Excerpt

Finding Your Bipolar Muse: How to Master Depressive Droughts & Manic Floods & Access Your Creative Power

The Faucet of Creativity

For me, tapping creativity when you have a mood disorder is like trying to quench your thirst. You turn on the ‘faucet’ for a ‘cup’ of creativity, and sometimes that magic gushes forth and threatens to overflow; other times it drips and trickles – or doesn’t flow at all. Some folks can easily twist the ‘knob’ to coax out what they want, but such control eludes others of us entirely.

All creative artists experience such ‘droughts’ and ‘floods’ from time to time, but many of us believe these experiences occur more frequently and more intensely in those of us with mood disorders. With depression or bipolar disorder, we may go for months without a drop and then find ourselves floundering in an uncontrollable surge.

When we’re manic or hypomanic, our ‘sinks’ overflow and we feverishly try to capture every cup. We pour inspirations and energy into way too many different ‘buckets,’ spilling most in the process. The water rises, carries us out the door, and propels us down the street. We plunge into the river, ride the rapids, barrel over the falls, and plop into the ocean.

Although depressive states usually bring drips and trickles, they can also release dark, roiling streams that overflow. The difference is, we sink beneath the surface or bob around at nostril level. Then, if we’re lucky, we’ll float or tread water until, thoroughly exhausted, we’re washed ashore.

By committing your creativity and learning how to better control your creative flow, you can:

• Build self-esteem

• Generate income

• Reclaim your life

Incidentally, this holds true whether you have a mood disorder (depression or bipolar disorder) or not!

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