Bipolar, ADHD, creativity (2)

A blog by Renee Hopkins Callahan started this line of thinkering. In Episode 1, I described a study she cited as suggesting that the bipolar condition may be associated with creativity. As I said then, the study is inadequate for substantial conclusions, but it does suggest actionable intel. Here is the actionable suggestion she offered in her blog:

“I also wonder if specific training in creativity skills might help bipolar people whose symptoms don't currently manifest themselves as the more positive creative traits. Perhaps if they knew what to do with their innate creativity, these folks would be able to live more on the positive than the negative side of creativity.”

The idea behind this thinking is that the manic phase of the bipolar condition may have some similarity to creativity (or at least to aspects of creativity).

For people who are diagnosed with the bipolar condition, I think the therapist is in the appropriate source to recommend such things as training in creativity skills. But for people (including children) at increased risk of the condition, the suggestion of creativity training is worth considering. Such training has value of its own. Any prophylactic benefit for the bipolar condition would just be an added benefit.

But I mentioned actionable intel. Training in creativity skills is too abstract to be actionable. So I will apply Engineer creativity: move down the pyramid of abstraction to the level of concrete events. Examples of creativity are found in music, art, drama, literature, and advertising, for example. But narrow the field with a little Networker creativity: Where in these areas would you find anything like the manic phase of bipolar?

Here are some events that meet that test and might be trainable:
Drama: perform a role that is somewhat like the manic phase. An example would be Rose in the musical “Gypsy.” (Works best in the Method Acting context.)
Literature: Write a story or play about someone who is flushed with success, excited, highly enthusiastic.
Advertising: Engage in a brainstorming session.

All of these have some aspects of the manic phase. And all of them are distinguished from it by the feature of control. The person is able to set up conditions that induce a state of hyperactivity, excessive confidence, and disregard for consequences. The person is also able to terminate that condition more or less at will. A skilled actor, playing manic, will probably not be able to turn off manic characteristics instantly. But the actor will not follow the irrational patterns of the manic phase.

Both drama (as psychodrama) and writing (as therapeutic writing) have been used in clinical psychology for therapeutic purposes. They are also used in general society for creativity training (and for professional production). Certainly they would be reasonable candidates for investigation as helping to moderate the effect of bipolar and ADHD.