[AspiringAuthor]

I definitely did. By leaps and bounds.

It started at about the same time - handcrafts (I make jewelry and paper cards) and writing (I started with prose and now am making baby steps in poetry writing). Both started around the New Year 2013. My dx was in 2006, but in hindsight I had elevated mood and anxiety about 10 years prior to that.

I am becoming more creative and also more symptomatic (treatment-resistant).

How about you?

At times I think that I would agree to pay this price (being symptomatic) for having the creativity, as opposed to living an even (and not eventful) life without it. Of course, these thoughts come and go and there are ups and downs, but at least part of the time I think that I would not want to live a different life without the creative spirit.

I was born in the 1970 and dx'd in mid-30s. My late mom had a much earlier onset.

[*Laurie*]

I'm pretty sure I was born with both a tremendous amount of creativity and bipolar disorder.

yes, yes, yes I did!

before DX, I tried writing my own story but it was based on an existing book, and really not that good (in fact if you read it, I think you'd find I just coppied the book in my own words)

but after DX I really got in to poetry, and story writing, it all just flowed freely

I've not really done much with my creative side for a long while.... I mean I'm finishing up my florida story (which I've been working on for a hell of a long time), but poetry wise.. it's been a couple of years since i've done anything worth mentioning

I think my poetry sucks- and I'm really not that good at it.

even though I am semi impressed with from shadows to eluminations (a poem about a mother taking her son on a day trip and explainingBP), it's not the best someone can come up with

nice outlet though

[Wild Coyote]

No. I was the same before and after diagnosis.


WC

[Moose72]

Ive always been highly creative. After diagnosis i had a name for my mood swings and i could see my creativity going through them and look BACK at my prediagnosis creativity and see that there really was a little spark there after all.

[Moreta]

I've always been creative, but I guess I've always been bipolar. The meds kill the creativity a bit as well as the depression. I haven't made anything or painted in months.

I am creative in different ways, particularly my writing.

Originally Posted by Moreta

I've always been creative, but I guess I've always been bipolar. The meds kill the creativity a bit as well as the depression. I haven't made anything or painted in months.

This is how I feel too.

[Cocosurviving]

I use to spend hours scrapbooking and making crafts. After getting diagnosed and starting meds I stay too tired to do crafting. I would knit and color too.

No I've become less creative since being on meds. But off of them I'm really symptomatic so it's a trade off...

[Unrigged64072835]

It depended on what med I was on. I was creative on Lamictal but I was still manic. Depakote killed everything. I've been on Latuda for a couple of years and I have my writing mojo back.

[Nammu]

No

The diagnosis had nothing to do with my creativity I was bipolar long before I was diagnosed.

Nope nope nopididyly no. The only thing that changed is my attitude towards mental health (me) and treating it with more caution towards handling my regular outbursts. I'm more centered now and giving up some drugs has become a priority above all in getting "better". But no, life's still crappy..

[Pookyl]

Nope. I’ve always been told that I’m creative in business. And I’ve developed creative solutions in healthcare.
But I’ve never been a typical creative person - can’t draw, paint, sculpt, knit etc

[Tucson]

Nope. I do have my inspirations from time to time. But this has never changed before or after the dx.

[scatterbrained04]

I was way more creative before I was diagnosed. I think maybe the meds have squashed it a bit. It could also be the depression. I have more depression now than previously.

[Unrigged64072835]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

Nope. I’ve always been told that I’m creative in business. And I’ve developed creative solutions in healthcare.
But I’ve never been a typical creative person - can’t draw, paint, sculpt, knit etc

My husband is more creative with electronics and computers. He designs complicated circuit boards and technical diagrams. I used to understand it but not anymore.

[pirilin]

My Dx didn't affect me at all. I don't believe it, period.