Is there a link between creativity and addiction?
What is artist rehab? It is not a place. It is the process of helping an artist to get well.
If you are an artist, or you love one, you may be afraid that getting help means losing your creativity. It does not have to be that way. Still, there does seem to be a link between creativity and addiction.
Why does addiction affect so many artists?
In fact, there are many artists who have suffered from addiction. We see it all the time in the news. There are actors and actresses, musicians, authors, and more.
It almost seems as if having a creative ability is a risk factor. In my experience, a surprising number of the people who come to me for help are highly intelligent and creative people.
Yet, many people who ask a doctor for help are not addicted at all. They became physically dependent on a medication that a doctor prescribed, and physical dependence is not addiction.
So, why do artists suffer so often with addiction?
Do creative people feel the need to use drugs or alcohol to get the creative juices flowing? Or, is addictive behavior a consequence of high intelligence and creativity? Some highly creative people have said that they could not “turn it off” without the help of drugs or alcohol.
While it may be that there is no good explanation, there are some possibilities. First, a child may be blocked by their parents and teachers from fully expressing and developing their talent. Or, it could be due to feelings of being different and feeling like an outsider.
What is the best way to help an artist recover?
That’s easy. The best way is to encourage the artist to practice their art.
Of course, when an artist asks for help, the doctor must provide proven medical treatment. For dependence on a benzodiazepine, such as Xanax (alprazolam) or Klonopin (clonazepam), this will mean a slow, gradual taper that is patient directed. Yet, in addition to medical treatment, medical professionals must also take into account that they are treating an artist.
Artistic expression is more than simply a distraction. Feeling pleasure and satisfaction from the act of artistic creation is far better than the fleeting euphoria from a drug or alcohol high. It is important that we motivate patients to engage in their art and move forward in developing their creative skills.
What about the entrepreneur who is bored by a blank canvas?
Interestingly, a significant number of my patients are entrepreneurs. While many people find the act of sitting in front of a blank canvas with paintbrush and palette to be therapeutic, the entrepreneur may find it frustrating and boring. Ideally, we should be serving our patients with therapies that address their individual needs.
Building a business, a book, or a website can bring the same unique sense of accomplishment that comes with creating a work of art. My own strong interests earlier in life were software engineering and music composition. I have had some incredible discussions with my patients about writing for the web and building a business online, and they find it to be as fascinating as I do.
Never give up on yourself.
We all give up on things at one time or another. You may have been working on a book, an invention, or an idea for a new business, and each morning you put it off for one more day.
If the thing you are putting off is asking for help, you may be in a dangerous situation. With alcohol and with some drugs, each day you put it off, you are risking your life. Dependence and addiction are medical conditions, and you would not try to get better on your own from a heart attack. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Yet, asking for help does not mean quitting cold turkey. Never stop a benzodiazepine suddenly, and never stop heavy daily drinking suddenly. Quitting cold turkey can cause seizures, and it can be deadly. A taper must be slow and gradual, and it must be guided by your doctor.
You can start by asking your doctor. Your plans were put aside long ago, but it is not too late to get back on track. Never give up on yourself.
If you live in Florida and you would like to talk with me about getting help, you can reach my office through the contact form.
This article is educational. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Decisions about starting, continuing, or tapering any medication should be made with your own physician.
