In one of his many articles on the topic of meaning and depression, Eric Maisel, PhD says, "In order for you to live an authentic, meaningful life, which is the principal remedy for the depression creative people experience, you must feel that 1) the plan of your life is meaningful, 2) the work you do is meaningful, and 3) the way your spend your time is meaningful." From his article Meaningful Life, Meaningful Work, Meaningful Days.

Interesting theory, and maybe I'll try it soon. As a lover of all artistic pursuits, it's usually annoying when people automatically correlate great art with great angst, so I am glad to see a post that points out that depression isn't the only road to creativity. I'm curious to see how the "surprise gift" works out, but I have to unfortunately say that I am not sure how well it will work for some artists. Certainly, the gifting should be well-timed and the gift should be thoughtful rather than ostentatious. What works for me as a writer is a new notebook (although for others, the tried and true falling apart at the seams journal is their best friend, and don't even think about asking them to part with it for a shiny new untried one.) When it comes to my painting, a new set of acrylics will do the trick every time, as will a new canvas. But perhaps, the gift should take on a less tangible form: say, a voice recording of a positive memory or a vial of his or her mother's favorite perfume from childhood. I can't really say I see a manicure starting the creative juices. Instead, I think revisiting the places where we were most creative may in fact cause a sort of aura reminiscence that reminds the artist how capable they once were and ultimately will always be. (In fact, this works best for me, as I am most creative--hands down--in my childhood home, my mother's home.)

Great post, by the way.

Just because depression and creativity might be linked, does not necessary mean that there is a direct causal link?

It could just be that both are supported and/or caused by a third factor?

Is there a well pool of inherent sensitivity behind both?

I'd love to know what you think.

Url: http://catchthevision.wordpress.com

Emancipation Day!
A Professional tortured soul
Fighting every day to endure
Clever at running from agony
Midas Touch Sewage Engineer
Turning negative garbage into gold

I believe it was a big conspiracy
My house of many cards collapsed
Every one of them fell straight down
And I found myself stuck in the pit
Alone with no escape to be found

Stubborn-willed, self-sufficient atheist
Would I call on Him to save me…
From the place that knows no Joy?
The longer I stay the deader I become
No alarm clock loud enough to wake me.

How can it be only two months in here
Already no dreams left that matter
Stay any longer my mind might shatter
This is a conspiracy. A set-up I tell you!
What the heck. It’s worth a try.

Begrudgingly acknowledge I have a soul
Agree the body can not live without Joy
Call upon the Blessed name of the Lord
To get me out of this dark unholy place
Deliverance, Pure Joy, and Bliss!

Bliss causes the Kundalini Genie to awaken

So you believe! Then prove your Loyalty!
As I got down on my knees in submission
I took the knife and sliced open my own chest
Diced up my lying heart and offered it up
Layer by Layer. Piece by Piece.

Hey, it wasn’t easy for a Midas Touch Sewage Engineer
to surrender all the angst to the Genie of Kundalini!
Tortured Soul. Freed Soul. Emancipation Day!
Stormy skies turned into Sunshine and Rainbows
Burned to ashes but an opportunity for happiness.

How does one live without angst?

Dear Dr. Carson,

I believe I was supposed to find your article because I was supposed to find you. Spontaneous Kundalini Awakenings are a new phenomenon happening especially in creative depressive types right now. Had it not happened to me I would have never believed it.

There’s a radio station 97.7 that plays Kundalini Awakening Songs down here in San Antonio. Whoever is picking the playlist probably had an Awakening. The station sounds masochistic but not really if you’ve been in the presence of the Kundalini Genie. This experience can be hugely traumatic if you can’t see the bright side.

The problem with a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening happening in unprepared individuals is a lack understanding (everyone thinks you are losing your sanity including yourself), support (The Laurel Ridge Mental Health Facility thinks I’m manic on the upswing), and rehabilitation (How do you rebuild from ashes minus the angst?)

When I typed in “How do you live in the moment of Now?” into my web browser, Selfcreation.com came up. We live in a time where we can create ourselves now.

