Why are people who suffer from anxiety & panic attacks some of the most creative

1. 83

   ii3rittlesposted 12 years ago

   Why are people who suffer from anxiety & panic attacks some of the most creative people?

   replyreport
2. 35

   edhanposted 12 years ago

   Creative people are ever thinking alot so chances of having anxiety or panic attacks will be quite common as compared with others.
   
   When you are on target timing of delivering your end products, it will have lot of impact and unless you are totally prepared or else you will tend to panic. This may result in panic attack in a way.
   
   To avoid, always know your work well and try to de-stress yourself by doing yoga or Qigong or even meditation. It will help alot in terms of good health.

   replyreport
3. 80

   Alexander Markposted 12 years ago

   It is probably because we spend more time inside our minds and we distance ourselves from the outside world - at least I do and I think I'm creative. So when the world around us moves a little bit, it is more profound and earth-shaking than to those who move more easily in the physical world. I can dither for hours about actually driving to go somewhere fun because I'd rather sit behind the computer, reading and writing and learning - that seems so much more rewarding.

   replyreport
4. 0

   mcals71posted 12 years ago

   Interesting question. To be creative one has to be very sensitive to one's surroundings. Creative people are usually found in the arts field such as stage acting, literature, painting, ballet, sculpting and music. These people are perfectionists in their own individual way. In that sense they realize that they don't quite fit in the mainstream. If they did, their art would be mediocre and they don't want that. I think it's the subconscious fear of mediocrity that triggers the occasional panic attack. My youngest daughter is in stage acting and I have observed her carefully. I think she matches this description, but I might be wrong.

   replyreport
5. 74

   Levertis Steeleposted 12 years ago

   Many people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks are mentally tired. They usually do not know how to relax and allow peace to enter their minds. They stay awake at night because they do not know how to shut down their minds and rest. They are forever thinking, worrying,  and trying to solve problems that are there and ones that are not there. They are obsessed with thoughts. Doing this, they solve and create problems for themselves. Creativity is an example of problems solved.
   
   Creative people usually have depression problems, too. Emily Dickinson was one of the world's greatest poets, but she was a recluse afraid to leave her house. Edgar A. Poe, who was unable to get over his wife's death and his family's dininheriting him because he chose to be a writer, became an alcoholic and died leaving his wonderful works to be discovered and published for the pleasure of the world. He died broke, but his work is priceless, in my opinion.
   
   Surely, most people can think of others who fit these descriptions of creative people.

   replyreport
6. 75

   ThoughtMonkeyposted 12 years ago

   There has been a long association with the creative and brilliant and mental suffering. Look back through music and art history and you will find a long list of troubled souls.
   Van Gogh
   Kurt Cobain
   Marilyn Monroe
   I could write a much longer list but this is not the place. But I have not yet answered your question but I am not sure anyone can. But to say perhaps suffering inspires art and creativity or perhaps creative and mental suffering are born on the same mental states.

   replyreport
7. 71

   donnaisabellaposted 12 years ago

   I did not know that, but judging from my own experience and how I overcame those same attacks, I believe it is because these kinds of people tend to be very 'deep', meaning they feel very deeply about things. It is this depth which leads to those symptoms. If you can feel so deeply about something, then the natural tendency is to do something about it and may be when you are naturally not able to, your whole system takes over involuntarily and you experience anxiety and those horrible panic attacks!

   replyreport
8. 60

   T. R. Brownposted 12 years ago

   I think this probably goes straight to notion of logical thinking versus creative thinking.  I work in the music business in a financial capacity, so I am a critical thinker in the land of the creatives.  My experience would suggest that, generally speaking (there are always exceptions), the creatives are not as strong on logic.
   
   By definition if you tend toward free flow, but not particularly logical thinking would lend itself to illogical fear.  If may be a simple as a right brain versus a left brain argument.  Just my 2 cents.

   replyreport
9. 40

   H P Roychoudhuryposted 12 years ago

   It is because of the inefficiency of the creative people who could not remove or could visualize the pain and anxiety of a section of the people.

   replyreport
10. 90

    Daughter Of Maatposted 12 years ago

    I suffer GAD or generalized anxiety disorder. I have a VERY analytical and logical mind. (My idea of light reading is a medical textbook.) BUT, I also have a rather creative side, I scrapbook, crochet, knit, cross stitch, and write among other things. So, I can only speak from my perspective in answering this question. I have anxiety because I think too much. I'm constantly analyzing, and thinking. In fact the only thing that relaxes me is crafting, cross stitching really puts me at ease. Scrapbooking is a little less relaxing because I tend to stress over how many pictures I still have to scrap, but once I'm in the zone, I can totally let go. So, I'm not sure my creativity has anything to do with causing my anxiety. But you can probably bet on me thinking about it and analyzing it! lol

    replyreport
11. 72

    toknowinfoposted 12 years ago

    Psychologists have been studying creativity since the early 1900’s. Throughout this time,  it has been elusive to define the creative person. Definitions of creativity have constantly changed. Personality is a complicated subject. The creativity... read more

    replyreport
12. 70

    Darrell Robertsposted 12 years ago

    So many thoughts and dreams, it is hard to express ones self in a world like this. I think the anxiety is cause by insecurity, being afraid of how the world will judge us in life. I think that most of the anxiet and panic comes from our own mind.
    
    Best wishes

    replyreport
13. 57

    feenixposted 12 years ago

    Now, it is no wonder why I am a such a creative person. I have been plagued by chronic anxiety and frequent panic attacks for as long as I can remember.

    replyreport
14. 68

    hobbynobposted 12 years ago

    I think this is because they have great imaginations, combined with a self-imposed, built in pressure to make their art better... started a hub series on this today...
    
    http://hobbynob.hubpages.com/hub/How-to … of-Anxiety

    replyreport
15. 62

    Sheila Wilsonposted 11 years ago

    Why do creativity and madness go together? People who are creative are not limited by what can be seen on the surface. We're introspective and look at things differently. read more

    replyreport
16. 56

    Dennis LaCourposted 10 years ago

    Sensitivity is a Huge Part also we have Big Imagination's.I remember as a child when I would see a scary movie or a Science fiction flick when I came out of the Theater I felt like I actually lived that movie.I would be sad, depressed, and Melancholic a lot of times.
    It also manifest into OCD and compulsive ritual mind games to keep your mind off your inner self, It is quite scary I went through hell from my late teens to my early 30's I literally had to reprogram my mind. Some people call it Bi-polar depression I hate that term because it labels you like the N word does to a Black person this is not a disease it is a gift from God you just need to learn how to deal with it. Perception is 99.9% of how the Human mind reacts.We all are different and have very Big Hearts and very sensitive feelings so how we interpret this God given gift is a Huge part of recovery many many famous people have this gift go to Bi polar today and you will be amazed.
    Thanks and get down on your knees and thank God for giving you this Supernatural Gift of Insight. Dennis LaCour Nashville TN

    replyreport
17. 61

    Lindsey Noblesposted 10 years ago

    Anxieties and Panic attacks illustrate a lack of focus in the moment.  There are many artists who are very intense and focused and do not have these particular "disorders".  There are also a great deal of artists (which I am lumping every genre in the word artist) who do suffer from these things. 
    
    I personally feel this is a generalization of the collective people of Earth.  Anxieties and Panic attacks are not directly linked to creativity.  There are other factors that cause this that can be solved with focused breathing and meditation. I am very creative and I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks often, however I will never feel that way again because of how I decided to become responsible for myself vs. giving myself an excuse or pathway to that action.  I'm actually MORE creative now than I was before. I trust this helps.

    replyreport