Yeah, obviously, mileage varies hugely w/r/t psych meds. I wasn't being serious about the recommendation, although it worked spookily well for me, in that respect. I no longer got pleasure out of smoking and just looked at cigarettes the way a non smoker does-- they weren't desirable anymore.

I do wonder if I could have ever been a writer or accomplished some of the things I've been able to do without the illness, or if my life would be significantly different/better if my brain wasn't an oozing sore.

Every time I think I have a grasp on it, something happens to prove I don't have a clue.

Is Superdouchey Fallacy an official term?

More of a superdouchey phallus in this case.

Sorry your day's been so shitty, Tom.

For me, even outside of meds, my depression/creativity is completely tied together. When it got to be too much, I had the ability to turn it off, but it all went together. So I was a music teacher with an outreach to hurting kids who couldn't feel or write or play or sing. It kinda didn't work. But it's awfully painful to stay open to all that stuff. Yet at the moment I choose it, because I love it.

I wonder what it is, genetically that causes it. Sort of like sickle cell/malaria? Like, "hooray, I have this genetic protection against malaria...boo, I also have sickle cell."

Is there some genetic thing that involves creativity that also causes depression/mental illness? I'd love to know.

Is there some genetic thing that involves creativity that also causes depression/mental illness?

There's been a lot of conjecture and a fair amount of research on this. Can't remember any results, though.

Thank you, Sue.

Is there some genetic thing that involves creativity that also causes depression/mental illness?

I don't think there is, completely. I mean, you don't have to be depressed to be creative, and there's no assurance that being depressed makes for better output. And I do seem to remember reading that it was only a romantic association of the tormented artist.

I know when I get depressed, I'm completely blocked. I gave up drawing and photography when I busted my knee years ago, and it took me forever to get back into either of them. Since my mother got diagnosed, I haven't been able to write or draw a lick yet.

Is there some genetic thing that involves creativity that also causes depression/mental illness?

Strong correlations at the very least, although I have no idea about the current state of genetic research. Kay Redfield Jamison is a good name to start with -- she's a Psychiatry prof at JHU, as well as the author of some solid books on mental illness for non-academic audiences, one of which is specifically on artistic/creative temperament and bipolar disorders.

edit: and she has damned little patience with "I'm so tortured! I must suffer for my art!" stuff, which is a blessing IMO.

Strong correlations at the very least,

That's what I had thought. But maybe the correlation is between "people who are prone to depression" and creativity. I mean, maybe if you're prone to depression you might still be less creative when actually experiencing depression.