Bi-Polar Disorder – Creative Genius?

The term bi-polar disorder seems to have entered everyday language.  The term is used by many people commenting on someone else’s mercurial and changeable mood patterns and behaviour.  This doesn’t mean people who behave in highly changeable ways – exhilarated and intensively creative one minute and depressed and despairing the next, would be labelled with the medical term Bipolar Disorder.   Everyday stresses, burnout and overload lead to mood swings which are understandable and changes in one’s lifestyle can make enormously positively improvements.

Bipolar disorder used to be called Manic Depression by the medical profession.  Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterised by episodes of mania and depression.  It is different from mood swings – it makes people close to them bewildered and shocked by such extreme changes that they often feel they don’t understand the person at all.  One key factor reported is that when the person is in the Manic Phase, they can demonstrate extreme creative genius or entrepreneurial abilities.  This doesn’t mean people with these qualities are bipolar – but it does mean that people who are labelled as bipolar often appear to access creative abilities within themselves when they are in the mania stage.  The challenge they face is that they can burn themselves out through this process and the resultant depressive stage can be enormously debilitating.

If you are concerned that you or someone you know might be acting in intensively creative ways where ‘there is no stopping them’ (and you fear for their physical and psychological health), it is wise to seek professional help to ascertain how to deal constructively with this.

Bipolar Disorder – Creative Genius or Transcending everyday normality?

Bipolar Disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings between euphoria and depression. The extremes of mood often inhibit the individual functioning on a daily basis. When euphoric, they find it hard to relate to the trivial nature of everyday functioning and when depressed, they might even find it hard to get out of bed. However, many highly gifted musicians, authors and artists are diagnosed as bipolar and it seems that both these extreme experiences allow them to access creative depths they find hard to reach otherwise. Whilst suffering, particularly when in the depressive state or when cycling, can be enormous, it is important to ask ‘What comes first? The chicken or the egg?’

Do everyday pressures to be ‘normal’ negate certain individuals accessing ways to be highly creative or is there a complex interrelationship between euphoria and depression, resulting from wanting to transcend the blandness of everyday life? My work as a psychologist with individuals diagnosed as bipolar indicates the importance of putting aside fixed labels and descriptions, instead inviting the individual to find out what ‘their’ bipolar condition is saying. Then moves can be made to alleviate suffering and adopt ways to be creative yet minimise the negative effects of bipolar.

BiPolar Disorder – What causes it and what is the best treatment?

Bi-Polar condition is the name given to the swings of depression and extremely energised behaviour and thought patterns previosuly labelled as Manic Depression.  The sufferer swings from periods of depression and inability to function in the world, to periods of activity (sometimes frenzied), coupled with the inability to sleep, eat or rest.

In working with clients labelled as BiPolar, I have found that the condition can act as a powerful barometer of where an individual is failing to face important decisions or life changes that are necessary for them to create a life of balance and satisfaction.  Whilst Bi Polar condition can be a challenging and distressing condition, particularly during periods of depression, it can be an opportunity to see its positive role.  Bi Polar reactions of depression and mania are often related to stressful or unbalanced life circumstances and give an important reminder to change or reflect on things.

If a person dares to take time to examine ways in which they deny or avoid taking charge of their life, they can see Bi Polar condition as a powerful barameter of what they must do to live authentically and fully.