REAL LIFE NEWS: WRITERS ARE COMPLETELY BONKERS
by Hazed
A new study has found that creativity and mental illness often go hand in hand, with writers being particularly prone to a range of mental problems.
They have a higher risk of (take a deep breath): anxiety, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, unipolar depression and substance abuse. They are also twice as likely as non-creative people to commit suicide. Wow. It’s a wonder they get any writing done.
Other creative-type people also suffer, with dancers and photographers most likely to have bipolar disorder.
The lead researcher on the study, Dr Simon Kyaga, said the findings suggest we should view disorders in a new light because certain traits might be beneficial or desirable, providing the spark needed for originality, creativity and genius.
So the cliché of the troubled artist may have a fair bit of truth to it!
