quite difficult when you don't have a correct income. for my stuff i need a workshop, wood, machining tools, cnc, carbon, 3d printer... anyways, situation sucks

[@jonesnj07]

***** Idk become a rent boy lol...

[@BlueBD]

+Nathan Jones what access to resource plays a huge role in what you can do. you cant build without the tools and in this day and age the most important tool is money. Aka the initial investment

[@rawstarmusic]

+Ursul Daniel You could work at someone else's workshop at night. Usually they are interested. If you have ideas, ideas shouldn't be a problem. Most inventors didn't have resources.

[@qqq1701]

I certainly have mental illness (depression) but I certainly don't have any creativity. That's depressing.

[@pianoaround]

+qqq1701 you just have to start creating no matter what, even if its bad.

[@Smilemonster1912]

M8 theres always a reason, if its not creativity its something else.

[@justintrovrt494]

+qqq1701 Your sense of humor is quite creative. ;p

[@vale29mo]

+qqq1701 I have Social Anxiety Disorder and I'm not creative. That's depressing too.

[@NeiroAtOpelCC]

+qqq1701 I think creativity can be taught. I work in IT and have to think creatively. I believe I've gotten better at thinking outside the box than I was 15 years ago when I started.

[@TheWanderbugChannel]

As an architect and illustrator, I find that my creativity is dampened when I’m on antidepressants but I can’t function when I’m not on them. Been this way since I was 5. It’s like a superpower but also a curse.

[@qaiserkhan4465]

What if you micodose to find the sweet spot between your creativity and your ability to function?

[@JKBEAST]

I can understand. I am a rapper and a music producer, I write and record my own music.

[@petrabraham9512]

When I really discipline myself and stick to a strict schedule I feel after just a few days much better but lose all of my original ideas. I can relate.

[@asmrplushpaws]

When I'm happy I'm more productive (by modern standards ig) but when I'm down art is my best outlet for troubling & complicated emotions.

[@julieb.3364]

I'm a writer, and this seems pretty accurate. Madness is truly a gift.

[@dripstein6130]

Curb ur ego ur not that special

[@alien6815]

As an artist, who has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety although art is a good way for myself to cope, those same feelings of depression and anxiety stop me from doing the things I love such as art . My artwork definitely expresses my feelings of depression and anxiety. My point is, when I'm happy I'm generally more creative because I'm not clouded by negative thoughts.

[@klipperyt6418]

see thats the exact opposite for me when im at my lowest im at my most creative

[@katty4682]

I have depression anxiety, and I do find myself simultaneously impaired and inspired by both.

[@vikkorner]

I start playing guitar and hum while running a delusional story in my head and snip extracts of lyrics and scale phrases that match the context. This helps me create songs in a 5 to 10 minute window.

[@lotusliberty2529]

When I'm manic, my creativity soars.

[@sanalvincent9339]

How cruel

[@Bullboy_Adventures]

I'd be manic too if my last name was liberty

[@DaddySantaClaus]

Same

[@fabianalfonsoooo]

@@Bullboy_Adventures yooo

[@trs_4612]

Sameee

[@notmyrealID]

lols, i'm actually guilty of believing deadly accidents might be the reason family or friends don't answer calls or texts.

[@sasfa1]

+eleme nope assume the worse you will be pleasantly surprised or emotionally prepared.

[@rienjen]

+eleme nope Been there, done that. Not usually worried until it's well beyond their normal response time, though.

[@erictheavguy1]

Zardoz!

[@wildescience]

+Mythic Mike that's my life philosophy

[@wildescience]

+Mythic Mike that's my life philosophy

[@theroyalseal2466]

Artists discovered this 500 years ago...

[@brothertimoneal]

This

[@LinaSterling]

+Timothy O'Neal That

[@yaminahmed9680]

Hoenn Those

[@radiantsquare007jrdeluxe9]

No, they discovered it 505 years ago

[@best4businesswrestling]

And there’s a billion people in the world... not everyone knows this.

[@umwha]

this makes me feel like i have something to give to the world

[@SpiKSpaN-ei6zq]

I hope so 🤞🙏

[@haydenlancaster9237]

Am I a mad scientist? *Explosion* Nah...

[@rawstarmusic]

+haydenandbrandon lancasterandmiller Not a scientist. Need some know-how or it will blow up your house. But Alfred Nobel actually did blow up a house and got very rich on nitroglycerin.

