[onomonapetia]

I guess I should clarify what I mean. Part of this is my adhd, but what I really want to know more is about creativity. Most of us, pretty much all bipolars that I know have some creative streak in them. For me, it's writing. Short stories, poetry, what have you. Usually when I am hypo, I can get them out pretty fast and clearly, but when I am actually stable (somewhat), everything is muddled inside my head. The thoughts are there, but I can't seem to string them together into one cohesive ANYTHING! So, I sit there with all of these great ideas swimming in my head and I can't tune in to them. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with meds, but do any of you have any tips to tap into your creative energy? I feel like my brain is going to atrophy just sitting here staring at the tube. A little help?

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by onomonapetia

I'm sure a lot of it has to do with meds, but do any of you have any tips to tap into your creative energy? I feel like my brain is going to atrophy just sitting here staring at the tube. A little help?

I have been trying to read the book "The Lily Pond A Memoir of Madness, Memory , Myth and Metamorphosis" by Mike Barnes (diagnosed). I'm finding it hard to follow because it jumps around too much. But one passage I found very interesting. He described one of his appointments with his Psychiatrist where she challenged him to write when he was depressed. He had only wrote when he was manic and found this to be a strange request.

It makes sense though. A person is given a talent and then abandons it for the majority of their life only to pick it up when their hypomanic or manic. It's a shame. Their art may be different during a depression or time of stability but different is okay. To keep up with my writing I started a blog on Psych Central and my goal is to write at least one entry per month. Creativity is kinda like a muscle if you don't use it it becomes flabby LOL!

[onomonapetia]

I never thought about it being a muscle. So true. I remember when I was in elementary school, after we were given a topic to write about, we had to write in bubbles around the topic to support the story. Maybe I will try that again. Each bubble was a paragraph. I guess this would be on a bigger scale, though.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by onomonapetia

I never thought about it being a muscle. So true. I remember when I was in elementary school, after we were given a topic to write about, we had to write in bubbles around the topic to support the story. Maybe I will try that again. Each bubble was a paragraph. I guess this would be on a bigger scale, though.

I remember doing that! Let me know if it works.

[PT52]

Usually when I am hypo, I can get them out pretty fast and clearly, but when I am actually stable (somewhat), everything is muddled inside my head.The thoughts are there, but I can't seem to string them together into one cohesive ANYTHING! So, I sit there with all of these great ideas swimming in my head and I can't tune in to them.

I can totally relate to that. I would go on a writing frenzy - if I got stuck, I'd just start another story. Even managed to finish a few. A lot of what I'm learning now is that the talent is still there, but like you, muddled in my head. Creative writing exercises are great and you can find lots of them online. Taking a writing workshop helps, too. You have a deadline (which really helps me stay focused) and you get feedback from the other students, plus give feedback on their stories.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by PT52

Creative writing exercises are great and you can find lots of them online. Taking a writing workshop helps, too. You have a deadline (which really helps me stay focused) and you get feedback from the other students, plus give feedback on their stories.

Great suggestions PT52!

[laur88]

Originally Posted by PT52

I can totally relate to that. I would go on a writing frenzy - if I got stuck, I'd just start another story. Even managed to finish a few. A lot of what I'm learning now is that the talent is still there, but like you, muddled in my head. Creative writing exercises are great and you can find lots of them online. Taking a writing workshop helps, too. You have a deadline (which really helps me stay focused) and you get feedback from the other students, plus give feedback on their stories.

I'm the same way - I start stories and stop when I get stuck because when I'm manic I'm too impatient and unfocused. Same goes for writing music... Haven't really finished anything except for school papers (non-creative writing). Deadlines do help but when I'm manic sometimes I can't even focus long enough to get something in on time... UG!

Working out helps because it allows you to burn off some of your extra energy.

I'll let you know if I discover anything else that could be particularly useful!

-L

[onomonapetia]

Thanks for the responses!

