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.

And I do seem to remember reading that it was only a romantic association of the tormented artist.

I don't think it's romantic as it is just desperately trying to find some good out of it. I grasp at those straws, too. It's not rational, maybe.

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.

Yeah. When I've been depressed, I haven't been very creative.

I overslept this morning. Instead of getting up at 5:30, I awoke at 8:20.

I teach at 9.

Hijinks ensued.

Depression for me just sort of stops me on all levels. The Zoloft helped but I got all addle-brained. It started to scare me that my mind didn't work as sharply. Sadly, I am starting to notice that my mind is not working as sharply as it once did whether medicated or not, which sucks, because I used to rely on my memory being awesome, and now I have to retrain to write things down.

I don't recall time when I am not experiencing depression. It's just a matter of degree. The cute malcontent I can be is a depressed girl who is healthy enough to have a sense of humor about how shitty she feels.