[@hylianmontage451]

I imagine that explosion was based in the Yellowstone caldera !?!

[@dawnwayfinder]

+haydenandbrandon lancasterandmiller That depends. Were you mad (angry, not crazy) when your experiment didn't go the way you thought it would?

[@razlad2523]

haydenandbrandon lancasterandmiller mad engineer

[@tobymidnight1957]

If crazy equals genius

[@phoenixuep2835]

I think thats true. There IS a link between madness and creativity.

[@thecrystalcrystals9242]

Z. Pak, madness is just the condition in which people think more abstractly and in a more unique way than others. Creativity is a less extreme degree of being mad, where you can still generate strange and peculiar thoughts, but you don't get as strangely thinking as a madman. All craziness is is the ability to think differently and with new ideas, and is a more extreme sense of creativity

[@zygone2658]

@@thecrystalcrystals9242 I know I'm late but thanks for the comment ,gave me more clarity.

[@selfelements8037]

That's interesting. I've always found a strong link between creativity and brain lateralization, meaning the more developed the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres, the higher incidence of free associations, pattern recognition, lateral thinking and thus creativity overall. Perhaps what Psychiatry defines as "mental illness" isn't very accurate here in the sense that it's not exactly mental disorders but instead a natural and organic response to tensions created by the environment. In fact they even help the individual get more in touch with their body and feelings, which may also help explain the link between extreme behavior and creative prowess.

[@jillianm8958]

Ever since I've been on medication for mental illness my creativity has been dead. I don't enjoy art anymore. But I don't have a choice either. It's medicate and be happy but not creative, or be unmedicated miserable but creative

[@mrrosner5009]

Jillian Michelle Get off them pills girl

[@naynay9652]

Same here. I’m bipolar and my creativity has been stifled since I’ve been on my meds. My mania brought on a ton of creativity and I actually would pursue my projects. Now I’m lost

[@kermithesavage4283]

@GRACE JIANG damn same thoughts, i think its a good thing i wasn't on meds at all, i don't want my artistic side to die.

[@RameyRocks]

Maybe you can watch some tutorials in the artistic subject matter that appeals to you or used to appeal to you and make yourself do it for a few minutes a day. That's awful those medicines do that

[@mythicdeviant]

Unusually high intelligence leads to both creativity and mental illness.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

It seems like the most creative people are the ones who aren't crazy or disordered all the time. Take for example, a writer who gets really high before writing. If he tried to publish his work as is, it would be nonsense, but if he waited until he was sober, then went back and edited his work, it would probably produce something way more original than the person who was clear and sober the whole time. (I'm friends with a lot of writers.)

[@crackteon3978]

That sounds like a lot of weed then...

[@pianoaround]

+Shawn Ravenfire not necessarily though. It depends with everyone. Charlie parker thought he played better when he was on heroin but then when he listened back to the recordings he thought wrong. Sometimes when we are high our ideas might seem better than when we were sober.

[@koolbeens3180]

do any of them have books published in physical form?

[@MegaKingMP]

You're mistaken on being high. I got the most stoned I've ever been, and did the most important history project of the year. I got a 96. I did better then mostly everyone I know, and after reading it over while sober, it looked perfect. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference. No bs too

[@roguecactus7]

I think you are on to something, it seems every creative type has a method to their madness, though I feel the important thing is to not get lost in the fog of whatever vice or habit you choose. A good example is Hunter S. Thompson, who became the "gonzo" character he had created and felt trapped in public, like he had to perform as the drug-induced, cattle-prod waving madman. He would also have to do massive amounts of mood-altering substances in order to get to that place of inspiration. This had to put a strain on everything in his life. The question is would he have written the same way on the same subjects if he had not taken drugs or alcohol? Morrison, Huxley, PKD, Bukowski, Hendrix? The list grows every day, and a lot of the greats of our time are never heard because the masses only care about Kardashians and infotainment. To art... tl;dr moderation. As Nietzsche once penned, “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”

[@stellarsearcher8997]

To fully understand beauty and love, one must experience pain and darkness. One must stare into the heart of their own madness before turning away, knowing they are made for better things.

[@petewagner2516]

This is one of the most interesting videos I have ever seen! I just shared it on my FB page. Every study cited makes perfect sense to me based on my own experiences as a cartoonist, comic artist, caricaturist. I think you hit on all the most salient points in a very concise way.