I guess I'm a latecomer to this discovery:

http://realitycrafting.com/Divine_Human_Upgrades

It looks like there was an easier way to get through a Spontaneous Kundalini Awakening than the route I took. I had to learn the concept of "surrender" on the fly. Surrender was a foreign concept for me.

http://kundalini-teacher.com/karma/surrender.php

I'm sincerely grateful for your article and patience. For the first time in 38 years I am no longer "a tortured soul fighting every day to endure."

I deny that I am psychic. I'm taking the information gathered from openness and experience, handing it over to my intuition compass and letting it point the way so I can connect the dots. There might be a Nobel at the end. Whoever pushes the issue gets the prize. It's there if you want it.

From: http://www.bocyf.org/champagne_presentation.pdf

“1) Experiences occurring during an early period of
development can have long-term effects on gene
expression that are stably maintained into adulthood

2) Social experiences can alter the epigenome and
thus regulate gene expression

3) Neural systems regulating stress responsivity and
thus risk of psychopathology can be regulated by
these epigenetic mechanisms

CAN THESE EFFECTS BE REVERSED ?”

The answer is “Yes.” Chemicals released during a Kundalini Awakening reverses the effects. I’m not the first to make the connection; however:

http://biologyofkundalini.com/article.php?story=ToxicMindTheory&query=to...

“The primal therapy of releasing repressed anger and grief is a simple and effective means of rectifying the toxicosis that is at the heart of most neurological disorders. Once the detoxification process has cleared neural pathways, recovery is virtually complete, restoring memory, intelligence and creativity and overcoming dysphoric symptoms. The native euphoria of the living organism is returned and unity with cosmos reestablished.”

God: A black hole of Absolute Love, of nothing, yet infinite possibilities. Where 30 seconds feels like a million years and a million years feels like 30 seconds. How many lifetimes can one live in a million years? Without love, who would want to live even one?

Perhaps as a "serendipity magnet" I have a magnetic "6th sense." I'm highly sensitive to positive and negative word values. My intuition compass has always pointed the way through information. I've never reversed polarity before. Birds have a magnetic sense of direction.

Sri Kalki Bhagavan: OK. Most of you know that the earth has got a magnetic field. As the earth's molten core is rotating; the magnetic field is created. The thought sphere of the human mind is located in the earth's magnetic field. This mag-netic field has been weakening dramatically over last ten years.

Now, in physics there is a parameter called Schumann's Resonance. Using that we can determine the strength of the earth's magnetic field. While for many centuries, it was constant around 7.80 cycles per second, during the last 7-8 years, it has risen to 11 cycles per second and is continuing to increase dramatically. If you work it out mathematically, it appears that, by the year 2012, the "Schuman's" is likely to be 13 cycles per second. When this reso-nance is 13 cycles per second, the earth's core would stop rotating with mag-netic field gone, you mind is gone. When I say "your mind", what I mean is your "samskaras". The pressure of the past 11.000 years of samskaras will vanish.

In the Dharma, we also say, Mind is Karma. All actions start from your mind. The mind is nothing but a storehouse of samskaras or past life vasanas from which all action emanates. This is stored in the earth's magnetic field. So in the year 2012, it will become zero for a few days. After that the core will start rotating again. This would be a fresh beginning for man or the dawn of the Golden Age. This is the significance of the year 2012. How do we know, it will happen? The study of fossil records has shown that, it happens roughly after 11.000 years. It�s only a short time away and then we can all start afresh. That is why I want you to become enlightened by 2012. If you are enlight-ened, with all your samskaras gone, we can begin a new yuga, which can be called Sathya Yuga or the Golden Age. Man will enter into a new state of al-tered consciousness.

As I told you already, the earth�s resonance is increasing which means the earth�s heart is undergoing a transformation. The earth has got a physical body, like you have a body. It has got a consciousness as well. Now as the resonance is increasing the earths heart functioning very differently from before. Now, your heart and the earth�s heart are connected. The earth's heart can be influ-enced by your heart and vice versa. That is why, it is essential that your heart-beat synchronises with the earth's resonance. This means your heart must flower. Your heart will flower when you discover love in your relationships.

