[stylist] writers and depression

[Chris Kuell]

Hey Vejas,

Interesting question, and one I don't know the answer to. However, it is
fairly obvious that a lot of what I'll call 'creative' people suffer from
depression, or some form of mental illness. Sure, there are plenty of
writers and poets, but also artists (Vincent Van Gogh) and musicians (Kurt
Cobain could start a very long list). Going all the way back to Plato, he
talked about 'divine madness', a gift from the Gods which was a double sided
sword--creativity, and madness. As scientists are just beginning to get a
handle on the brain and how it works, I don't know if there is a real
connection or not, but there does seem to be plenty of empirical evidence.
Perhaps it has something to do with Serotonin levels?  

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vejas
Vasiliauskas via stylist
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2015 5:37 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] writers and depression

I've always found it interesting that many writers-Hemingway, 
Dickens, Huxley and many of the Lithuanian authors that I read 
when I used to go to Lithuanian school had depression.  Does 
anyone know why it is so common?
I'm thinking that maybe the concept of the writers having 
depression is a bit overplayed, and they could have just felt 
down some of the time.  I personally don't think that being a 
writer means you have it or vice-versa.
Just curious if anyone suspects a reason for this?
Vejas

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/ckuell%40comcast.net