[@arturmizuno]

*GREEN IS NOT A CREATIVE COLOUR*

[@carlwolfe9263]

Artur Mizuno I like it...

[@thecrystalcrystals9242]

Why are certain colors more "creative" than others? They're just colors. Creativity is relative to the thoughts/opinions of the individual, and can't be judged by others. Someone else might think green's a good color, but you might not. All creative thoughts are unique and flavors of creativity are all unique as well

[@CremeCheesus]

The Crystal Crystals Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared

[@thecrystalcrystals9242]

Oh yeah, forgot about that...Well, sorry fellas!

[@arturmizuno]

***** it's _Homo sapiens_ , not Homo Sapien, always. You miserably failed to sound smart, ma'am.

[@carolinadelaossa7383]

As a professional pianist, watching this video has been very informative. I have struggled with depression and ocd, and unfortunately is something common among artists. Some of my college teachers and classmates have struggled with this too and some have been hospitalized for this or need some kind of treatment. We have always wandered why so many artists have to struggle with this and some of us just blamed it on how stressful our work might be. It's kind of sad since our illness sometimes ends up taking the best of us and our work. Some end up quitting arts because it makes them feel even more miserable in the long run. So even if the image of the crazy artist has certain appeal to the general public, it's definitely not worth it for the ones that are not able to cope with this.

[@stenvallkrista]

I am musical and good at drawing etc and I have anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and have suffered from depression, actually as I am writing this I'm in hospital XD...

[@Bobsaget121]

Krista Stenvall they let you take your phone in a hospital??? Where??

[@Player500-1]

Well damn 😂

[@timmytoms__]

😂 this is fun to read

[@ihavenoname727]

I have OCD/Anxiety and I'm a singer, dancer, piano player, and ukelele player.

[@samramakers3895]

Weird flex, but alright

[@lordbeerus2062]

for this creativity you have to pay a huge prize.

[@geminifreestyle3697]

feels like it, feels like i can't access it without driving myself insane.

[@bastardsalad4387]

I have bipolar and I was only manic for about a month but i was the most creative month of my life, and im a design student so the marks I got were through the roof. About a month later I dropped and got help when things were at their worst, and i now have meds to keep me stable :) I have never had another manic episode and as much as I wish for that same burst of creativity, I never want to go back there

[@pisces8975]

I'm an unmedicated type 2 bipolar. Sometimes I shut the world out around me and focus on the problem at hand. Often times coming up with creative solutions (I'm a design engineer). I'm also hungry to learn new things and get bored when I'm not challenged. However it's difficult to function when I've reached a high (manic) or low (depressive). Staying in that creative mindset for too long triggers a manic cycle.

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

+Jennie Schalk I'm type 2 bipolar too and I agree

[@Bobsaget121]

During the manic 'flight of ideas' episodes I try to jot down ideas, if I can keep up with them, and sort through them later. It's worked well for me though half the time they make no god damn sense.

[@cerinashippey]

thank you for this because ive been driving myself mad. Im infatuated with my mental illnesses due to the creativity they bring. Its the endless of struggle of wondering if I need it to create or if I can find a balance.

[@SogenOkami]

I have autism and I'm a damaged human being from facing many hardships throughout my life and I can say that my madness lead to my creativity, as well as my excellent thinking skills I enjoy today. I still have tendencies to be crazy sometimes though. :)

[@elibjo01]

I feel extremely creative when I have a depressive episode but I don’t have the energy to do anything but I write a lot of quotes, song texts, or draw drawings when I feel really depressed.

[@benm9396]

This explains me a little.

[@nicholasgoodfellow5774]

same here

[@LinaSterling]

+MreXcite Yeah, I'm special too.

[@robotneva]

eym spehil .

[@ralphciardella9705]

When I’m not creating something, I get depressed. I have to think or do something creative to keep happy.

[@frozeneternity93]

Can you please do a video on the science of hypnosis?

[@francispena2818]

yes

[@rienjen]

+FrozenEternity That's a great idea. I've been using sleep hypnosis the last few months from to being anxious due to illness--it's not the ultimate cure for the anxiety but it does help a little.

[@rawstarmusic]

+FrozenEternity Do a video on manipulation.

[@nappybiscuit]

+FrozenEternity That is actually a good idea. I would watch it.

[@TheEternalHater]

+FrozenEternity its not a science, its bs.

