The Connection Between Art and Mental Health
I was fortunate to have discovered the world of art and creativity long before my official diagnosis started to take hold. It’s interesting to me that this exciting world was somehow opened only days after my first real panic attack. As with many other times in my life, the Lord’s blessing was right on time. I found that the arts provided various worlds, tapestries, voyages, and yes, coping skills that can benefit the troubadour who is so inclined to take the trip. As for me, it has become one of my inseparable threads in this world. A true vocation of excellence that is always one call away. Everything from the original genesis of an idea to its inception and development, right into full production and creative control.
It seems that everyone these days knows someone who has battled with mental illness. To me, it’s a lifelong battle that doesn’t suffer fools. If you embrace the challenge of truly dealing with the illness, then the work of education, medication, communication, strategizing, trial and error, and the endurance race begins. Some people explore lifestyle changes, therapy, medication, or a combination of approaches with qualified professionals. Treatment is personal, and what helps one person may not help another. Creative practices and healthy routines can support wellbeing, but they should not be presented as replacements for prescribed treatment or professional mental-health care.
That is why it is of great importance that early on, we seek out and find all assets, productive tools, and strategies that will assist us as we seek homeostasis of mind, body, and spirit.
Some people find practices such as exercise, meditation, balanced nutrition, and reframing unhelpful thoughts useful alongside professional care. These approaches do not work the same way for everyone. In this article, we will focus on creative exploration and the ways it may support wellbeing for people living with mental-health challenges.
Imagine going outside on a cold, rainy day. The kind that is unwelcoming and dreary, although many rainy days and nights can be great for your creative expression. But instead of feeling lethargic, you decide to take control of your state and dream, letting them find voice through your particular mode of expression. It could be singing, drawing, strumming, humming, painting, rhyming poetry or rap, sculpture, doing a podcast, or writing a song. This list goes on and on. Many people can find a form of creative expression that feels natural or meaningful, although it may take some experimentation to discover what suits them.
The creative spark can strike at any time, and for some, it can be lucrative, addictive, and just plain exhilarating. You do not need to silence logic or enter a different part of the brain to create. You can begin with ordinary attention, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment.
Creative activities may offer emotional, social, or practical benefits for some people, whether or not they live with a diagnosed mental illness. They are not a universal treatment, and their effects can vary from person to person.
As was briefly mentioned, there are many different paths to take, tools to use, and dreams to birth in the field of the truly creative. And the great thing is, we all have the ability. If you have ever slept and awoken from a dream, then your mind has already shown you some creative expression from deep within, as it creates your dreams from various fragments of real and unreal things combined into one grand effect. Outside of music, writing, drawing, sculpture, and the like, there are also crafts like scrapbooking, woodworking, and YouTube is filled with great ideas of things to make.
Creative Methods for Expression
This time of year can be a great time to jump in and try some craft creation for the holidays. Where’s the fun in going out and purchasing all the decorations? Have at it, and see what sparks your fancy this season. Put your fingerprints on your creations, and enjoy being lost in the moment like a child with wanderlust.
One great idea I saw was the notebooks they have out now, that have pages with individual headings and suggestions for what to write. It may be as simple as, “write a modern fairy tale,” or “tell a story about your childhood.” The idea is to get the ideas percolating and let things flow with minimal judgment over your project in the early stages. So, even if it seems crazy or outlandish, the point is to go for it. Leave no stone unturned, and postpone judgment until you say that project is finished.
With this non-judgmental approach while creating, you can feel free to be uncensored before your muse. Afterwards, you can analyze what you have done, trying to ascertain what worked and what did not. Then carry that momentum into your next project. Do not be shy about switching mediums until you find what suits you. There may be more than one.
Whatever medium you choose, consistency is key. You do your research, plot a course, and set up a schedule that feels comfortable. Ten minutes a day is enough to start. Or, if you like the 25-minutes-on, 5-minutes-off method, then Pomodoro it is.
If you’re having difficulty fitting in the time, I would suggest the Eisenhower Matrix as a viable solution. It helps you prioritize and categorize your to-do list, so you can see clearly what is most important and what can wait.
Once you begin living in the creative world more frequently, you may experience a sense of liberation from the mundane, brick-and-mortar way of the world. Your imagination is powerful, and once it has been stretched and unlocked, there may be no going back to what you lacked before. Creative expression can be a lifelong refuge and an engaging way of life.
In the end, I think it’s a matter of taste and quantity. If you have tasted the sweet, fragrant wine of creativity in your life, the only question that remains is whether you have something that pulls you even more. If so, maybe you just found your dream. If you’re still not sure, start with a model airplane, a model car, a paint set, a notebook and pen, an instrument, a chisel, a brush, your bare hands, or whatever you have. Use what you have until you can get what you want.
Case Studies: Art Impacting Mental Health
When I was growing up, I sometimes thought that everyone had moments when they were not themselves. Stress, substance use, physical illness, grief, and financial strain can affect mood and behavior, although they are not the same as having a mental-health diagnosis. Music and other creative activities may help some people pause, focus their attention, express emotion, or feel connected to others. These effects are not guaranteed, and creative activity cannot replace professional care when someone needs it. Still, a song, story, drawing, or other form of expression can sometimes offer a welcome change of perspective.
