5 minute read
TOUCHED With Fire
Exploring the link between creativity and bipolar
by Gillian Sheriff-Collins
he relationship between bipolar and creativity has a long history, and it is a connection which most people living with bipolar are anecdotally aware of.
Many notable artists, writers, poets, musicians and dancers have detailed their experiences with the creation of their art while living with bipolar. Charles Dickens, Edgar Allen Poe, Beethoven, Ernest Hemingway, Jackson Pollock, Edvard Munch, and Vincent Van Gogh are among the numerous historical figures that are thought to have had bipolar.
Moving to the modern day, artists and creatives such as Stephen Fry, Selena Gomez, Mariah Carey, Catherine Zeta Jones, Demi Levato, Pete Wentz and Carrie Fisher have all openly shared their experiences of living with bipolar.
The fact that many high-profile celebrities and artists have been so transparent about their diagnosis and treatment in recent years has have played a significant role in moving towards heightening understanding and destigmatising bipolar. Indeed, the controversial American musician and producer Kanye West has referred to the condition as his ‘superpower’.
However, it is important not to glamourise or romanticise the condition, as is sometimes the case in mainstream media. Indeed, Van Gogh himself said “If I could have worked without this...disease, what things I might have done”.
WHAT IS THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE LINK?
There have been a number of studies around the potential link between creativity and bipolar over the last 10 years.
One study by the University of Glasgow found that both intelligence and creativity may be linked to bipolar via genetics. The research linked higher childhood IQ to an increased likelihood of experiencing bipolar in later life.
Danny Smith, now Chair of Psychiatry and Head of the Psychiatry Division at Edinburgh University, and Bipolar Scotland’s clinical advisor, said in The Guardian of the University of Glasgow study:
“There is something about the genetics underlying the disorder that are advantageous. One possibility is that serious disorders of mood – such as bipolar disorder – are the price that human beings have had to pay for more adaptive traits such as intelligence, creativity and verbal proficiency.”
Another 2018 study has shown that university students who select a degree in the arts have a higher lifetime prevalence of bipolar than those in other disciplines. (MacCabe et al., 2018). Furthermore, research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry suggested that people with bipolar often appear to have ‘enhanced access to vocabulary, memory and other cognitive resources.’[1]
DOES MEDICATION CURTAIL CREATIVITY?
One of the concerns among people living with bipolar is the idea of their medication somehow dulling or stunting creative output. While this is a valid consideration, the research points to effective management of symptoms in order to harness creativity while staying well.
Dan Winters, the hugely famous photographer described by National Geographic as ‘the Da Vinci of contemporary photography’, has successfully found the balance between medication and creativity, citing his preference for a comprehensive approach to treatment: “… [my] medication regime..is a workable one, and I can still operate at a pretty high level of creativity without being in the danger zone.”[2]
Creativity As A Tool For Self Management
The concept of ‘art therapy’ is not a new one, but many people benefit by leaning into their creativity as an effective tool in their selfmanagement armoury.
Writing, painting, dancing, making music, sewing, gardening, interior design, mindfulness and all forms of exercise and
movement are deemed positive activities which may help to manage symptoms in tandem with traditional treatments and a tailored medication regime.
One 2020 study showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had positive outcomes in managing mood and anxiety in those with bipolar disorder. (Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder: A systematic review and metaanalysis, Xuan et al., 2020).
It seems that flexing your creative muscles, alongside being mindful of lifestyle factors such as protecting sleep patterns, and avoiding certain stresses or triggers, really can be useful in managing bipolar symptoms and staying well.
Stephen Fry
Generally regarded as a national treasure, Stephen Fry has been prolific in increasing awareness and understanding of the condition. His BBC documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive shines a light on his experience, including his diagnosis at the age of 37.
Vivien Leigh
Old-school Hollywood bombshell, Vivien Leigh, who is best known for her roles as Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone With the Wind” and Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire”, is thought to have had bipolar disorder. The Oscar winning actress, had an incredibly successful acting career and played alongside greats such as Marlon Brando, Sir Laurence Olivier and Clark Gable.
Pete Wentz
Bassist for the award-winning American rock band Fall Out Boy, Pete Wentz, has spoken openly about his experience with the condition. In a 2015 interview he said of managing his symptoms: “Living with purpose and having a schedule with my family has brought me balance…just being able to talk through things, meditate and exercise has been helpful.”