[@nigelcarren]

"I was going have have therapy until my therapist said it might affect my creativity" David Lynch

[@jad8974]

I thought intelligence and depression were linked, e.g. Hemingway

[@filipivan5125]

Done some reading on that, Hemingway was an alcoholic and couldnt stop. People say thats one reason why he came up with "intelligent people cant be happy" because he wasnt happy and couldnt change it. people also say there are some very inteligent people who are happy.

[@ErickOberholtzer]

+Ja D It isn't correlated, it just seems like that

[@paranoidx9]

+Ja D I would agree. "Ignorance is bliss" comes to mind

[@bartsshorts]

***** you dont need any pils, your fine, just get off them and get a labouring job, get you all tired and you will be fine.

[@TheQsanity]

+Ivan S high iq here with depression.

[@ScarlettAliceAngel]

I wish I could be free of mental illnesses. I would gladly give up all my creative abilities for a normal functioning brain. It's such a hassle everyday. All I can do well is paint pretty pictures and make nice clothes. How useless. I want to study physics, chemistry and biology but I can't. The most frustrating thing is that although I'm most likely intelligent enough to do so, I can't because of my mental illnesses. I feel so trapped. Well, it can't be helped so I might just continue to draw.

[@bethechageyouyouwanttosee1871]

Since I started college 5 years ago, I still did not finish college. Whenever I begin to take classes I become sick and I hospitalized. I'm neither not taking any classes now nor working. I'm ok now, but hope never ends, one day I will finish school. Just never give up college or university, and pick up subject you like whether are art or science. Have you heard the old saying of " fellow your heart" or passion.

[@robotneva]

+Demet you don't need a diploma to take pictures btw.

[@nataliesusa1514]

I'd hands down give up all my art and writing creativity to be happy again. I'd love to never have to be afraid of panic attacks. I'd love to be able to be productive. I'd love to not be angry for no reason.

[@robotneva]

+Natalie Susa we all want what we don't have. There's no winning in this whole life thing.

[@SaxraAranae]

This could actually explain why when I'm drawing, painting or sculpting something, my mind starts racing uncontrollably and I begin to recall traumatic or stressful past events, or lots of abstract stuff without solution. All at the same time, while I do my 'art'.

[@maxhooper4319]

My depression if anything stops me from being creative ?

[@Pieceoreece]

I find this so relatable; i'm a studying screenwriter and i can't help but notice that my mentality and thoughts have become a lot deeper and extremely darker ("A lot" as in i'm almost 100% of the time thinking deeply about pretty much everything.) ever since i picked up the pen (aka the laptop seeing as its 2015)

[@xalian17]

As someone that struggles with something that needs “the hard stuff” meds, I’d exchange “creativity” to be normal

[@ijmwpiano]

Free association Neurotic personality Creativity and delusion on a spectrum Creatives face the woes of mental illness just as much as they provide us with masterpieces and innovation. There are truly trade-offs to everything.

[@palmamingozzi5736]

Threats need to be taken seriously because you never know when aggressive behavior can lead to violence and your life in danger, you know we cannot glorify that!

[@QiqiTaqiyuddin]

I was depressed when I was in 7th grade in junior high school, and when I was depressed I found creative ideas that came to my mind, but because I was depressed at that time, I considered those ideas as an outlet, and a way of expression. And when I'm depressed, I'm alone and lonely more... but in a down situation like that, I also daydreaming more often and always makes my imagination run wild all the time. Even though at that time I could be like that, but unfortunately I didn't show my idea to other people at all, and instead kept it to myself.

[@jimmycodmw2]

I have borderline personality disorder, bipolar etc the list goes on, then i spent a long time doing nothing with my life. Then i started taking sativa strain weed, became enlightened, and my entire reality changed. I seek knowledge, read about sciences, history, non fiction. I also take notes of everything and define many words. I am passionately curious about everything. I am happier than ever. I am working on myself and becoming a much better person. All in a month i changed everything

[@dZaq]

Wow. The three names you mentioned at the very beginning of this video are the three people I was thinking about when I added this to my "Watch Later" playlist.

[@fahadabdulaziz7075]

I often do overthink anything in my life and resulting thinking about the worst scenario and I have no idea what should I do. Then I realize what I just did was I'm too focused on my problem. But hey, it's made me choose a better solution than I ever faced before.

