Comments on: creativity: a way out of depression? http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/ making lives better, making better lives Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:04:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gustav Klimt Paintings http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-658715 Gustav Klimt Paintings Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:26:07 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-658715 I personally find art, both studying artists and do my own painting myself, a terrific way to occupy yourself and avoid boredom which for me sometimes leads towards grey thoughts. A passion that takes up your time and thoughts is important, but i guess its doesn't have to be creative necessarily. <em>Gustav Klimt Paintings's last blog post..<a href='http://gustavklimt.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/gustav-klimt-timeline-the-kiss-history/'>Gustav Klimt Timeline, The Kiss History</a></em> I personally find art, both studying artists and do my own painting myself, a terrific way to occupy yourself and avoid boredom which for me sometimes leads towards grey thoughts.
A passion that takes up your time and thoughts is important, but i guess its doesn’t have to be creative necessarily.

Gustav Klimt Paintings’s last blog post..Gustav Klimt Timeline, The Kiss History

]]> By: Mike Goji http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-637844 Mike Goji Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:13:50 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-637844 Well it does depend on what you are depressed about. If you directly address the very exact problem causing your depression, that often will do wonders for you. <em>Mike Goji's last blog post..<a href='http://gojimike.com/?p=21'>Had to fix car</a></em> Well it does depend on what you are depressed about. If you directly address the very exact problem causing your depression, that often will do wonders for you.

Mike Goji’s last blog post..Had to fix car

]]> By: mood enhancer http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-584883 mood enhancer Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:45:09 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-584883 Depression and Creativity are almost synonymous with each other. I think creativity helps to bleed some of the depression and can be very cathartic. The list of creative artists who were depressed are so many to name. Earnest Hemingway comes to mind. I think every depressed person needs a creative outlet. I know when I am going through down times in my life then I always feel comfort in some form of creativity. I also think it creates the best form of artistic expression that people can relate with i.e. Picasso's blue period just to name one. Depression and Creativity are almost synonymous with each other. I think creativity helps to bleed some of the depression and can be very cathartic. The list of creative artists who were depressed are so many to name. Earnest Hemingway comes to mind.

I think every depressed person needs a creative outlet. I know when I am going through down times in my life then I always feel comfort in some form of creativity. I also think it creates the best form of artistic expression that people can relate with i.e. Picasso’s blue period just to name one.

]]> By: Shaheen Lakhan http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-484080 Shaheen Lakhan Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:55:36 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-484080 Thanks for submitting this post to our blog carnival. We just published the <a href="http://brainblogger.com/2008/07/06/brain-blogging-thirty-sixth-edition/">36th edition</a> of Brain Blogging and your article was featured! Thank you. Sincerely, Shaheen <em>Shaheen Lakhan's last blog post..<a href='http://brainblogger.com/2008/07/06/brain-blogging-thirty-sixth-edition/'>Brain Blogging, Thirty-Sixth Edition</a></em> Thanks for submitting this post to our blog carnival. We just published the 36th edition of Brain Blogging and your article was featured!

