Creativity and Mental Illness

The tragic death of Robin Williams has triggered a wide range of discussions, articles, and blogs about depression. PBS quoted a neuroscientist named Dr. Nancy Andreason who is currently studying creativity and the brain. One of her quotes in the short pbs article indicates that “Persisting in the face of doubt or rejection, for artists or for scientists, can be a lonely path—one that may also partially explain why some of these people experience mental illness”.

Dr. Andreason has made studying the brain and creativity her life’s work. Her interesting article “Secrets of the Creative Brain” appeared in June’s Atlantic Monthly, which reveals some pretty interesting insights on potential links between genius, IQ, and creativity. Her current thirteen subjects include George Lucas, novelist Jane Smiley and six Nobel laureates in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine, and physiology. In an earlier study, she also worked with Kurt Vonnegut for years while examining the link between creativity and mental illness.

One of the things she discovered is that "Creative people are better at recognizing relationships, making associations and connections, and seeing things in an original way—seeing things that others cannot see.” She also writes that so far, the links between mental illness and creativity, which she did with Vonnegut and others, have been borne out in this study. Apparently a high percentage of her subjects come from creative families who also have mental illness issues. Both nature and nurture seem to play significant roles. Much more is revealed in her interesting article, which you can find at http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/06/secrets-of-the-creative-brain/372299/

It’s so sad that these issues only come to the forefront through the untimely deaths of creative people, but with the work of Dr. Andreason and others, maybe we'll learn, one day, how to prevent more tragedies from happening.

Debra

Got the "Back to School Blues"?

For many parents, September means one thing: it's back to school time! And that single realization can bristle, stress out and frustrate even the most organized parents. Some even sink into a temporary depression--the "Back to School Blues".

But there's help for you. Really. It's all in how you look at this time of year--or this time in your child's life. The one thing I can promise you, it's temporary.

Let's look at the stress factors:

Back to school means revamping your child's wardrobe. Little Johnny ain't so little anymore, Mom. He shot up four inches over the summer and his jeans end just below his knees. Not really the current fashion statement for a cool dude. And little Lisa has gained a few pounds from all that ice cream. She'll need a size larger, unless you want her bursting at the seems.

Then there's that long list of school supplies, and little Johnny wants that certain brand for his calculator, the one that's $40 more than the no-name kind. Do you cave and kick yourself for being stingy? Or do you hold your ground and teach him a lesson in budgeting? Those lists can equal a car payment if you're not careful. And trust me, you'll need that car, if only just to escape from a house filled with kids whining about homework.

There's also the issue of how your child will get to school. Will he/she travel by school bus, public bus, bicycle or will he/she walk. How will you handle lunches? A lunchbox or lunch at home? Do you need before and after school care?

It's no wonder parents go into a depression at this time of year. If they're really lucky they had a week of unpaid holidays that they now have to make up for, on top of all the school costs. But what's the choice? It's not as if they can buy the pens and notebooks the following month and stretch out the debts.

So how does one deal with the depression of excessive financial debt, plus the fact that little Johnny and Lisa will be gone all day, leaving you alone with nothing to think about other than...work?

You remind yourself: it's only temporary. And it is, I guarantee you.

You have approximately 18 years to buy those school supplies, maybe longer if you're forking the bill for your child's college, university or other post-secondary schooling. As your child matures and gets into high school, you might find some of the stress easing off as they take some responsibility for extra-curricular activity expenses. Little Johnny wants to play hockey? Have him contribute a small amount from his part-time job. Or have him work for you. At least you'll feel you've gotten something back from the hundreds of dollars you've spent on knees pads and helmets.

September is a time for beginnings--the first day back to school, back with all their friends, and the day you release them to this new year of learning. It's also a great time for parents to start new projects. These projects will keep you busy and you'll feel motivated by the subtle changes in your home--specifically, the lack of noise.

As a parent of a 19-year-old who has finished school, I can safely say that it's been a few years since I suffered from the "Back to School Blues". I long for September because it signals change--good change. I find I'm most productive in September and January because both months make me feel I can start over, start something new and start something exciting. And thankfully, I don't need a new wardrobe or a list of supplies or a bus pass, and the only teacher giving me homework is me.