[@Martin_Tyto]

“The road to creativity passes so close to the madhouse and often detours or ends there.” -Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death Maybe Ernest was on the right track!

[@matthewmen764]

Madness and Genius are but two sides of the same coin. The difference between a madman and a genius is that geniuses have learned how to channel and control their madness to create something that the masses can digest.

[@EvilNeon]

Creative thinking kills me (failing school etc) but i love it at the same time.

[@hassanarshad9720]

1:13 this is exactly the part of mind I am feeling pain in nowadays.and I am in a creative feild

[@bowserboo9010]

I believe this is true. I have clinical depression, anxiety and a mood disorder and I know that when I'm sad things just come to me. My poems my scripts all come from that depressive sleep deprived me

[@vonzigle]

I've always liked Richard Feynman's problem solving method (as passed along by Murray Gell-Mann): 1. Write down the problem. 2. Think real hard. 3. Write down the answer! There were many times it would have been nice to do this!

[@ellegrrace]

It frustrates me so much. I went through a phase about a month ago. I out of the blue wrote 10 songs in one day. The next day I wrote 5. These thoughts and lyrics came out of me when I was feeling immensely down but active. I think in total over the last month I have written over 50. I’m keeping them secret though. I don’t want anyone to steal my songs as I’ve heard writing songs is difficult. But to me. I find it as normal as breathing. I just feel born to do music and write songs ❤️

[@strawberryblossom4431]

Whenever I'm in a group with other people, I usually have lots of ideas we could use but no one wants to use them because they come from *me* if somebody had the same Idea as me they would use it but because *I* said it, They don't want to use it. I don't have a lot of friends and school and I keep to myself a lot. I'm seen as one of the 'weird' people. The majority of people in my year talk about me behind my back and tell others all the bad things about me and now everyone hates me. No matter how much I sit quietly in the back of the classroom doing my own buisness, someone always knows something bad about me whether it's true or not and I'm always asking why? Am I really that much of a horrible person but I don't realise it? Am I really that bad? I haven't done anything to anyone I've been more nice to people than mean but everyone thinks I'm weird and horrible. I also wonder why all the dicks and bitches are so popular? despite them being mean to everyone they still have friends while I'm being nice to everyone I still get looks of disgust. I'm too weird and unique for this world

[@choiyamed5605]

you are unique you are nothing like them you are better in the way u think and in the way you are

[@josiahklein70]

People can just be jerks. The reason why they ostracize you is because you are alone and act different from the norm. You naturally stand out for better or worse, and you're seen an easy target without allies or "friends." (This isn't necessarily a bad thing. You are your own person, and that's just fine. Not good, not bad, overall. Just fine.) They like to make themselves feel better in comparison by picking on others. This is either due to a lack of positivity elsewhere in their lives or an overabundance of it. Classic bullying. I've endured it and actually, in a roundabout way, been made better for it. The trick is not giving them the satisfaction of thinking you care. If you emotionally react at all, they will have succeeded in their goal. You shouldn't care about people who care not for you. Well, more specifically, you shouldn't value their opinions. Someone who treats someone else so badly without a thought for them, without a care, without anything resembling restraint, doesn't deserve such honor or praise at the very least. You can listen to their arguments and reason with them without agreeing, but in order to do that, you must know yourself far better than they do. This took me years, and I still have some troubles dealing with myself, so yeah. It's not easy, but let the sheep be led by the bigger sheep. (Metaphor for these weak-willed and/or weak-minded fools who don't have a gosh darn clue) In time, they must adapt to being a decent human being in society, lest they oppose the *actual* norm, in place because it's a good thing for most people, and be given only the hardship and grief they give to others. Take comfort in the slow vengeance life has in store for them...or you can meaningfully engage with people and learn to emotionally connect with them, influencing them with your kindness and compassion. If they are really far gone, they will get angry at first, but if you truly make an effort to understand them and get to know the genuine thoughts and experiences that drive them, they will likely learn from the experience. Whether you build the connections or not, you can set the record straight so long as you play it off as no big deal. Other people will be shocked by your strength of character and will start respecting you if you simply learn not to let it bother you, not to react negatively toward yourself or others, and perhaps learn how to undercut their harsh words and actions peacefully. I've always been the vindictive sort when it comes to this and got behavioral therapy for social skills and dealing with my anger, but hey, that's just me. You probably could benefit from it to improve your social skills. I say all of this from experience, and I have to say many of the people around me grew up and steadily grew out of such childish pettiness. I did, too, but much earlier than many because of the help I had. I learned to know myself, to be true to myself before anyone else and value my own opinion just the same, to reason and crack jokes in the face of adversity, to keep my emotions under control even when bohrrated by others. You can learn too. I believe you can. It just takes time and a little introspection.