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Shaheen

Shaheen Lakhan’s last blog post..Brain Blogging, Thirty-Sixth Edition

]]> By: Merri Ellen / my thoughts about depression http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-474619 Merri Ellen / my thoughts about depression Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:49:39 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-474619 I have learned that depression is our heart trying to teach us something; our emotions crying out to be heard. It is like an inner cry desperately wanting to be heard. The key is in the journey to discover what that cry is. Medicating the cry away does not work for me. It must be written out, talked out, painted out, danced out... expressed out. It cannot be shut up without being heard. Our hearts crave something bigger than what we have; bigger than what we are. Creativity is only partially the way to get it out. It is one of the keys to the locked door of the dark tunnel of depression. There is light on the other side. There is hope. I have seen it. What one does with their creativity is another key. Does it edify others? Then do it. Does it uplift others? Then do it. Creativity that seeks self gratification and self glorification is only temporarily. Consider a retired multi millionaire who has spent his life chasing after success. He has it all but it's nothing. It's meaningless - like chasing after the wind. He'll die and it will all be gone. Joy and purpose is found in living a life looking outward and upward; not inward. The self-medicating Jackson Pollock did not find it. The womanizing Pablo Picasso did not find it. They both looked in the wrong direction- desperately trying to fill the hole on their own strength; looking inward. The light shone inside them yet, thinking they were letting it out, they were extinguishing it. Did world wide fame bring them happiness? No. I believe we will never cure world wide depression entirely (and, as suggested above, eliminate creativity) because each of us is on a journey. What I love is walking with others on that journey. Standing at the end of the tunnel shining the light for others is the most amazing thing to be a part of. Let your creativity juices flow! <em>Merri Ellen / my thoughts about depression's last blog post..<a href='http://www.cure-your-depression.com/after-depression-story.html'>Jun 10, Broke our record: Over 10,000 per month - free</a></em> I have learned that depression is our heart trying to teach us something; our emotions crying out to be heard.

It is like an inner cry desperately wanting to be heard. The key is in the journey to discover what that cry is.

Medicating the cry away does not work for me.

It must be written out, talked out, painted out, danced out… expressed out.

It cannot be shut up without being heard. Our hearts crave something bigger than what we have; bigger than what we are.

Creativity is only partially the way to get it out. It is one of the keys to the locked door of the dark tunnel of depression. There is light on the other side. There is hope. I have seen it.

What one does with their creativity is another key. Does it edify others? Then do it. Does it uplift others? Then do it.

Creativity that seeks self gratification and self glorification is only temporarily. Consider a retired multi millionaire who has spent his life chasing after success. He has it all but it’s nothing. It’s meaningless – like chasing after the wind. He’ll die and it will all be gone.

Joy and purpose is found in living a life looking outward and upward; not inward.

The self-medicating Jackson Pollock did not find it. The womanizing Pablo Picasso did not find it. They both looked in the wrong direction- desperately trying to fill the hole on their own strength; looking inward. The light shone inside them yet, thinking they were letting it out, they were extinguishing it. Did world wide fame bring them happiness? No.

I believe we will never cure world wide depression entirely (and, as suggested above, eliminate creativity) because each of us is on a journey. What I love is walking with others on that journey. Standing at the end of the tunnel shining the light for others is the most amazing thing to be a part of.

Let your creativity juices flow!

Merri Ellen / my thoughts about depression’s last blog post..Jun 10, Broke our record: Over 10,000 per month – free

]]> By: isabella mori http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-474511 isabella mori Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:54:25 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-474511 @eeabee, thanks for stopping by, always good to hear from you! you know, now that you mention it, i HAVE heard of that book but haven't read it (yet). i should put it on my list of books to read. "the trick is to keep on ..." in a way, that's about both depression and creativity, too, isn't it? @eeabee, thanks for stopping by, always good to hear from you!

you know, now that you mention it, i HAVE heard of that book but haven’t read it (yet). i should put it on my list of books to read.

“the trick is to keep on …” in a way, that’s about both depression and creativity, too, isn’t it?

]]> By: eeabee http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-474498 eeabee Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:36:35 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-474498 This is mostly a comment about the image, though I got a lot out of the post too, especially the perspective that creativity helps change how the depression feels and how much control it has rather than dissolving it--that makes a lot of sense and rings true for me. But anyway, I'm in the middle of a book called _The Trick is to Keep Breathing_. Have you encountered it? It's really interesting especially in terms of how it tells the story (and plays with narrative) of depression/trauma/eatingdisorder--the experiences of a woman going through all those things. This is mostly a comment about the image, though I got a lot out of the post too, especially the perspective that creativity helps change how the depression feels and how much control it has rather than dissolving it–that makes a lot of sense and rings true for me. But anyway, I’m in the middle of a book called _The Trick is to Keep Breathing_. Have you encountered it? It’s really interesting especially in terms of how it tells the story (and plays with narrative) of depression/trauma/eatingdisorder–the experiences of a woman going through all those things.

