
| So, what makes many people with mental illness seem so creative? Why are many of the most artistically phenomenal people (there are many people that aren't on the list such as Cobain, Erickson, and Johnston) annihilated by disorders such as OCD, server depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia? Maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe their disorders are what cultivate, nourish, and reflect their differences to the extent that they are moved to a place of creative phenomenon. It’s an iffy balance, between sanity and insanity for these people. At some point, if the line is crossed too far, they lose their passion for the art in which they truly live for. When that will is gone, it seems, is when they slip into some abyss. Some people believe that mental illness doesn't exist. It’s just a state of extreme thought that is directly related to physical issues or improper nourishment. They claim meds aren’t really needed. |

| Buy On |

I understand psychology is important. It’s impossible to improve if you don’t deal with the demons/issues that are the true cause. I hate to say it, but some of the factors are external. That’s why you find many people with disorders uncomfortable in new place, situations, and group settings. They don’t have control over their surroundings. See, it’s already a fragile place… this place they seek wellbeing in. For some it’s loud things so the voices are drawn out, because that’s the only way they can sleep. For others it’s hiding inside their head, seeking some type of escape from reality. For others it’s sleeping excessively so they don’t have to deal with their thoughts or outside factors. Having had my older sister diagnosed with bipolar disorder for years, only to have them recently change the diagnoses to schizophrenia, I have a need to understand mental disorders. I somehow feel that the more I understand the better I can help. Having heard and seen some of the things that she goes through on a daily basis, I don’t know that she could ever live without meds. I also know that unless you’ve ever suffered from it, there is now way to really understand it. Don’t get me wrong. Everyone has dealt with bouts of depression at some points in their lives. There is no doubt. The difference is that some people are mentally put together enough from the start to put the pieces back together. Sort of like two people with puzzles in their heads. One has cracks in it where the puzzle isn’t quiet secure but the pieces basically align. They are probably able to mentally deal with the missing pieces as they occur, allowing them reassembly. The other persons puzzle is only partial put together, their thoughts not fluent; they probably haven’t dealt with issues through the years. When a puzzle piece goes missing they don’t have enough of themselves left to put it back. When I started to go down hill, I didn’t have enough of me left to fix me. It was like I was putting Band-Aids over the holes of a sinking boat. I would be okay for a while but every time I sank, it was a little lower. I got so used to my version of staying afloat that I didn’t realize what sea level really was anymore. Cindy Callinsky |