Saw Neurologist today

[karadinart]

My sons neurologist, and I happened to mention that someone had commented on a blog that the brains of artists and schizophrenics were similar, and you had to be 'wired' to be an artist, he and my sons pediatrician laughed and said that even at the cutting edge of science we are no where near the ability to tell where creativity comes from, not even a general part of the brain, and that any study that stated this, was much as the same as the old belief in reading bumps on the skull (phrenology) could tell you who was a genius.

The neurologist also said, (as I believe) that creativity is a learned trait. He said among his patients who are artists, they can confuse a 'quirk' as he put it, with a 'disorder', and the difference is in control.

For disorders my son's pediatrician who specializes with autistic patients is careful that the level of medications doesn't blunt creativity. Much in the way that my sons medications for his ADHD have to be kept level so he remains more verbal.

In answer to the person who said, we shouldn't treat our artists for mental illness, both the neurologist and pediatrician said without treatments, we wouldn't have more artists, we'd have more dead artists.

Comments

[keitichan.livejournal.com]

I think the notion of not treating artists for mental illness is partially a reactionary response from the idea that "normalcy" is valued over creativity. I have had many patients who don't want treatment because they believe that it will kill their artistic drive and their ideas. And I've heard of other psych providers who will over medicate and not listen to patients' requests for med changes when they find their creativity tamped down so severely. But like all things in life, it's about balance. If you're so depressed that you can't even lift a finger, there's no way to express your ideas no matter how brilliant they are. And everyone deserves happiness. The notion of the suffering artist is so disgustingly romanticized. I think it the person who commented on your blog had severe depression or hallucinated horrifying things, they'd be singing a different tune on the matter.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

right.