Thoughts on the Link Between Mental Illness and Creativity: Case Study Being Vincent van Gogh By Christine Stapleton

I love van Gogh – not just his paintings and drawings. I love his letters - hundreds and hundreds of letters in which he shares the minutia of his life – from impotence to absinthe. Gossip, advice, critique, paints, colors, hues, canvas, food, weather, God and his mental illness(es). Because the letters are dated it is possible to match a painting to a letter and hear van Gogh describe how he felt when he painted it – his state of mind and health. It as if van Gogh is the docent at his own exhibit.

        Vincent van Gogh self portrait via public domain library    

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via:  Psyche Central

                   

Helen Keller, the American author, political activist and lecturer...

This is truly an amazing three minute venture into the very hollows of the human capability to endure and overcome. Helen Keller is a great role model as well as her teacher Anne Sullivan...Take a 3 minute venture into the incredible human spirit.

Dr Temple Grandin~The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow~

Dr. Grandin has a amazing ability to relate with the animal mind. She attributes her skill is to her autistic brain.

Temple believes she experiences life like animals do. Her emotions are much simpler than most people's and she feels constantly anxious. It's this struggle with overwhelming anxiety that led her to discover just how much she has in common with animals and, in particular, cows.

BBC - Horizon - 2006 - The Woman Who Thinks like a Cow.