Art and Depression
Anyways, the other thing I am going to try to do (on Dr. X’s advice) is actually two things: keep painting even if my creativity seems to have disappeared. He says to keep doing the things that make me feel good when well, even if they are hard to do, or I don’t feel like it. Secondly, give myself permission to slow down and ride out the low cycle. He expressed that he knows these are both easier said than done. I appreciate that he gets that.
This quote from Vicarious Therapy inspired me on this subject. I have read some articles online about art and depression a while ago. It is about fighting depression and still be creative. Can depression enhance creativity despite depressed mood, loss of interest not to mention a lack of concentration and all other symptoms?
Depression, for me, has a paradoxical upside (one I would gladly trade away for being rid of the disease). It can be, and has been my greatest source of creative motivation. I find an odd sort of comfort by being able to produce images that reflect my sense of mood or the way my depressed mind sees the world. For me then, photography becomes almost therapeutic. It doesn’t make it better, but rather gives me a way to step outside of my depression and look back in at it and better understand how it is affecting me.
This quote is from a photographer. She has written a post on art and depression along with some interesting photos
“Art is my recovery. It’s my form of medication now and it’s what sustains me.”
This quote is from another photographer and how it helped her during her depression.
I am glad we have art therapy on out Depression Unit besides running therapy and cognitive therapy. Sometimes we get questions about how evidence based this form of therapy really is. I remain silent mostly and change the subject.
“When I came out of hospital I wasn’t working for about six months but the artwork was always something I could get on with. When I was in such a state that I couldn’t communicate with people, the one thing that I could talk about was my artwork. I think it was the only time I became coherent really!
From Tamar Whyte, she is a painter
It can be helpful in Schizophrenia as well. More evidence on that
studies have reported patients more likely to complete therapy regimens if art classes played a part. Just as crayons and construction paper allow kindergarteners to further explore what makes them unique, the act of creation, minor as it may seem, can help those with mental illness understand and cope with their conditions.
Thanks Dr Confabula for the video and Aqua.
Aqua
April 20, 2008 @ 6:19 pm
4 years ago I began taking Art classes at an Art Clubhouse for people with severe and persistant mental illnesses. In my first class I was so depressed and full of anxiety I could hardly do anything. I persisted because I found a calmness sweep over me as I began to draw, or create. All the obssessive suicidal thoughts disappeared and I was in the moment, creating.
I took more classes there, then began particpating in the running of the clubhouse (it’s member run with OT’s for support). I then began co-teaching a couple classes there and now I am teaching a drawing class on my own and volunteering as a mentor for new members.
I realized last Friday that for the first time in my life I KNOW what I LIKE to do, what I NEED to do in my life. I need to create, teach and help others.
While my depression may remain treatment resistant, and I may not be able to return to a paid job in the forseeable future, learning, creating, teaching art, and helping other people do the same, adds so much meaning and purpose to my life even when I am extremely depressed. Having set hours that I volunteer to teach and mentor adds much needed structure, and others expectations that I get out of the house and show up for my classes and volunteering has helped to.
The creative process, helping others learn that process and teaching art is the best thing I have ever discovered in my life’s journey.
Dr. Shock
April 20, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
Silly me thinking: art therapy keeps you from thinking from negative thoughts, distraction as helpful.
Regards Dr Shock
Tamar Whyte
March 12, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
A depressive state can certainly seem to unlock creativity. My most recent exhibition, currently showing at the Guild Hall in Gloucester (UK – until 28 March 09) was done under duress – I was extremely exhausted and unable to do anything for a good long while leading up to the show. In the end I had to literally force myself – something I’ve never had to do before with my art – because the dates for the show were suddenly upon me and I had no work.
The results were stunning – in particular a huge 2m x 2m piece of work. The subject matter was the perils of internet dating, however, although the script on the canvas (I paint with words) were illegible references to experiences that I had had whilst researching my subject matter, the flow of the script, and the acrylic painting underneath, was definitely influenced by a manic state.
Although I was exhausted while I was painting, the use of the paint – frantically applied to the canvas, washed back with buckets of water, scrubbed into with a brush, all of this seemed to connect directly with the state of mind that I was in. I didn’t like the results at first, however, when it was up in the gallery, it looked beautiful – in a manic sort of way.
I am and always have been interested in the connection between creativity and catharsis. Although ‘outsider’ artists are often held up as being people that can access this in its most purest state, I personally feel that there is not the gulf between professionals and outsiders that there once was. Professionals are also prone to depressive illness that can drive them to their work in an often obsessive way. Well documented examples of this include artists such as Francis Bacon and Van Gogh.
An interesting blog – thank you for quoting me.
Dr Shock
March 12, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
@Tamar
Interesting insight into your creative proces, unfortunately the link isn’t working very curious for your work, kind regards Dr shock
Tamar Whyte
June 8, 2009 @ 11:56 pm
Many apologies…. the site will be up again by the end of the year, I will let you know when. I am doing another web design course at the moment and want to redo my site, unfortunately I have another exhibition in Vienna to get ready for before I will be able to get this done.
An art historian (Dagmar Weidinger) that wrote her thesis on the work of artists with Borderline Personality Disorder is curating a show in Vienna, and has used my ‘Tales of a Borderline’ show to inspire a show there. She is also studying psychology and featured some of my work in her thesis. The show also features other people’s work and should be fascinating – I am looking forward to going and seeing the work of other women with a similar diagnosis and seeing if I can see any correlation between our work.
I have to have the work ready by July 1, so will be working on the website after then. I will let you know when it is up and running so that you can take a look. If I get a strong wind behind me, I may even do one for ‘Tales of a Borderline!’ as well!
Tamar Whyte
August 30, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Hi Dr.Shock…
Just to let you know that http://www.talesofaborderline.com is now up and running! You can have a look at the artwork and leave comments on the blog if you like.
http://www.tamarwhyte.com will be up and running by the end of the week (5 Sept 09) When I have had a chance to upload the files onto the new server!
BW,
Tamar
Painters and Psychiatry | Dr Shock MD PhD
November 14, 2009 @ 8:50 am
[…] depressed mood, loss of interest not to mention a lack of concentration and all other symptoms? Art can be comforting or even a form of medication. Klaas Koopmans (1920-2006) a Dutch artist who during his admissions as an inpatient for depression […]