]]> By: isabella mori http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-473854 isabella mori Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:39:27 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-473854 douglas, did you take part in eric maisel's 10 zen seconds book tour last year? that was a great project, i'm really happy i participated. "meaning" is always a difficult word for me, perhaps because one of my favourite philosophy professors warned me to stay away from that word because it's so incredibly vague. mattering, on the other hand, is something more substantial (and i guess some people would see mattering as part of meaning). if we feel we leave no trace in this world, if it looks like no-one and nothing is impacted - that is a frightening experience. it's a funny thing with creation, though. from an "objective" point of view, creation literally equals "leaving traces" - on paper, canvas, clay, wood, etc. it is when we feel these traces don't matter when we get into trouble. would be interested in hearing what you think about that, john. douglas, did you take part in eric maisel’s 10 zen seconds book tour last year? that was a great project, i’m really happy i participated.

“meaning” is always a difficult word for me, perhaps because one of my favourite philosophy professors warned me to stay away from that word because it’s so incredibly vague.

mattering, on the other hand, is something more substantial (and i guess some people would see mattering as part of meaning). if we feel we leave no trace in this world, if it looks like no-one and nothing is impacted – that is a frightening experience.

it’s a funny thing with creation, though. from an “objective” point of view, creation literally equals “leaving traces” – on paper, canvas, clay, wood, etc. it is when we feel these traces don’t matter when we get into trouble.

would be interested in hearing what you think about that, john.

]]> By: Douglas Eby http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-472355 Douglas Eby Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:20:41 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-472355 Eric Maisel, PhD, author of The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path Through Depression, addresses some of the meaning and mood issues facing creators. He says, "When we fear that we do not matter or that our efforts do not matter, we get depressed. Similarly, the places where we make large investments of meaning, for instance in our performances, paintings, or books, are places of great anxiety, because there is more than our ego on the line, there is our very sense of the meaningfulness of our life." Continued in our interview: <a href="http://talentdevelop.com/interviews/IMIOA.html">Investing meaning in our art</a>. <em>Douglas Eby's last blog post..<a href='http://talentdevelop.com/andrew-solomon-on-depression-and-hope/'>Andrew Solomon on depression and hope</a></em> Eric Maisel, PhD, author of The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path Through Depression, addresses some of the meaning and mood issues facing creators.

He says, “When we fear that we do not matter or that our efforts do not matter, we get depressed. Similarly, the places where we make large investments of meaning, for instance in our performances, paintings, or books, are places of great anxiety, because there is more than our ego on the line, there is our very sense of the meaningfulness of our life.”

Continued in our interview: Investing meaning in our art.

Douglas Eby’s last blog post..Andrew Solomon on depression and hope

]]> By: Alexander Zoltai http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-471218 Alexander Zoltai Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:16:15 +0000 http://www.moritherapy.org/article/creativity-a-way-out-of-depression/#comment-471218 All I can add, right now, to this superb and healing discussion (even though my "authority" is substantial) is: Depression is made overwhelming by our culture's lack of true creativity--driving people into material boxes that stun and suffocate. Depression is a natural function of the psyche. I remember Clarissa Estes talking about the lack of writer's "block" and the acceptance of the ebb and flow of conscious/unconscious... ~ Alex <em>Alexander Zoltai's last blog post..<a href='http://amzuri.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/verse-six/'>Verse Six</a></em> All I can add, right now, to this superb and healing discussion (even though my “authority” is substantial) is:

Depression is made overwhelming by our culture’s lack of true creativity–driving people into material boxes that stun and suffocate.

Depression is a natural function of the psyche. I remember Clarissa Estes talking about the lack of writer’s “block” and the acceptance of the ebb and flow of conscious/unconscious…

~ Alex

Alexander Zoltai’s last blog post..Verse Six

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