[@UwU-lm9or]

Strawberry Blossom I could agree more

[@UwU-lm9or]

I love being weird I am the weird kid also

[@galacticparr0t602]

I am weird too

[@simplifiedspike9702]

I'm crying right now! I always wanted to be an artist, but I've been racked with everything in this video, and thought I couldn't be an artist because it's gotten so bad in situations... Now I know it makes me more an artist!

[@RayneDavila]

I've been in depression before and still have the feelings...but I love to draw, write, sing, dance, act, film, and do photography . Basically art in general :,)

[@figarofog9409]

When I get anxious or euphoric, I normally read about science, as if I'm going to unify my thoughts through it. It can be a waste of energy sometimes. Sometimes creative solutions obscure practical ones.

[@pablobedoya5903]

I sufferred a very strong depression from 11 to 21. I'm 22 and still recovering and I can say that now I have less creativity and I don't study as hard but I'm happier than ever

[@richardcranium6081]

It is a double edged sword. I have a love hate relationship with my creative juices. Whether or not the products of my creativity are appealing to anyone other than me is debatable, but I am creative. Its more bitter than sweet and has caused me a lot of misery and grief

[@tummur]

Everybody is creative in the beginning but the upbringing changes the perception of the world.

[@ZarliWin]

I am very guilty of imagining all kinds of bad things happening.

[@muiithehappy6148]

I'm dyslexic and I have adhd now this explain why our community usually are font of art. I was put into a group therapy where most of us have add/adhd and 3/5 of us can draw or take art as main major. Even some of my friends with autism and Down syndrome can paint and even open their own gallery. but too bad some of us can't make an income out of our passion..

[@curiousgal243]

I can approve this. Going to an art/design school's depressing. The people are depressed. I slowly become depressed. Glad Im leaving it X(

[@ambientshane]

My best work definitely comes from low moods and drama in my head. And it flows and flows and flows.

[@Bhargavikulkarni32517]

In my case I'm a fine art student so creative thinking should be thought but depression & anxiety , overthinking , emotional exhausting just make my brain so heavy like blackhole is pulling me off . Makes me feel like dying is better than continue exhausting living.

[@southjerseycountrygirl]

I have depression and anxiety I like writing music and poetry I have been into music ever since I was a kid I have got taught how to cope until one day I picked up a pen and started writing and than learned music than I can't get away from the guitar I am angry I will write a poem about it and make it into music. At work people think i am talented I don't talk about depression because of the medical profession

[@theamazingadondai6560]

Barbara Errickson I really wish I could get a guitar or even a ukulele I just wanna learn how to make music

[@mizuniki66631]

I have bipolar disorder II, and I found as it's getting worse I'm become more creative, I have always been artistic/creative but it really kicked in when my Bipolar really started to get bad. One downfall is my medication hinders my creativity a bit. I find my illness a gift that allows me a different view of the world but can also shut me down.

[@THE_JACOB]

My genius is..... it’s almost frightening

[@kittiekatherine]

Life is about perception. An artist can perfect their skill and craft and still never be able to see it themselves. It’ll will never be goo enough for them.

[@CoalMyn1382]

Again, it is so crazy how much more I learn about myself. I am highly creative and very off centered mentally. I am also vastly intelligent. I'm an INTP type and I often suffer from depression. I was diagnosed with bi-polar and I hate organization. I work easier in my clutter. It all makes even more sense to me now. Thank you DNews. Now if I could figure out what these vivid dreams mean I'd have a home run. ^_^

[@momalyn9539]

I'm a aspiring writer, and I was diagnosed with depression almost a year ago

[@Vil_Granted]

Well depending if your creative, or not isn't the only factor. Fantasies are the worst thing you can get caught up in, so keeping a grip on reality is important. And being able to manage your time in effective ways keep you sane most times. I was totally in the mental area when I didn't see the world around me for what it really was. But, I didn't feel stress, or even get depressed. But it all changed when I got a grip on the world around me. The mental issue for me was a loop I would make a story and it would be too perfect. So, I would give up on it. Now I work on much more creative projects and enjoy every minute I put into them. Only issue is, is finding a healthy balance. Creativity can lead to over activeness, and non creativity can lead to laziness.

