blog 10

There is so much information in these readings it is hard to focus on anything.
I loved what Socrates said..." madness came from God because it is connected with the art of prophecy."
The little part about Evelyn Greenie was interesting to me too. I have an ear infection and this week I have had to put ear drops in my ear & then lay sideways to keep them in. During this time, I cannont hear. But I can....I can hear or feel the vibrations of sound & I can also sense what is goin on around me. I can clealy see that my other senses have kicked in overtime to compensate for my lack of hearing.
I found the information on creativity & disease to be most interesting. Life tends to have a mind of its own...Mine seems to relate to much of this chapter. Its actually really strange to read a book like this and relate diease and mental illness to creativity in such a way that they become scientific components of one another. So much of this chapter was like this for me, and even the next chapter about gender. Natural, biological factors within our make up that may have been seen as flaws or "hang-ups" to some are actually almost viewed as an asset in this book. I mean the down sides are defintely mentioned but its interesting to read nonetheless. the section on alcoholism was especially fascinating to me. The fact that it was under chapter of Disease says a lot. Many dont consider alcoholism a disease. "...physiological, psychological, social and genetic factors." ...interesting
It is incredible to me also, the number and caliber of people who have been effected by disease and how it has maybe impacted their creativity. My favorite writers & artists, Matisse, Capote, Steinbeck, Pollock, Kafka, Rothko....to name a few. I have always been greatly inspired by their work. There are many others too who were not mentioned in this book.
Something else thats interesting that's not mentioned in the book is about manic depression and epilepsy/mirgraines. The book mentions that Lithium was used to treat Manic depression, it still is, but now the same meds used to treat epilesy and migraines are used to treat manic depression or bi-polar too . anit-seizures or anit-convulsants work on the brain in the same way that Lithium works as a mood stabilizer. Interesting...they kinda "correct" the same areas of the brain.
Although I am happy that this is the last blog, (mostly b/c Im off to a warm sunny beach)
...a part of me will miss it....
farewell blogging buddies.... :-)) peace