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One unique take I saw about this connection came from a very devout Roman Catholic writer, L. Brent Bozell, Jr. A longtime National Review editor, founder/editor of a very conservative Catholic journal, Triumph, Bozell lapsed into manic depression around the time he discontinued Triumph (it lasted a decade; I am not a Roman Catholic but I was aware of Bozell and the magazine; I'd read his book analysing the Warren Supreme Court, and the jacket mentioned he had now become that magazine's editor) and suffered with it the rest of his life.
In 1986, Bozell came out with an anthology of his writings, Mustard Seeds, in which he enunciated his belief that his manic depression was God-given, along the line of, "Who the Lord loves, He disciplines," and that it was intended among other things to teach him again about forgiveness. (Bozell, who died in 1997, was by his own admission one of those men for whom sin had no rights and the sinner even less.)
As a manic depressive myself, I'm not sure what to make of the proposition that the illness might be God-given, but as a believer in God, if not necessarily in formal religion (I'm Jewish, and comfortable therewith, but I'm still ambivalent enough about formal religious practise), I'm not entirely convinced that the illness isn't of His induction, though for what possible reason I've yet to determine. If learning forgiveness is part of it, I'll grant that such learning has been a lifelong struggle that I didn't begin to win until very recent years.
But I simply don't know enough to make a definitive call.
Last edited by WhistlerMCMLV; 10-18-2009 at 12:36 PM..
One unique take I saw about this connection came from a very devout Roman Catholic writer, L. Brent Bozell, Jr. A longtime National Review editor, founder/editor of a very conservative Catholic journal, Triumph, Bozell lapsed into manic depression around the time he discontinued Triumph (it lasted a decade; I am not a Roman Catholic but I was aware of Bozell and the magazine; I'd read his book analysing the Warren Supreme Court, and the jacket mentioned he had now become that magazine's editor) and suffered with it the rest of his life.
In 1986, Bozell came out with an anthology of his writings, Mustard Seeds, in which he enunciated his belief that his manic depression was God-given, along the line of, "Who the Lord loves, He disciplines," and that it was intended among other things to teach him again about forgiveness. (Bozell, who died in 1997, was by his own admission one of those men for whom sin had no rights and the sinner even less.)
As a manic depressive myself, I'm not sure what to make of the proposition that the illness might be God-given, but as a believer in God, if not necessarily in formal religion (I'm Jewish, and comfortable therewith, but I'm still ambivalent enough about formal religious practise), I'm not entirely convinced that the illness isn't of His induction, though for what possible reason I've yet to determine. If learning forgiveness is part of it, I'll grant that such learning has been a lifelong struggle that I didn't begin to win until very recent years.
But I simply don't know enough to make a definitive call.
Ironically those who endure depression are among the most creative among us. The paper I read mentioned Van Gough and the time he severed his own ear.
Mike Tyson on the other hand chewed off the ear of Evander Holyfield when he was depressed.
Bipolar people sometimes are very creative. Mania can be a very creative state. Much of what one creates during mania might be garbage, but some of it might have real value.
Depression is creative for some people, but I'd say normally it's more a "necessity is the mother of invention" situation. They try to do something creative to lift or work on their depression like how a poor person might be inspired to invent in hopes that will get them out of poverty. It's more a motivator than a source, but there might be exceptions to that.
My main problem, now that I think about it is...WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ANYWAY?! I mean, if it doesn't hurt anyone, and people enjoy it, so what? Not too long ago, men and women of science considered being a homosexual to be a mental illness...
As long as people are cool with being nuts, and are not hurting anyone, let them stay nuts. I can't help but think of two T-shirts that said it best:
Quote:
I do not suffer from insanity...no, I enjoy it immensly, thank you very much
And,
Quote:
You're just jealous because the voices don't talk to you
Oh much of it was enjoyable. Much of it was wonderful even.
One problem is that, like drugs, it often doesn't stay wonderful for that long. Another problem is you do start hurting yourself even if it's just through inaction. Your hygiene may go to heck (not in my case though as I enjoyed showering when I was loopy), you don't eat right, you hurt people's feelings, and you don't get anything accomplished. It's difficult to make a living when your devoting most of your time to writing bad poetry on little slips of paper, making handwritten pamphlets on the Reptiloid conspiracy, kissing subway tiles, hoarding gum wrappers, discussing political science with your shower curtain, etc. (Many to most of these refer to stories of mental illness that aren't mine)
Oh much of it was enjoyable. Much of it was wonderful even.
One problem is that, like drugs, it often doesn't stay wonderful for that long. Another problem is you do start hurting yourself even if it's just through inaction. Your hygiene may go to heck (not in my case though as I enjoyed showering when I was loopy), you don't eat right, you hurt people's feelings, and you don't get anything accomplished. It's difficult to make a living when your devoting most of your time to writing bad poetry on little slips of paper, making handwritten pamphlets on the Reptiloid conspiracy, kissing subway tiles, hoarding gum wrappers, discussing political science with your shower curtain, etc. (Many to most of these refer to stories of mental illness that aren't mine)
One could make the same exact argument about romantic love. Until it becomes a problem, be it love, religion, or mental illness, in that it hurts the person involved, it is not a problem that needs to be treated.
For the record, and I am not joking, I actually had a counselor in highschool who was concerned that I had no intrest in sports. Granted, some times I feel like I am indeed the only heterosexual man who is not intrested in sports, but I sincerely doubt that that is a sign of mental illness.
Too much of today's mental health industry is dedicating not to making people healthy and/or happy, but is dedicated to making people conform. I have heard allot of people say the same thing: Mental health professionals do not know how to tell an eccentric, harmless weirdo from someone who is truly suffering...did I mention that, a part of may therapy for clinical depression in Junior High was to promise to no longer wear my combat boots? What the heck does wearing knee high black Tanker Boots have to do with depression, I don't know.
Oh much of it was enjoyable. Much of it was wonderful even.
One problem is that, like drugs, it often doesn't stay wonderful for that long. Another problem is you do start hurting yourself even if it's just through inaction. Your hygiene may go to heck (not in my case though as I enjoyed showering when I was loopy), you don't eat right, you hurt people's feelings, and you don't get anything accomplished. It's difficult to make a living when your devoting most of your time to writing bad poetry on little slips of paper, making handwritten pamphlets on the Reptiloid conspiracy, kissing subway tiles, hoarding gum wrappers, discussing political science with your shower curtain, etc. (Many to most of these refer to stories of mental illness that aren't mine)
Or sitting at your computer debating with people you don't even know...I'm talking about myself here....I spend way too much time doing just that, and procrastinating with everything else....
Too much of today's mental health industry is dedicating not to making people healthy and/or happy, but is dedicated to making people conform. I have heard allot of people say the same thing: Mental health professionals do not know how to tell an eccentric, harmless weirdo from someone who is truly suffering...did I mention that, a part of may therapy for clinical depression in Junior High was to promise to no longer wear my combat boots? What the heck does wearing knee high black Tanker Boots have to do with depression, I don't know.
I think you have hit the nail squarely on the head here....What a dull world it would be if we were all alike. We need our differences to make life interesting. The most interesting people I have met were all eccentric in one way or another.
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Granted, some times I feel like I am indeed the only heterosexual man who is not intrested in sports, but I sincerely doubt that that is a sign of mental illness. 
What the heck does wearing knee high black Tanker Boots have to do with depression, I don't know.
