How many people find that through depression you find new inspiration?

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   Sunshiney31posted 14 years ago

   Sometimes when I find myself wrapped in the fog depression brings,and once the fog has lifted I gain new insight and insiration.I'd like to hear your journies...

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      double_frickposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      i recently read that one researcher believes depression is an important evolutionary trait in that it motivates people to make necessary changes in their lives to alleviate the depression. beyond the artistic/creative outlet that people have for depression it would seem that however meaningless or pointless the depression there is usually a real reason for it. i.e. in a job you hate, with a person you shouldn't be with, clinging to habits that don't serve you, etc.
      instead of making changes people get on medication or find other ways to alleviate the symptom of the problem, not the problem itself.
      
      http://www.newsweek.com/id/220858

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   darksideposted 14 years ago

   It would depend on your outlet.
   
   A creative outlet such as painting or music would allow a person who is melancholic to explore emotions through their chosen medium.
   
   Writing could be such a vehicle, but not for me. I could be a roller coaster ride of emotions, even feel desperate, but I don't think being depressed would help my writing.

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   Mike Lickteigposted 14 years ago

   I often find inspiration lurking in my darker side, and much of my artwork and some poetry comes from depression or melancholy.  When I was young, most of my inspiration came from dark or negative emotions, as is the case for many dealing with teen angst, or angst that stretches into adulthood.
   
   I did find that as I grew older, I intentionally searched for more uplifting things to inspire my creativity until I reached a point where I saw as much on the bright side of myself to draw from as the dark side.  I fought against plunging into depression to spark creativity.  Now, I reach inside and connect with whatever is there, light or dark, and use it for fuel.

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   skyfireposted 14 years ago

   For sketches and music,depression does help find some inspiration.
   For writing never, i need to be motivated in order to write something.

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   Daniel Carterposted 14 years ago

   Depression has never served to inspire my music. Healing from it has. But I guess indirectly, then, if I had not gone through depression, I wouldn't know what the healing process is like.
   
   Indirectly, I agree with your observation. Depression itself always kills creativity and desire (and action) to create. There is something to coming out of depression that the body and mind says it's time to begin again. That's the important part of it.

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      double_frickposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      i have to say that some of my most stunning artwork, poetry and such have resulted from some pretty deep depressive episodes.
      
      actually, when i'm hypo- or even full blown manic i can't do anything but talk and laugh and yell and dance...i can't do any art.

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   Aya Katzposted 14 years ago

   Being sad can help me create. Being angry is a huge help. But depression turns everything off, and in that state I can't even daydream.

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Inspiration can come from anything and everything that happens. Depression, the thoughts and energy, can be directed to making positivity appear, if properly used. If not, then it can be detrimental to living life.
   
   Just a thought.

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   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   I think every state of mind can find inspiration. sometimes just to start writing can change a mood.
   
   there are certainly famous artists and writers who wrote while depressed
   slyvia plath - The Bell Jar
   
   john keats, some of his 'odes'
   
   abraham lincoln
   
   winston churchill
   
   edgar allan poe
   
   charles dickens
   
   leo tolstoy
   
   the list goes on.

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   Tenerife Islanderposted 14 years ago

   Under my other identity here I am the Bard of Ely and as a singer-songwriter I would say that depression is a definite inspiration for writing. Happiness and contentment are not. The blues is a musical genre brought about to express the problems in life. Some writers like Leonard Cohen have fashioned their careers out of depressed writing.

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    tobey100posted 14 years ago

    I find I can write whatever state of mind I'm in.  The difference being do I generate serious material or articles regarding uncommon uses of moth balls, and I don't mean the white ones you put in your closet.

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       Faybe Bayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       You could always write it all out and then decide to or not to publish. That's what I do. Then I publish and then I re-edit... I am OCD about my writing. Read it, no don't read it it's not ready... AHHH a comment someone read it before I was REALLY ready.

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          tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I know exactly what you mean.  Took me a couple of hard years to learn when enough was enough.  Send it to the publisher before you ruin it.  Now I blast it out, proofread and let it go.  Onward and upward.

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    Faybe Bayposted 14 years ago

    I have read that the brightest inspiration comes from the worst of circumstances. Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol was written in the winter, when he was about to lose everything. It literally saved his marriage and family life, and possibly Christmas altogether for many in Brittain.

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    myownworldposted 14 years ago

    On the other hand, something as depressing as human suffering moves me to tears ....yet it also motivates me to action and inspires me to write too. In fact, most of my writing is the result of my travels to the poorest, most grief stricken places in the world.....and writing (or creating hubs) is one way I come to terms with it.

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       tobey100posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Mostly, human stupidity inspires me to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys).  Doesn't do any good but it makes me feel better.

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    rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

    I've written while feeling blue, some poems, trying to process feelings, it seems to help the thoughts find a place to be released.
    
    when I read slyvia plaths book, it was hard reading at times, but what a glimpse into the human condition and how it affected her life.
    
    leonard cohen is also one of my favorites.
    it's good to be able to move through these different emotions and not get stuck. action is the best cure I think.
    
    I've read that light has a lot to do with depression, maybe even metaphorically turning on the light by writing can help...
    I live in sunny florida and when it's overcast even for a couple of days, there's a change in people's moods... interesting.

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       myCloneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       You're absolutely right about the light!  I live in the Pacific Northwest, where it is cloudy about 180 days out of the year, and the lack of sunlight does have an adverse affect on a lot of people.  I was advised to get a light box...and take 2000 iu of vitamin D.  Still haven't purchased a light box yet--I probably should though and then I could imagine I was in sunny Florida! 

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    Sunshiney31posted 14 years ago

    My thought is out of a darkened place .Light is born kinda like in the begining there was dark an endless viod and bam creation came from it..

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    myCloneposted 14 years ago

    Dealing with clinical depression for most of my adult life, I have learned how to use my depressive episodes in a healthy and positive way by letting my depressive emotions flow on paper.  My melancholy poetry for example is my means of "letting go" of the fear, anxiety, paranoia, and hopelessness.  But curiously, I am most inspired to write when I am depressed, and less inspired to paint, which I also enjoy doing.  So when I have snapped out of my depression, I know its temporary, and that is my window of opportunity to seize the other creative elements within me.  I guess what I am saying is that I have learned to embrace depression as a part of my being, not an enemy to defeat me or my purpose in life.

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       Faybe Bayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       are you still here?

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    rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

    you could try it and see! light is energy. because it is sunny here more than not, it amazes me when two days go by without sunshine and how it affects us...  I have read also that vit D helps, also to help lift your mood as well as vit E.

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    cosetteposted 14 years ago

    i'm with you on the healing properties of sunlight. some days i can't get enough of it.
    
    i don't suffer from depression, but i do know that some really mighty writing can come after going through, say an end of a love affair or something like that.

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    figmentposted 14 years ago

    My poems our inspired through depression.

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