Quote:
Originally Posted by BethRags
I agree about the bipolar stereotype. When manic, I've never overspent or driven recklessly. I don't think anyone except my mental health team would identify me as "manic."
As for bipolar and creativity, I've known plenty of artists, professional artists, throughout my life and I cannot think of even one that has BD. In my experience, however, artists - visual, musicians, etc. - are always highly competitive people. Like, cut-throat competitive, both with themselves and with other artists. The ones who aren't don't stay with it. Not professionally, anyway.
In my experience of being a highly creative person when manic the emotional dysregulation of BD prevents lasting creativity and success.
Being a successful artist requires a strong and well-balanced temperament. I mean, take the most famous artist ever, VanGogh. Yes, he was a brilliant visual artist, a genius. But was he successful in his lifetime? Nope. He was surely bipolar, but so erratic he couldn't maintain the business side of art, which is what is necessary for worldly success in the arts.
As for Kay Redfield Jamison, I have read all of her books and found them interesting. That said, I really wonder about her. I mean...she is or was a prof at Johns Hopkins University. Supposedly she has maintained her BD with only lithium. I don't think she's ever been IP. I wonder how "bipolar" she really is. Maybe she romanticizes her own supposed disorder, too. Just a thought.
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I'm sorry I am late in seeing your post, BethRags. I totally see your points and agree.
As I recall, Kay R-J was hospitalized at least once because of her suicide attempt. Her memoir definitely had some creative parts, but a lot of her writing is far more academic. A lot of the poetry in her books, is not hers. She's obviously an analytical type more than creative one, in my view. And a great one.
I have also wondered how Kay R-J does so well on Lithium only. If she's taken other medications, it would sort of be nice for her to share that, but if she's not, I can believe it. She's lucky, huh? She's lucky that she has had, and still has, such a great career. In my early recovery, I was a bit jealous of that. But now, I know we all are different. I think many of us have had greater struggles than her and made headway. She has one kind of success. Others have another. I think we should all give ourselves a lot of credit for what we've gotten through.