Bipolar and creativity?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Bipolar and creativity?
11
Sat, 07-02-2005 - 8:38am

I'm grappling with some annoying stuff here. When I'm not on my meds and manic I am wildly creative, which is great because I'm a scrapbooker with several online duties. I also design and sell my own digital scrapbooking kits. Since I started Abilify and lost my mania my creative edge has BOTTOMED OUT. Then when the depression set in... well, I just can't seem to get anything done, or enjoy the work that I DO manage to complete. I started Lexapro a couple weeks ago, and I'm hoping for a release from this depression, but...

have I lost my creativity????

Any thoughts on this?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2003
Sat, 07-02-2005 - 9:35am

valerie,


while i am by no means a professional, this very subject has intrigued me for quite a while. i won't say that your creativity is gone, but think it's more likely hidden beneath the depression. i am a firm believe that the bp and creativity are definitely linked within and the creativity remains there, we just have to find new ways of tapping into it when on meds.


i know this probably does not offer much, but give the lexapro some time to get in there and see what happens then. from what i've seen from a number of *well known* people once on the right meds, the creativity shines through once again. i can only hope that it's the same for us everyday people.


hang in there and keep plugging at it. you will get better. we're here for you and hoping with you.


hugs,


traci

Avatar for littlemascara
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2003
Sat, 07-02-2005 - 12:22pm
I am an artist and my BT brother also makes his living as an artist so I know what you mean! I found once I hit the right dose of abilify, and now I take is at PM which is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY better for me, I have clicked again. I think we also kinda suffer with "motivation" whether it's daily tasks or art or what have you while on meds. Hopefully the meds make it better and lift our depression and control our mania so we can work more productively. Keep mentioning it to Pdoc and I hope you get some relief and you're back to yourself soon!

littlemascara
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Sat, 07-02-2005 - 1:46pm

Valerie,


I don't consider myself a true "artist" but rather artsy-craftsy (and we could have have a big discussion on that topic alone!).

Avatar for missyflanders
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 07-02-2005 - 7:00pm
Hope it gets better for you soon. I am on abilify also, but don't normally have an ounce of artsy crafty creativity in me. I would love to, but am not blessed with that. Hope
 
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2004
Sun, 07-03-2005 - 2:40am

I am a published writer....I have the same problem.

Please visit my website!

http://www.stephworld.net

"Those who can make you believ

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-03-2005 - 9:20am
We seem to have so much in common! I'm going to ask my pdoc about taking the Abilify at night next time I'm in here. This sleepiness is driving me crazy. As for the motivation... you should see my house! I can't seem to find the drive to do the dishes, much less sit down and create something amazing. Argh! Oh, I really hope these are depression symptoms and lessen once the Lexapro kicks in!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-03-2005 - 9:24am
oh baby did you make some good points here... i'm saving this for reference, thanks so much. i've also emailed you, so look for that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-03-2005 - 10:22am

Valerie


I know we are all different but Be careful with that lexapro. I was on that last fall and it made me so manic it was unreal. That's when we knew something wasn't quite right. I was on 20mg daily and I was constantly go go go go go during the day and at night I'd turn into not a nice person and then I'd crash. It was a horrible time for me so I stay away from the SSRI. I just wanted to warn you just in case you notice you are a little more manic than normal. I hope it works for you. In the beginning it was great and I loved it so I would recommend it to others if they wanted an opinion but us bp people need to be more careful.


Have a Great Holiday Weekend.


Hugs & Prayers,



Danielle


Hysterectomy & Alternatives


Host of Tuesday Night Anxiety, Panic & Phobia's Chat 7 - 9 pm MST


"No heaven will not ever Heaven be; Unless my cats are there to welcome me." --Unknown


http://members.tripod.com/angelkitty16-ivil/

Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-03-2005 - 12:25pm
Thanks for your thoughts... I've been instructed to watch out for ANY irritability while on this by my pdoc, and I'm also on Abilify which counteracts the mania, so I should be ok. I know what it's like to have a bad experience and then feel the need to warn people about it though. I had a HORRIBLE time with Zoloft, and now when I even hear the name I cringe ;)
Avatar for schitz
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Sun, 07-03-2005 - 4:43pm

Traci wrote >>>i am a firm believe that the bp and creativity are definitely linked within and the creativity remains there, we just have to find new ways of tapping into it when on meds.

I totally agree with that. And Marci made some EXCELLENT points there!

Yes, we all agree there is a connection with creativity and bp. Just look at all the bp comedians, writers, actors, painters, etc! (I could list some if you want haha)

Kay Jamison wrote a book about this, which I haven't read. I've only read An Unquiet Mind.

I also just found another one that I hadn't even heard of: Caressing Madness--The Artistic, Bipolar Life: Creativity and Moods
by Brandi Kay Hunting (Author)

and another (sheesh! still haven't got the name of Kay's book)Manic Depression and Creativity
by D. Jablow Hershman (Author), Julian Lieb (Author)

Also, if you have seen the movie, there is also the book: A Beautiful Mind: The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash
by Sylvia Nasar (Author)

Kay's is: Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Kay R. Jameson (Author)

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