[@homebody4972]

I have depression, but I feel like the only reason people call me creative is because my ideas are what make me forget about the things making me depressed.

[@mr.davidjmoore]

I always ask myself questions most people hardly ponder on and if you want something in life I found that you must answer the right questions pertaining to the thing you are trying to receive.THE WORLD IS YOURS.

[@Houston713Texas1]

at random times I tend to zone out then find my self wondering what is life then try to explain or create something with something that is completely unrelated

[@abigal3508]

I have severe MI all my life, but can write a song in 5 minutes that gives ppl chills

[@puvididdle]

all this doesnt make sense without defining what creativity first..

[@gitikasingh340]

Basically being novel with your ideas and originality of your work and everything should be relevant !

[@crypticTV]

And now everyone in the comment section is an expert psychologist or a mad artist. Great job TESTTUBE

[@mobrown7594]

vimu wijayaratne loooool so true it’s like all of a sudden they are super deep and expressive urrrg 🙄there like let me go be depressed and paint 1000 pictures lol

[@godzilla964]

I have aspergers syndrome, and I am aspiring to be a musician. But what always makes me unsure if i'll have a successful career is that i've gotten into music when i was fourteen. I learned how to play the guitar all through out middle school, but only played for a few people. I was in my high school jazz band only for a few days until i dropped out because I found it too hard. But aside from that, I still have a burning passion to enhance my skills on the guitar and be good enough to be in a band.

[@graveyardghost2603]

Obsession is a hallmark for creativity, or it can be. You can turn it into exploring a theme.

[@basedbattledroid3507]

I've had both, but the mental illness has sort of mellowed recently, it hasn't made me less creative but it makes it less interesting or wholesome for me. It used to feel like I was going on a journey, somewhere. I could melt into the walls, shake around the three large meat cubes in my skin, watch the walls twist and shiver. Now it just feels like I'm sitting down and thinking about stuff. Which is nice but it's harder to retain ideas.

[@zlatkovuckovic6443]

I’m not sure I’ve done well out of business but not so well in relationships. But yes I think people with mental illness are more creative as I found out today. I was in my car and every time I parked somewhere I’d clean the interior. Imagine if I could turn that creativity into a song, Nema, a good idea or a piece of art work; now that’s a good idea. When was the last time you saw a piece of art worth buying.

[@MewtwoShineX]

I'm always fixated on the past, when I mess up I always think back at it. When I'm about to talk to a new person, I always imagine something bad happening. I feel like I'm under pressure almost a 100% of the time. When I'm surrounded by my friends that number reduces, because around them I feel like I can be myself. Hey, I don't mind though, I can do neat things with my pencil. I can draw things and think up an idea for writing in the matter of seconds.

[@musicstudio9352]

Absolutely true! suferring and hyper activity gives the inspiration!

[@ahmedshamil1429]

when i was little i was considered to have mental illness. now this could explain why i was getting good marks without even trying in school when i was little.

[@Dank_Engine]

I haven’t made anything substantive with my creativity but it feels like a fire in which I burn

[@TheQsanity]

it wasn't until recently did we see crazy people as 'crazy'. back in the day, they were revered as special and given some wisdom or insight that 'normal' people don't have.

[@mjxavier4800]

I am a creative genius and I also suffer from mental health. The fact that I believe that I am a genius is apparently a symptom of my mental health.....🤦🏾‍♀️

[@NobleHusky]

Lol it seems artists all have something maddening thing that forces creativity. Sometimes sparking unbelievably weird ideas. Like how at homeI was trying to memorize a math equation and I started thinking about how nuclear engines work.....

[@CezarMS1]

Sadly, being enlightened is considered a "mental illness" for so many people in the western world. We've become so caught up in the routine of life and the way society has conditioned us to live our lives that we no longer look at the real meaning of life and the big picture of it, but rather focus mainly on the things that were designed to keep us away from enlightenment, such as payments, work, school, etc. Of course we all gotta survive somehow, and yet in such circumstances I find happiness due to the fact that this life is only temporary, and maybe just a "learning period" that our soul must go through before we can be liberated and reach *Nirvana*.