Everything is temporary. Enjoy this time with your child. They grow up far too fast.

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,

bestselling author of Whale Song

http://www.cherylktardif.com

Legendary Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer releases candid memoir about his fight with addictions and depression

When the publicist for Joey Kramer, legendary drummer for the rock band Aerosmith, first approached me about helping publicize Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top, I was almost going to decline because of a heavy workload. Then I read the description of the book and read a sneak peek.

Keep reading this post for an opportunity to win a copy of Hit Hard, complete with an autographed bookplate from Joey Kramer.

To say that Kramer's autobiography is revealing is an understatement. It is brutally candid and makes no excuses. It's also an inside look into the rock world and the effects that fame often has on the famous. Like Michael Jackson, Kramer had his fair share of ups and downs, challenges and rewards. This memoir strips bare the dream of fame and fortune, and shows the often harsh realities of rock band stardom.

"I'd played my drums in front of eighty thousand screaming fans and passed out in my own puke," Kramer states.

With a foreword written by Nikki Sixx from Mötley Crüe, the book starts off with nothing less than sheer honesty, and by the time you've finished reading it, you might feel like you've just gone through an old wringer-washer.

Book Description:

In 1997, amid Aerosmith’s sold-out world tour and number one album release, word about Joey’s troubles was reported in the press. Despite the advice he had received to play it down, Joey revealed in an interview his ongoing struggles with depression. The response from fans and people battling those same internal demons was overwhelming. Joey--who has been the drummer in Aerosmith since it was founded in 1970 and is the first member of the band to release his own book--now tells the complete story: the early days of the band, glamorous drug-addled events leading up to their eventual sobriety, battles within his family and among bandmates, and the explosive internal dynamics in Aerosmith that continue to unleash a fury of endless creativity.

This is not just another rock ‘n’ roll memoir. In addition to the never-before-told Aerosmith war stories that abound in the book, Hit Hard unpacks the history of a rock star who was both fragile and tough, who after years of insane wildness became willing to accept help and finally kick a serious alcohol and drug addiction, only to find that the real terrors and hard work were still ahead. It’s the story of an average kid from an average American suburb who went through physical and emotional trauma. It’s about years of depression and the nervous breakdown at the height of the band’s comeback success. Ultimately, Hit Hard is about how Joey recognized his confusion between love and abuse, awakening to the kind of self-acceptance and compassion that make relationships possible in the “real world” as a member of the biggest band in American history.

For a chance to win Hit Hard, please leave a comment after this post. Include your email address, so we can notify you if you're the winner.

Listen to a special message from Joey Kramer:



Purchase Hit Hard from your favorite bookstore, or from online retailers, including Amazon.com.

About Joey Kramer:

Joey Kramer is the legendary drummer with the most successful band in American history-Aerosmith. Since 1970 he and his partners have sold over 150 million albums, and today their multigenerational, global audience is bigger than ever. In addition to the Grammys and the twenty-one multiplatinum albums, Aerosmith was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and they are the subject of several documentaries, including a film dedicated to Joey and his lasting influence, called It’s About Time. Joey lives south of Boston, Massachusetts.

Visit the author online at http://www.joeykramer.com/.

For Aerosmith news, visit http://www.aerosmith.com/ and http://www.aeroforceone.com/.

*A personal note from Cheryl Kaye Tardif:
The main reason why I was drawn to this book and to promoting it was that my baby brother Jason fought the addictions and depression demons. Unfortunately he was murdered before he could win the battle. I wish Joey Kramer the best in health and happiness, and the best in success with Hit Hard. It takes a brave person to 'strip bare' their soul and life in front of the public.

Now don't forget to leave a comment so you'll have a chance to win the autographed bookplate and copy of Hit Hard by Joey Kramer.

For a sneak peek at Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top, go to:
http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061566608

~Cheryl Kaye Tardif, Canadian suspense author
http://www.cherylktardif.com/