[eva60]

I too notice that with the down phase of my bipolarness I lose my creative momentum. I guess I cope with that by cutting myself some slack. People without mood disorders have high production days and low production days just like us. I think the difference is they don't constantly try and pick thier brains apart trying to figure out why. They just figure they had a bad day and pick up where they left off the next day. What if our low output days are actually days where we are just being well managed on our meds? What if we are experiencing a naturally "blah" day like the rest of the human race?? The problem with bi-polars is, we tend to marinate in all those swirling thoughts in our heads and it gums up the works. It constipates our productiveness. Then again, marinated stuff always tastes better to me. In the long run when we do churn out whatever it is probably good stuff!!

[lynn P.]

I make a homemade antena out of aluminum foil and attach them to a headband. Sorry the title was just begging for this.

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

I make a homemade antena out of aluminum foil and attach them to a headband. Sorry the title was just begging for this.

lmao!

I can relate to the whole writing thing, except my skill is in sculpture and painting. When I'm manic, i can do some pretty good work, even though it can get kind of graphic. Even when i'm in a mixed state, i still do better artwork. When i'm stable, about all you get out of me is paintings of landscapes though.......I've been trying to focus on one thing at a time, but it's been hard lately. In the past though, I would make myself do 1 piece of art daily, and the more i did it, the easier it came. But then i got in a major funk......I should probably start that again though.

[onomonapetia]

Love the homemade antenna!!!!

[newtoBD]

Originally Posted by onomonapetia

I guess I should clarify what I mean. Part of this is my adhd, but what I really want to know more is about creativity. Most of us, pretty much all bipolars that I know have some creative streak in them. For me, it's writing. Short stories, poetry, what have you. Usually when I am hypo, I can get them out pretty fast and clearly, but when I am actually stable (somewhat), everything is muddled inside my head. The thoughts are there, but I can't seem to string them together into one cohesive ANYTHING! So, I sit there with all of these great ideas swimming in my head and I can't tune in to them. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with meds, but do any of you have any tips to tap into your creative energy? I feel like my brain is going to atrophy just sitting here staring at the tube. A little help?

Wow, you sound EXACTLY like my husband. His creativity is writing poetry. He's excellent at it and only when he's hypomanic (although he would not admit he is ADHD and bipolar-told to him by two doctors). His hypomanic times scare mo though. Its as though he's a stranger. Help from anyone who knows some tricks to stop triggers? How do you know what the triggers are???

[notz]

I write my best poetry during the manic times but most often when I'm angry or hurt. I can write short stories anytime except when I'm manic.

The only creative outlet for me that is static resistant is my art.

Thanks for bringing this up. Peace to all.

[lynn P.]

My deceased brother was manic depressive and he was highly intelligent - he was also a very talented artist - painting, water color and those fine ink drawings. He was definitely was more creative when he was manic. I miss him.

[PT52]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

I make a homemade antena out of aluminum foil and attach them to a headband. Sorry the title was just begging for this.

You mean it doesn't work????????

[Wallowa]

The one channel people may be blessed with ease, yet what I had to learn or relearn at one point is that you don't need to be on a single channel to get where you are going (or even particularly know what that point is - in that if you knew it already you might be ready for something bigger, better and greater or at least more interesting). A smile for that thought.

I like to draw the ideas that come to me on paper and begin to connect them with lines and then as they cluster together, put them in order with numbers and or letters, and begin stringing together the beads of ideas and their dependent fringes of ideas to get a draft.

I don't worry about it. Editing happens after the first bunch of stuff is out. Anything I cut goes into a wishbox of sorts for use another time, and - having all the ideas out in front of me - I can move and remove pieces til the perfectible shape emerges.

In short, don't waste time swimming in just one channel - all the cross flow can contribute and you can trim back after that. hope it helps, K

[Lucianus]

To be honest I only write when I am depressed and angry. I have never been able to express anything when I was feeling otherwise. I am not bipolar but borderline so I don't know it that makes any difference to you all. All I know is that I get my best expressions into writing when I am at the lowest of lowests (oops). I guess the difference for me is that I have never felt happy in my life, so all I know is anger, pain, depression, rage, fear and so on. At this point in my life and at my age, I can't even fathom myself feeling anything else anymore, but what I just described above.