[@blackcat7641]

Sadly its true my college art teacher said every artist is depressed because sadness is part of our creativity I have depression and anxiety but I come up with ideas like crazy its sucks though because I can't focus on one thing I get a idea right after another and another and my sadness actually inspires me instead .

[@chenanigans]

I think sometimes these things are more simple than Dnews or science itself likes to explain them. I've struggled with manic and depressive episodes nearly my whole adult life. I've always loved dancing as well. So there's the mental illness, and there's the creative part. I can't speak for everyone suffering from Bi-polar or any other mental illness, but I do know with me and the others I've known, the depression usually stems from having an innate ability to view the world objectively, as in realizing your not the center of the universe and your problems are not either. With this awareness come realizing that there are people and parts of the world going through terrible things, experiences far worse than any of yours. So the suckeness and sadness comes from being able to observe and realize how screwed up and effed up the world is, and feeling either guilty, ashamed, helpless, and of course completely overwhelmed by it. Again this is due to the ability to remove yourself from the center of the universe and feel others or empathize with others experiences. To see and contemplate beyond your own "box". How this ties into creativity. Well think about some of the most famous comedians. Robin Williams is a great example. Comedians in general actually. If you've ever heard the saying that comedians are some of the most depressed souls, well this is why. They're usually the most observant, the most aware, the most contemplative. This is a gift and a curse most of the time. The gift is that they're able to so keenly observe and dissect the world around them. And then express those observations and bring to light the absurdity or the brilliance of them. The curse is that the reality of what they see in the world, can be soul crushing. Then there's the dancers, artists, musicians, they too use this ability to hear, feel, experience the world around them in these heightened states and translate that through their art form. It's an open state of mind that allows all the best in the world and all the worst, which creates these gifted yet tortured souls.

[@pocket_8939]

2016, citing 39 year old studies. Lots of effort was exerted in the making of this video.

[@NicolSD]

As a creative writer who has had to deal with depression through most of his life, I can tell you that I wasn't more creative in spite of my illness. Ask any creative person on medication; each and everyone of them will say that creativity suffers when on medication. But there comes a time in our lives when we have to make a choice.

[@CrimsonCatacombs]

+NicolSD Yes! I can barely write at all when on Paxil but without it, I have a hard time socializing at all. [ social anxiety disorder ]. It is an infuriating thing to deal with. Do I want to be depressed and anxious all the time and actually be able to finish writing projects I begin - or do I want to be able to be somewhat 'normal' and not utilize my natural abilities? I struggle with that daily.

[@jessicacandiotti9821]

I'm on meds, but it actually helps me. I draw but when I wasn't on meds I'd stare at a piece of paper for hours, draw something but then think about all it's flaws even tho it's just the sketch, then erase it all. But it could be a difference b/w writers and artists.

[@WaddleAway]

I'm on such a low dose of Paxil that it doesn't affect my daily life. It it just barely takes the edge off of my obsessions, and I feel more motivated to draw and try new things.

[@KatGlos]

With my amount of crazy, why am I not famous yet?

[@Bobsaget121]

Kat wow so edgy XD

[@geegones9821]

You just aint got the right kind of crazy.

[@scinnyc]

I've been creative all my life by way of drawing, creating stories, poetry, making my own raps/hip hop and even playing with action figures well into adulthood. And I have multiple people on my dad's side of my family who're or who were mentally ill, including my dad himself. But besides myself, no one in my family is creative.

[@Andie_Shore]

I don't know, guys, this point about people who imagine the worst in a situation is far from correct. I've met lots of people (especially in my own family) who do that constantly, and actually I happen to be the one to give them 10 other possibilities just right out of my head. Love the show, btw!

[@tenshistrife]

I have general anxiety disorder with panic, and dysthymia AKA long term chronic depression, among other things. I am also a very messy person. I am very creative so this is true but my disorders stop me from doing anything with it. I take medication and it helps but more often than not I am crippled by my metal illness more than I am inspired by it. I don't know if I would trade my creativity for a healthy mind but I would say that it is not something to envy. Cool video though, I do love to see these links being made.

[@diaryprincess]

Well, I believe it. If you've ever heard some manic or schizophrenic people talk, it can get quite interesting. They can get very creative.

[@Haleymrn]

I consider myself as a higly creative person. And yes the video is right.

[@christinas.4342]

About every First World person considers themselves highly creative and takes pride in their mental problems.

[@skylerjones2689]

Kristina S. Yeah you can tell by the comment section