BIPOLAR, CREATIVITY AND ALCOHOLISM...

Studies of earlier generations of artists and writers show that they have 18 times the rate of suicide as compared to the general population, 8-10 times the rate of clinical depression, and 10-20 times the rate of bipolar disorder. These studies provide evidence that there is a correlation between bipolar disorder and perceived creativity whether through music, poetry, writings and art. The question now is not whether or not there exists a connection between the two, but why it exists.    One feature in mania or hypomania is the increase in unusually creative thinking and productivity. Manic people often speak and think in rhyme and/or alliteration more than non-manic people. The lifestyles of manic-depressives during a manic episode are comparable to those of creative people. They function on very little sleep, are restless, and they both exhibit emotions. The manic individual perceives life as one without limits. This allows for creativity because he/she feels capable of anything. It is as if the walls, which inhibit the general population, do not exist for the manic person, pushing them to attempt creativity. Many perceive, during an episode, that they understand a part of art, music, and literature, which normal people can not.  This narcissism is characteristic during mania.       The manic state is vastly different to the depressive state in bipolar patients. In their depressed state, they only see gloom and boundaries and most experience feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. It is actually out of this despair that their attempted creativity flows. In many cases this is therapeutic in that it is the only outlet bipolar individual can navigate through their episode of depression.  It is during this time that they can work through their negative feelings. It becomes a anchor to reality and  is often the only way the person with bipolar disorder can cope .    The times of adjustment between the manic episodes and depressive episodes can be difficult. Examining an individuals works of literature or music can reveal which phase of  the disorder they  were in at the time of composition. The manic state and depressive phase are so disorienting that the ideas and delusions that manifest during these episodes are generally organized during the normal times between episodes.  Through this one is able to "map" the phases in each individual.
Co-morbid factors play a role in determining the the onset, length and severity of the depressive and manic phases thus play a variable in the mapping process. The major factor is substance use and abuse. Studies have shown that bipolar disorder is often accompanied with a substance abuse disorder, very often it is alcohol abuse. Typically one would see a maturity in the flood of ideas that are incorporated into the attempted creativity in a bipolar individual in the absence of alcohol.  In the presence of alcohol or other substance, one generally finds a rudimentary primal aspect to the creativity, finding their topics or "centerpieces" hinging around violence, sex, substance use and more profoundly memories of loss from the days of their youth.  I believe this is important because alcohol damages brain development when age of use started at 15yrs old or earlier.  
   Alcoholism is a disease of addiction (which is a chronic, relapsing brain disease), and that alcohol affects the teen brain differently because of the critical brain development occurring from ages 12 through 20, often until age 25.  It was thought in the medical and scientific community  that the brain was fully developed by adolescence. We now know it’s not. There is a critical developmental stage identified as pruning and strengthening that goes on during the teen years and on into college and even beyond. Pruning is when neural connections (called gray matter) that are not used fall away (get “pruned”), and those that are used get strengthened, which makes the remaining neural connections more efficient.  The brain develops from back to front- This means that the portions of the brain that deal with emotion, memory, learning, motivation and judgment are the last to develop and, as such, are the most deeply affected by alcohol (or drug abuse) during ages 12 through 20, often through age 25. For example, if a teen abuses alcohol, the neural connections associated with memories and experiences related to alcohol abuse are the ones that are strengthened and thus embedded. By the same token, neural connections damaged by or not used because of alcohol abuse (those related to learning or judgment, for example) are pruned or not strengthened. This late stage brain development also explains why people who abuse alcohol don't know why they do some of the things they do, and why they take risks they likely would not engage in if they had a fully developed brain and the hindsight (memories and experiences) that go with it. 
    Age of first use, independent of other factors (e.g., genetics, environment, mental health issues such as ADHD, depression, bi-polar, ASPD and PTSD), strongly predicts the development of a lifelong addiction to alcohol.  Individuals who begin drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to develop problems with alcohol than those who start after 21.  For each year a teen delays alcohol use, their chances of becoming dependent (addicted to alcohol) drops by 14%.  The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that one-half of alcoholics were addicted by age 21, and 2/3 were addicted by age 25. Okay, enough with the biochem lesson on addiction.
This knowledge is helpful in the mapping model.  Just by observing the creative works- poetry, literature, paintings, drawings, music one can determine if alcohol or other substances began at an early age and consequently continues as an addiction.  The "higher brain or neo-cortex functions" will present as poorly developed or even non-existent.  Their ideas and "creativity" will spawn within their limbic system (reptilian brain) as evidenced as driven by emotion and self-centeredness.  Below is an example of a "poem" as written by a 41 year old male- Type 1 Bipolar with an age of first use of alcohol prior to age 15 and continued use to date. 

"forgit"
 When I look back on this life that I have led
I remember, I can’t forget
My first love my first love indeed
I was in, on fire
From the first moment that we met
The torcher of you love has brought me here this far
Somebody poor me another drink
Somebody poor me another drink...

Somebody poor me another drink

 All of your lies confused the hell out of me
Take another moment make me believe
I remember I can’t forget
Make me believe everything you say to me
My heart is broken I can’t even begin to sleep

 Somebody poor me another drink
Somebody poor me another drink
Somebody poor me another drink

(ends with:  "forgit brought to you by vodka and cranberry")

 

This was written as a result of a depressive episode during which he dealt with thoughts of his ex-wife and their failed marriage as a result of his "issues".  Notice the title is a reference to memories and how the thoughts during his depression brought him to a place of looking back on his life.  The flow is choppy at best... very juvenile in presentation.  More importantly however look at the importance being placed on alcohol.  His entire life has seen alcohol holding a high place of esteem as a consequence of his young age of first use.  It has played a role in the severity of his mental illness and aided as an accomplice in the destruction of his marriage, deterioration of family relationships, history of legal issues, inability to maintain relationships and made it impossible to hold gainful employment. 

Another from the same individual: (states this is a song he has been working on)

"stop"
  do you hear that
that sound that is ringing in your ears
that is your heart beat
it is letting you know that you have realy messed up this time
i know you have been talking
you have been talking alot of shit
it doesnt bother me
but this time you have gone too far...

your headed for a good old fashion
ass beating
their aint no fight for flight
just the hospital emergancy room
boy i hope that you go insurance

do you hear that
that ringing in your ears
its your heartbeat
letting you know
you messed up

 

The flow of ideas in this case materialized in a manic phase.  Notice the focal point being violence.  Again it is extremely juvenile and ridiculous.  The delusion played out in his mind stimulated a sense of well being for the time and place that he was at that moment however it was just a delusion and short-lived.  Reality is far different than fantasy. 

 

Same individual... One more "song that he is working on":

did you see her
walk in the door
everybody stoped
everybody staired
she is the kind of girl
that every man wants
she is the kind of girl
that every woman hates
she's got the hair
she's got the top..

but dam
she's got the ass
the ass that won't quit
maken every man in the house dream about all night long
yeah
she's that kinda girl

 

Again, thoughts manifested during a manic phase... Written the same time of the previous.  The focus once again is a limbic reptilian impulse.... Sex.  Highly adolescent in process and extremely ridiculous.  The three examples focus on drugs, violence and sex.  Reveals alcohol induced damage to the neo-cortex consistent with the results of the scientific research.  Take into consideration Type 1 Bipolar Disorder and abstinence from alcohol, consistent CBT and medicaiton management is necessary to live a productive life.  Otherwise the old saying holds true.... "if you continue doing the same things you will continue getting the same."  In this case more fractured relationships, depressive drunken regrets of marital dissolution, legal issues, and continued cycles of unemployment.