[Brentus]

Over the years being here (I've had different accounts), I've seen a lot of really talented and unique people pass through. I remember a thread once addressing this topic and there are some studies correlating high creativity among those who suffer with bipolar. So, keeping with that idea here are my questions

1) Do you consider yourself creative? What sorts of things do you like do?


2) Do you feel meds stifle your creativity? Do you feel it's hard to be creative when you're not "up" or possibly even down?

3) This is more of a challenge than a question but, If you could only express yourself through one facet to the world ( be it an activity, or your style of dress, association to a club or an association, a cause etc), what would it be? In what way are you MOST creative?



I guess I'll answer my own questions

1) No. I don't consider myself creative, however I've been told it's a unique love I have and a special relationship with learning new things. I love learning in general. It lead me to become a teacher. I love languages, and my interests are academic in general. While not "creative" in the sense that I usually think of creativity -- I express myself through my learning. In that way I produce unique and sometimes insightful ways to learn or about the topic at hand.

2) As far as meds go? I don't feel the stifle me. I feel depressive episodes stifle everything in me. I'm thankful for a cocktail that while doesn't let me feel those high highs, I don't have many low lows anymore. Even if it isn't a perfect fit.

3) If I could only show the world my creativity in one way, I think I already mentioned it -- through my contributions to learning. Being a teacher (of any sort-- not necessarily having my masters degree in Education, but more of instilling in others skills, giving anecdotes, thought provoking or insightful things.) That's the core of who I am. I am happiest when I have a textbook to read and I can apply the knowledge to something I care about. I did (and still am) doing a lot of reading in psychopharmacology -- a twofer: I get to understand how my medicines work better AND I get the pleasure of learning. -- If we don't accept that, I love music. I'd choose an expression of who I am through my choices in music.


I look forward to reading your answers!

[TheGal]

The title of your post made me think of the book "Touched With Fire" by Kay Redfield Jamison.

[raspberrytorte]

1) Yes I consider myself creative. I love writing. I ❤️ it! Especially right now.

2) No. My current meds don't stifle it amazingly enough, though when I was on Haldol it did, which was really frustrating. I'm happy I'm not on Haldol anymore, even if it made me lose weight!

3) I am most creative when it comes to my writing

[Soupe du jour]

1) I do, but haven't felt as much, lately. I'm a good and creative dancer. I can also write, when in the right mind state, and more careful than I usually am here. My career focused on marketing writing. I've also particularly enjoyed short story and article writing. I'm a very good cook.

2) Some medications yes, some no. My illness, itself, has stifled or elevated it. Right now I feel it's stifled, and it has been for some time now. Partly my high dose of Seroquel, partly my mood level. Stress affects me cognitively. Depression can, too.

Achieving things while in a "stifled" mind state can be a challenge to a torture. It can be disabling. I know this well.

3) I've always felt like a dancer.

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by Brentus

1) Do you consider yourself creative? What sorts of things do you like do?


Other people tell me I’m creative. I do think outside the box. But me, I think I’m average

2) Do you feel meds stifle your creativity? Do you feel it's hard to be creative when you're not "up" or possibly even down?

Not meds so much as age. I’ve given up playthings and matured and become less of a risk taker. But decades ago I knew a man who played the piano, he was a composer. He felt strongly that meds stifled him. But off meds he was quite psychotic. The choice was so hard that he ended his life rather than live that way.

3) This is more of a challenge than a question but, If you could only express yourself through one facet to the world ( be it an activity, or your style of dress, association to a club or an association, a cause etc), what would it be? In what way are you MOST creative?

Color, I’m quite good with color. In painting, clothing, any medium.
!

I answered inside the quotes

[Tart Cherry Jam]

Yes. Writing. Also, jewelry making.
Yes, they stifle. For instance, when manic I can write rhyming poetry but when stable I cannot.
Writing.

[Aurelius710]

Originally Posted by Brentus

1) Do you consider yourself creative? What sorts of things do you like do?


2) Do you feel meds stifle your creativity? Do you feel it's hard to be creative when you're not "up" or possibly even down?

3) This is more of a challenge than a question but, If you could only express yourself through one facet to the world ( be it an activity, or your style of dress, association to a club or an association, a cause etc), what would it be? In what way are you MOST creative?

1. Even though I chose a rather practical career path to study in college (Criminology), I've always been drawn to and participated in the arts. Music (I played guitar once upon a time) and theater (I did plays and musicals all through high school. I still have a fondness for Broadway and the West End even today!) were a particular love.

That said, I don't know if I would consider myself "creative" per se. Maybe more "lateral thinking." I like to see the problem from different angles and find the solution that's not immediately obvious.

2. My current meds: no. The ones I've been on before: yeah. They didn't dull anything, but they made me too tired to care (and one too hungry to care) and act on my creative impulses.

3. It's a very general concept, but problem solving. My current is ostensibly sales (of cell phones), but a lot of it is problem solving of customer issues from the stupidly simple to the ridiculously complex. I love that part of it and if I could have a big boy job with that kind of dynamic... I'd be in heaven!

[Scooter9]

Interesting thread, thanks for asking the questions and encouraging responses!

1) Do you consider yourself creative? What sorts of things do you like to do?

Yes, I'm creative in photography and writing.

In photography, it's astronomical photos and you might be surprised just how creative you can get with it.

In writing, I enjoy all kinds of writing, be it technical, nonfiction, emails, articles etc. I'm not a story writer although I think there's a story somewhere in my future, maybe in the style of creative nonfiction.

2) Do you feel meds stifle your creativity? Do you feel it's hard to be creative when you're not "up" or possibly even down?

It's hard to be creative when I'm down but that's not caused by the meds since my baseline is pretty low. The meds help get me out of the depths enough to be creative. I was up years and years ago and was productive then but that was different (I was productive in programming then).

3) In what way are you MOST creative?

I would say it's writing. I'm most expressive in writing and it's what I turn to when I'm really low. It has always played an important role in my life.