# So my doctor thinks I am bi-polar

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-doctor-thinks-i-am-bi-polar/284227>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 11, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-doctor-thinks-i-am-bi-polar/284227 "2005-01-11T16:36:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-doctor-thinks-i-am-bi-polar/284227/121 "2005-01-24T04:26:53Z")

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[QUOTE=Q.N. Jones]  
Most psychiatrists believe there’s a link between creativity and/or genius and bipolar disorder. The best scholarly work on the subject is probably [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/068483183X/qid=1106539506/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-6293466-8074542?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) Hypomanic, I’m extremely prolific with my artwork. The photography of course is more interesting because hypo everything seems deliciously “bigger” and more saturated and clear and textured… gotta record it all. It greatly affects my in camera composition.

I’ve actually found that in the periods of stability, I have little desire to do my artwork. _That_ is depressing.

> [@scott evil](#):
>
> You got it backwards, babe. Psychopharmacology.

Ah… that’s the one I was looking for. Got it back asswards.

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**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-doctor-thinks-i-am-bi-polar/284227/122 "2005-01-24T04:29:33Z")

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Gah! And I previewed and “corrected” it right back to the same mistake I had to start with!

_grumble_

To clarify:

> [@QN](#):
>
> Most psychiatrists believe there’s a link between creativity and/or genius and bipolar disorder. The best scholarly work on the subject is probably this book…

Hypomanic, I’m extremely prolific with my artwork. The photography of course is more interesting because hypo everything seems deliciously “bigger” and more saturated and clear and textured… gotta record it all. It greatly affects my in camera composition.

I’ve actually found that in the periods of stability, I have little desire to do my artwork. That is depressing.

> [@scott evil](#):
>
> You got it backwards, babe. Psychopharmacology.

Ah… that’s the one I was looking for. Got it back asswards.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-doctor-thinks-i-am-bi-polar/284227/123 "2005-01-24T10:32:44Z")

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> [@Q.N. Jones](#):
>
> In your situation, adding another mood stabilizer is common.

I can ask, but not for a couple of weeks: shrink’s on vacation.

> [@Q.N. Jones](#):
>
> Most psychiatrists believe there’s a link between creativity and/or genius and bipolar disorder. The best scholarly work on the subject is probably [this book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/068483183X/qid=1106539506/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-6293466-8074542?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Kay Redfield Jamison.

The way in which I compose and orchestrate - which I’ve discussed at length with my shrink - played a big part in the diagnosis. What’s nice is that my doctor doesn’t consider this just as a clinical aspect, but also an important part of who I am, and in fact he’s genuinely interested in my musical endeavors.

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