I told my therapist that lithium has blocked my creativity. Can't play my musical instrument anymore. Not interested in drawing -- not even embroidery! My therapist wants to know what it is about lithium that would block creativity. I did a google search and came up with zilch that describes the chemical or physical process that happens when Li blocks creativity. Anyone know what's going on?

I've been on Li for 6-7 weeks. Blood levels last week were at therapeutic level. Will my creativity come back? Anyone have experience where yours came back while on Li?

[searching4732]

Originally Posted by flowerbells

I told my therapist that lithium has blocked my creativity. Can't play my musical instrument anymore. Not interested in drawing -- not even embroidery! My therapist wants to know what it is about lithium that would block creativity. I did a google search and came up with zilch that describes the chemical or physical process that happens when Li blocks creativity. Anyone know what's going on?

I've been on Li for 6-7 weeks. Blood levels last week were at therapeutic level. Will my creativity come back? Anyone have experience where yours came back while on Li?

This is common, not just with lithium, but with any mood stabilizer. When you're manic or hypomanic, your brain is functioning in overdrive with all of those neurotransmitters firing more than they should be. You're experiencing life "outside the box." You're pushing the boundaries of reality, your senses are more acute and your thoughts are more profound. Some of the most brilliant artists, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, etc. in history struggled with bipolar, and their greatest work was often realized when they were in a manic or hypomanic state. Take that away, and you're living life within the confines of "reality" again. Less creative.

It's a struggle. I'm a musician; my very greatest performances have been when I was hypomanic, because I felt I was able to transcend this reality somehow. But. At what cost? The rest of my life falling apart? Making poor choices that have severe and lasting consequences, not sleeping, not eating, until I'm sick and start cycling down...?

That's the hardest part of this disorder for me to come to terms with, and really I haven't yet. Being comfortable with feeling "normal." Good luck to both of us I guess, huh?

[RomanJames2014]

I was pretty evened out with the lithium. kinda had slight hypomanic episodes but I decided to go off of the lithium to gain some jolts of creativity and activate my Mr. hyde (Sorry old english reference.) and instead I've been pretty mellow and depressed. Its so strange how bipolar just adjutates and does what it wants. i am usually more manic but this summer has been awful for me. I hate summer as it is butwith out the manic bliss that i can use to survive, and all of the stress going on in my life, Ive just been giving up.