Mental illness, an Acceptable Preset Consequence of writing or just an Excuse?
How does it feel to have another world far from what you have right now? Does having a mental disturbance conclusive for someone’s incompetency? Does the type of social life you engage-in affects your vulnerability to a certain mental illness?
…..these are the questions that immediately passed in my mind right after I’ve read the article of Dr. Fleming. Certainly, mental illnesses is a significant matter that should be discussed; for beside the fact that a wide range of people are being affected by different kind of these illnesses, there is also an increasing awareness among us about the nature and occurrence of such condition.
In Dr. Fleming’s article, he focused on most of the writer’s frequently encountered mental illnesses.
In a statistics gathered in a recent article in Scientific American- indicate that the incidence of clinical depression among writers and artists may be as much as ten times greater than that among the general population.
All the same, recent studies indicate that a high number of established artists—far more than could be expected by chance— meet the diagnostic criteria for manic depression or major depression given in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). It appears that these diseases may contribute in the development and creativity of some people. Although, by virtue of their prevalence alone, it is clear that mood disorders do not necessarily breed genius.
Based from the related literatures I have read and mentioned, questioning one’s self is a normal life occurrence. But of course, frequency and severity of the ailment must still be considered. This is a condition wherein we have doubtful and unreasonable beliefs about ourselves. Pressures brought about by both internal and external factors, bring us into a situation where we tend to have lack of confidence, thereby questioning our achievements and capabilities.
There are appropriate time and place for a person to accomplish something; hence if a person is not in the drive or mood to do such act, even how much effort is put into it, the pressure she /he feels makes her/ him come up with unreasonable thought, even more in the part of the thesis writers.
As a whole, what were exposed in Fleming’s article were the typical mental illnesses or disturbances among thesis writer or writers in general, which alone, can be considered as normal; for frequency and severity of such mental condition should be well-thought-out in determining degree of illness.
Anyhow, this article and even the previous ones could be a great help on how to treat and analyze mental ailments in a new and appropriate perspective. Since writers have always been a great impact and influence among their readers or followers, they are a significant group to study, and interrelate with the aforementioned mental conditions. So as to point out that, writers are normal people that can be affected by some ailments, and in certain situations, may be at greater risk for acquiring psychological problems. From this concept, we may say that, writing a thesis or even other articles is a demanding work; which, in effect, can convey mental disturbances with them (writers). But given this fact, it is not a basis to make assumptions and judgment about what and how much they can do as an expert. Just like William Styron, his literacy achievements was questioned due to his depressive experiences, but since he was undeniably a brilliant and adventurous novelist, his article Darkness Visible, a summary of 84-page memoir of his own emotional descent, transformed him into a contemporary translator of the illness and, subsequently, an ardent mental-health advocate.
In the face of all these facts…,
Is it right to say that none of us, even YOU, is not exempted to this mental disturbances?
Have you ever experience being disturbed anyway? What were you doing during this time?
Does having to do something MORE depressing than doing nothing at all?
Now then,
Is it justifiable for writers to be in such mental condition?
Would you bother evaluating whether the article you are reading is made by a depressed or insane person?
As a reader; what would catch your attention to read, the author or the content?
References:
1. Frederick K. Goodwin and Kay R. Jamison (1990), Manic Depressive Illness. Oxford University Press
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/hanauej/Abnormal/Web%20pages/manic-depression%20and%20creativity.pdf
2. Nancy Etchemendy (1995), Writers and Depression
http://www.horror.org/writetips-etchemendy.htm
3. Nell Casey Unlikely (2006), William Styron-Bard of Depression Copyright 2010 Washington Post News week Interactive Co. LLC
http://www.slate.com/id/2153024/
4. A. Alvarez (1990), The Savage God: A Study of Suicide W.W. Norton & Company
http://www.goodtherapy.org/books/the-savage-god-a-alvarez.html
5. Christina Sponias (2007), Positive Meaning of Depression, Ezine article
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Positive-Meaning-of-Depression&id=733002
How does it feel to have another world far from what you have right now? Does having a mental disturbance conclusive for someone’s incompetency? Does the type of social life you engage-in affects your vulnerability to a certain mental illness?