There are also community art programs, some of which may be free or low-cost. In my mental-health community, I have seen how shared creative activities can help some participants feel less isolated and more connected. The experience will differ from person to person, but a welcoming group can be a useful source of encouragement.
Another great way to walk the path for those truly enthralled is to find a mentor artist. The mentor does not need to be polished in the medium you’re choosing. It is the essence of the artist’s way of life that you’re after. So do not get bogged down with particulars. Let fate happen, if you have the faith.
I’ve been asked to share examples of artists who lived with mental-health conditions, and I want to do so carefully.
Some of the historical figures mentioned below lived before modern diagnostic standards existed. Their letters, biographies, and reported behavior may invite speculation, but they cannot provide the same evidence as a diagnosis made by a qualified clinician or a public account from the person themselves. For that reason, historical possibilities should be described as uncertain, not presented as established fact. It is also important not to use the term “neurodiverse” as a general substitute for mental illness, because it has a broader and different meaning.
At any rate, I want to acknowledge the artists and public figures whose stories gave me hope, while also being clear about what is known and what is uncertain. Some modern figures, including Patty Duke and Carrie Fisher, publicly discussed bipolar disorder. Other names often included on popular lists, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Paganini, Ernest Hemingway, Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Allan Poe, Michelangelo, Winston Churchill, and Abraham Lincoln, are much harder to classify. Many lived before modern psychiatric diagnosis, and claims about their conditions are debated. They should not be presented as confirmed examples without reliable biographical or medical evidence.
So, the question is, are they success stories? Fame is passing and fleeting, and what matters in the end is what was produced and what it meant to people. These are the shoulders we may choose to stand on moving forward.
However, perhaps a greater question is whether their creative work supported them personally, or whether their lives remained marked by turmoil. Art can be meaningful and comforting without being a cure, and its effects differ from person to person. Creative activities may complement treatment and healthy routines, but they should not be described as proven treatments for a mental-health condition without specific evidence.
The most responsible approach is to separate personal experience from scientific evidence. My own experience gives me reason to value the arts, but it does not prove that the same approach will work for everyone. Readers who are struggling should consider speaking with a qualified mental-health professional, especially if symptoms are severe, worsening, or affecting safety.
The creative world was always a home for me. Someplace only I knew. Others had their places, but it wasn’t like mine. Mine was unique to my own imagination and craftsmanship. I lost myself in the craft, and sometimes lost all sense of business. I always felt that if my light burned brightly enough, it would find its place in the night sky, among the fireflies that glow and flicker.
The art I create now is a deep personal snapshot, soundtrack, journal, or otherwise a moment frozen that will last as long as it is cared for. In some cases, art has been mass-produced and placed deep in the consciousness of society. Life is short, art is long.
Getting personal, if it wasn’t for my God and my arts, I would have perished almost instantly. That’s my secret combination. One is, I believe, imperative for us all to seek out and serve, whereas the other is a slice of life and a modus operandi for those so inclined.
I can only say that although I haven’t made a million dollars off my art, it is, in itself, a deep richness that I guard like a dragon in its lair. I’m richer, smarter, more cultured, more focused, happier, more optimistic, and more hopeful because of the enrichment of the arts and humanities in my life. As a scientist of all things sonic and other things experimentally beyond, I don’t see any end to the possibilities. It’s a matter of time, dedication, discipline, and investment in yourself and your inner world.
If you are reading this article, whether or not you have a mental illness, creative exploration may be worth trying if it interests you. If you already practice it, then give yourself credit for continuing.
I’ve gone through some very dark times and tragic occurrences. These were amplified by the mood patterns of my illness and the way my mood can move between mania and depression. That is my experience, not a universal description of anyone else’s condition. What’s yours? Feel free to write me; your comments may get featured on the site or in a segment down the road.
As you’re considering my list of suspects, remember that I have struggled with these things for fifty years, and I want to impart whatever I may have learned that will assist you in taking the next step in your story of redemption. I believe in you, and if you dare to dream, life may reveal beauty that was already there.
Getting Started: Incorporating Art into Your Life
I want to talk for a moment about your creative space in this world. Keep it private unless you know of supportive people or a friend who wants to join you in your expression. Either way, advocate for yourself, and don’t allow other people’s opinions to stifle you. Protect your creative oasis with respect, and expect that from others.
I hope this article helped you in some way, and feel free to pass it on to anyone who might need to hear it.
Be The Song
A dear friend of mine once told me that I was the song, not just the writer, but the song. That hit me like a ton of bricks and has stayed with me all these years. As I get older, I see more truth in the saying, and it sits well with me.
May you be the song, may you be the tale, may you be the bird and the soft wind's gale, flying high on inspiration's coat. May you find the courage to face another day, take time to give thanks, and take time to pray. Close your eyes and breathe freely. Picture the world you would like to see, the whole earth or maybe just a tree. Hear the sounds of birds, lovers, locusts, frogs, and all the others. Let the rhythm find you there. Pick up your drums and sound the call. Go to flight with your flute, sound the castanets, and clack your boots. No regrets, there's no denying: life is better when you're really trying to be the song. —Cyprian Kane
Have you checked out the podcast? We’ve finished two seasons of our radio show, and for season three we’re adding the video component. It is still undecided whether the show will have a live call-in segment, but I’m hoping that is the case. Stay tuned for more updates.
Be The Song!
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