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Depression Amongst Creatives
Words Aisha Kamara
For many years researchers have conducted studies to figure out the link between depression and creativity, and there is a general stereotype that depression or mental distress is an almost unavoidable part of being exceedingly creative. In order to be creative and find new fascinating ideas, a person would need to think a lot. Often, thinking or going over thinking repeatedly can sway one’s mind into negative or self-critical thoughts which can lead to depression. Therefore being a thinker can lead one to be very creative however, it might also be the actual thing that makes one prone to depression. Health Editor Aisha Kamara, discusses.
It is argued that having a low mood can have a positive effect on creativity. For example, it can convey reflections that lead to new ways of seeing the world. The lifestyle that is essential in many creative fields can indeed be exhausting and many people within the creative industry tend to find it hard to cope with the demand. For instance, there are some triggering factors that musicians also known as artists can face in the music industry. This consists of stress, self-doubt which is brought by rejection or failure. Musicians can also find themselves in financial instability due to not getting enough sales, the fact that record sales become greater usually after an artist’s death can be an indication of poor management and marketing. This can lead to an artist being depressed or anxious. Creatives also tend to be in constant high pressure which can lead to depressive symptoms due to extreme travel, brutal criticism, constricted deadlines and high expectations. Furthermore, it is argued that creatives that are persistently involved in projects have the tendency to not eat well or enough and have problems getting enough sleep.
A famous artist called Vincent Van Goh who was known for his great art pieces, suffered from depression and anxiety throughout his life. He once wrote that he put his heart and soul into his work but lost his mind in the process. It was later discovered that although his artwork was amazing, he was not that successful during his lifetime which can indicate as to why he suffered from depression. Although he went through mental illness which led to the ending of his life at the age of 37, many people today argue that his great paintings are a reflection of his mental state. This example can suggest that having a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety can possibly lead to extreme creativity and appealing results.
Alexander McQueen, a famous British fashion designer was known for his revolutionary clothes, astonishing catwalk shows and defined tailoring however, suffered from depression and anxiety. McQueen mentioned he felt a huge pressure being known as one of the world’s prominent fashion designers. His work often created immense pressure in his life but what was interesting is how he viewed his fashion work. He described viewing his work as a double edged sword that though he felt that it was the only part of his life where he achieved something great, he would often suffer a breakdown, feel isolated and depressed.
A famous rapper called Nicki Minaj, is known for her ground-breaking sales and is considered one of the best influential rappers around the world went through a deep low in her upcoming as an artist. She described being an artist and trying to break into the industry can be often stressful and have an effect on an artist's health and wellbeing. After being rejected repeatedly, Minaj mentioned that she felt like nothing was working and almost hit her breaking point. Although she is now a successful artist, she had to go through the common stages of overcoming her depressive state.
It is fair to say that a lot of well-known artists somewhat go through depression at one stage of their life, but the ultimate question is can it be due their creativity or experiences of being an artist? There is no conclusive evidence that someone suffering from depression would be more creative however, there are many examples of creatives that do great work due to their mental state. Due to the strong link between being creative and suffering from depression, a person in a creative industry may have to reflect on the likelihood of having depression. This can enable an artist or a musician to seek help and support and be aware of how to handle their mental health or the pressure they may face within the creative industry.