Great New York Times Magazine article on how the ruminative tendencies of depression are actually beneficial:
Why is mental illness so closely associated with creativity? Andreasen argues that depression is intertwined with a “cognitive style” that makes people more likely to produce successful works of art. In the creative process, Andreasen says, “one of the most important qualities is persistence.” Based on the Iowa sample, Andreasen found that “successful writers are like prizefighters who keep on getting hit but won’t go down. They’ll stick with it until it’s right.” While Andreasen acknowledges the burden of mental illness — she quotes Robert Lowell on depression not being a “gift of the Muse” and describes his reliance on lithium to escape the pain — she argues that many forms of creativity benefit from the relentless focus it makes possible. “Unfortunately, this type of thinking is often inseparable from the suffering,” she says. “If you’re at the cutting edge, then you’re going to bleed.”
And then there’s the virtue of self-loathing, which is one of the symptoms of depression. When people are stuck in the ruminative spiral, their achievements become invisible; the mind is only interested in what has gone wrong. While this condition is typically linked to withdrawal and silence — people become unwilling to communicate — there’s some suggestive evidence that states of unhappiness can actually improve our expressive abilities. Forgas said he has found that sadness correlates with clearer and more compelling sentences, and that negative moods “promote a more concrete, accommodative and ultimately more successful communication style.” Because we’re more critical of what we’re writing, we produce more refined prose, the sentences polished by our angst. As Roland Barthes observed, “A creative writer is one for whom writing is a problem."
Mozart was a manic fruitcake who wrote manuscripts all night on the top of a pool table, and Beethoven was an angry & depressed jerk that could not get along with anyone. There you have it; more creative genius amidst mental illness.
ReplyDeleteI have often contemplated this correlation as well. In reality, I think there is a bit of truth to the theory. Mental illness isn't exactly where I would draw the connection but I do believe that people suffering from depression feel deeper. They are more affected by life situations, emotions and turmoil than the norm. I have not suffered from depression besides the typical, short-lived bouts; however, I do know that some of my most heartfelt and soulful prose has emanated from the darkness. I feel more motivated to construct. I feel inclined to attempt to make my feelings real and permanent by expelling them onto my blog or the page of my journal.
ReplyDeleteWhen life is going well, I often find it is more difficult to find something to say. No complaints. Don't fix what isn't broken. However, my blog entries expand the length of my computer screen when things are low. Why is this? Perhaps it is my tendency to use my writing as a cathartic release of this negative energy or perhaps it is a slight call for help. Different for everyone I suppose.
After all this rambling, I agree.