…..these are the questions that immediately passed in my mind right after I’ve read the article of Dr. Fleming. Certainly, mental illnesses is a significant matter that should be discussed; for beside the fact that a wide range of people are being affected by different kind of these illnesses, there is also an increasing awareness among us about the nature and occurrence of such condition.
In Dr. Fleming’s article, he focused on most of the writer’s frequently encountered mental illnesses.
In a statistics gathered in a recent article in Scientific American- indicate that the incidence of clinical depression among writers and artists may be as much as ten times greater than that among the general population.
All the same, recent studies indicate that a high number of established artists—far more than could be expected by chance— meet the diagnostic criteria for manic depression or major depression given in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). It appears that these diseases may contribute in the development and creativity of some people. Although, by virtue of their prevalence alone, it is clear that mood disorders do not necessarily breed genius.
Based from the related literatures I have read and mentioned, questioning one’s self is a normal life occurrence. But of course, frequency and severity of the ailment must still be considered. This is a condition wherein we have doubtful and unreasonable beliefs about ourselves. Pressures brought about by both internal and external factors, bring us into a situation where we tend to have lack of confidence, thereby questioning our achievements and capabilities.
There are appropriate time and place for a person to accomplish something; hence if a person is not in the drive or mood to do such act, even how much effort is put into it, the pressure she /he feels makes her/ him come up with unreasonable thought, even more in the part of the thesis writers.
As a whole, what were exposed in Fleming’s article were the typical mental illnesses or disturbances among thesis writer or writers in general, which alone, can be considered as normal; for frequency and severity of such mental condition should be well-thought-out in determining degree of illness.
Anyhow, this article and even the previous ones could be a great help on how to treat and analyze mental ailments in a new and appropriate perspective. Since writers have always been a great impact and influence among their readers or followers, they are a significant group to study, and interrelate with the aforementioned mental conditions. So as to point out that, writers are normal people that can be affected by some ailments, and in certain situations, may be at greater risk for acquiring psychological problems. From this concept, we may say that, writing a thesis or even other articles is a demanding work; which, in effect, can convey mental disturbances with them (writers). But given this fact, it is not a basis to make assumptions and judgment about what and how much they can do as an expert. Just like William Styron, his literacy achievements was questioned due to his depressive experiences, but since he was undeniably a brilliant and adventurous novelist, his article Darkness Visible, a summary of 84-page memoir of his own emotional descent, transformed him into a contemporary translator of the illness and, subsequently, an ardent mental-health advocate.
In the face of all these facts…,
Is it right to say that none of us, even YOU, is not exempted to this mental disturbances?
Have you ever experience being disturbed anyway? What were you doing during this time?
Does having to do something MORE depressing than doing nothing at all?
Now then,
Is it justifiable for writers to be in such mental condition?
Would you bother evaluating whether the article you are reading is made by a depressed or insane person?
As a reader; what would catch your attention to read, the author or the content?
References:
1. Frederick K. Goodwin and Kay R. Jamison (1990), Manic Depressive Illness. Oxford University Press
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/hanauej/Abnormal/Web%20pages/manic-depression%20and%20creativity.pdf
2. Nancy Etchemendy (1995), Writers and Depression
http://www.horror.org/writetips-etchemendy.htm
3. Nell Casey Unlikely (2006), William Styron-Bard of Depression Copyright 2010 Washington Post News week Interactive Co. LLC
http://www.slate.com/id/2153024/
4. A. Alvarez (1990), The Savage God: A Study of Suicide W.W. Norton & Company
http://www.goodtherapy.org/books/the-savage-god-a-alvarez.html
5. Christina Sponias (2007), Positive Meaning of Depression, Ezine article
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Positive-Meaning-of-Depression&id=733002