| Edgar Allan Poe, Honore de Balzac, | | | | mad genius of the canvass for his |
| Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Audrey | | | | brilliant brush strokes and |
| Hepburn, and even Jim Carrey all had | | | | masterpieces. His colorful works of art |
| something in common. Aside from being | | | | somehow represented the intensity of his |
| renowned artists, they were also | | | | own psychological canvass. One time, he |
| afflicted with depression. It has been | | | | encountered difficulty in illustrating |
| a great mystery how these men and women, | | | | his own ears while doing a |
| praised for their genius in film, on the | | | | self-portrait. In a bout of depression |
| canvass, or in using their pen, could be | | | | and rage, he cut-off his own ear so that |
| victims of terrible melancholy. | | | | he would no longer need to paint them on |
| As defined, creativity is the ability to | | | | the canvass. He eventually succumbed to |
| see something in a new way; or the | | | | his depression and mental illness. Van |
| capacity to design new inventions, solve | | | | Gogh committed suicide, leaving behind |
| problems, produce works of art, or | | | | more than 900 artworks and thousands of |
| develop a new and original idea. | | | | sketches. |
| Depression, on the other hand, is a deep | | | | Like Van Gogh, many people suffer from |
| feeling of being sad and despondent. It | | | | depression. The daily stress and |
| is usually accompanied by feelings of | | | | challenges of life push many people to |
| guilt, helplessness, and hopelessness. | | | | the brink of hopelessness and insanity. |
| In extreme cases of depression, thoughts | | | | The difficulty lies in discerning the |
| of death even enter the mind of the | | | | difference between normal levels of |
| gravely melancholic artist. | | | | depression and those cases that can be |
| Studies have established that there is a | | | | considered as psychological disorders. |
| very close relationship between | | | | Artists and non-artists alike can be |
| creativity and depression. Many artists | | | | afflicted by manic depression, bipolar |
| are prone to depression due to the | | | | disorder, and other psychosis. |
| highly emotional aspect of their craft. | | | | These mental problems, however, need not |
| The angst and solitude that usually | | | | ruin a person's artistic talents or a |
| surrounds the creative process also | | | | regular person's capacity to lead a |
| makes them vulnerable to bouts of | | | | normal life. Treatment for depression |
| sadness. The strong emotions that | | | | is available. These treatments do vary |
| compel artists to create are the same | | | | from one individual to another but there |
| forces that lead them to pits of | | | | are some common methods of addressing |
| depression. | | | | psychological problems. |
| No wonder, the famous director David | | | | Medication and psychotherapy are two of |
| Cronenberg once said that, "Everybody's | | | | the most commonly used means to treat |
| a mad scientist, and life is their lab. | | | | depression and anxiety. Extreme cases |
| We're all trying to find a way to live, | | | | might involve bringing a person to a |
| to solve problems, to fend-off madness, | | | | medical facility for a 24-hour suicide |
| and chaos." | | | | watch. Another treatment program is |
| Despite their very positive public | | | | called partial hospitalization, a method |
| persona or larger-than-life image, many | | | | where a patient is allowed to sleep at |
| artists from different fields have | | | | home but spends about five to seven days |
| struggled with the act of unleashing | | | | a week in a psychiatric hospital |
| their creativity while battling | | | | setting. This type of treatment usually |
| depression | | | | involves individual counseling, group |
| Amy Tan, the author of the popular book | | | | therapy, and psycho-pharmacology. |
| "Joy Luck Club," continues to take | | | | Depression may help some artists to |
| prescription medication for her own | | | | become more creative and emotionally |
| bouts with depression --- perhaps, | | | | involved. However, for thousands of |
| living in real life the sad stories of | | | | other people who suffer from depression, |
| the characters she created in her books. | | | | the most important masterpiece involves |
| Vincent Van Gogh, the 18th century | | | | mastery over one's emotions. |
| expressionist, was actually hailed as a | | | | |