If you have discover love, you must stop judging your parents, spouses, etc., internally. Nobody can be judged as the whole universe directly influences all events, even the behaviour of the people.

So learn to experience life. Life has to be experienced, be it pain or pleasure.

Well, physicist W.O. Schumann back in 1952 figured out a mathematical formula that basically proves that "our earth and ionosphere (This is the region of the earth's atmosphere where ionization caused by incoming solar radiation affects the transmission of radio waves. It extends from a height of 70 kilometers (43 miles) to 400 kilometers (250 miles) above the surface) constituted a cavity wave guide whose physical constants and magnetic field would oscillate at a resonant frequency identical to the range of human brain waves. In 1962, the National Bureau of Standards division' of Radio Propagation reported the actual physical detection and instrumental recordings of these signals; and as predicted, tracings were indistinguishable from human brain waves.

Unfortunately, very little is publicly known about this biological signal, although NASA has been using this knowledge to protect astronauts while they are outside the earth's natural source. The physical condition of early astronauts deteriorated severely while in outer space, away from the Schumann Resonance. The problem was solved by introducing the 'Schumann Simulator' into all space shuttles, a magnetic pulse generator mimicking the Earth's frequency. This demonstrates the simple fact that we cannot be healthy if disconnected from the "natural biological frequency." Mike Korell

How is that for interesting? This familiar resonance pattern works at affecting our moods and well-being. I found it very interesting that NASA actually created a device that can mimic the Earth's frequency to keep astronauts in a good state of mind.

I have a prediction: Passive Personalities are going to be checking into Mental Health Facilities because their old mood/coping mechanisms aren't working correctly (due to changes in Schumman's Resonance.)

Whichever drug company makes/sells Lithium is going to make a killing!

I can't afford for my shrink to kill my brain cells so I keep running from him. I might have to "fake normalcy" just to get released. He doesn't know that I am "OPEN", have a high need for cognition. I can Fake It with the best of them!

The belief that “One’s World is Not Safe” (attachment problems) causes Hypervigilance. Hypervigilance causes low latent inhibition.

According to Wikipedia: Hypervigilance is an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect threats. Hypervigilance also causes a person to have a high state of anxiety which causes extreme exhaustion. Other symptoms include: Abnormally increased arousal, a high responsiveness to stimuli and a constant scanning of the environment for threats.[1] This state of "hyper-awareness" is often caused by Posttraumatic stress disorder.[2]

Hypervigilance is the gift of “Early Threat Detection” that comes with the price/curse of extreme exhaustion. (I finally gave up my 20 a day Diet Mountain Dew Habit and use Seroquel to sleep)

Bonding Problem: Safety - Solution Isolation. If one does venture out: Hypervigilence - Problem Exhaustion. Byproduct Low Latent Inhibition

I Am a Rock - Simon and Garfunkle

A winters day
In a deep and dark december;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Ive built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
Its laughter and its loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Dont talk of love,
But Ive heard the words before;
Its sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

In my opinion, a bi-polar manic crisis is a healing opportunity and not a disease. Even though the sensory experience causes circuit overload and breaks with reality, it can heal. What some label a disease I choose to call: “The Mercy of God.”

My bi-polar event gave me a glimpse at “Paradise Below the Dark.” The Ego Collapse (False Self Destroyed) was the best thing that ever happened to me. Getting rid of toxic memories (Shame Surrendered) was pretty darn good too! The temporary sense of oneness with everything and the feeling of absolute love was quite filling. The experience overwhelmed me and I could not work or function for several weeks but it was well worth it. (I’m hoping it is a disease because I miss it.)

I was a slave of conditioning. I was freed by a bi-polar manic crisis. I learned how to live free (from irrational thoughts and fears) from Laurel Ridge Mental Health Treatment Center. I get to live in the moment of now realizing that I control me in the present. There is no such thing as lasting good or lasting bad because the only absolute in life is change!

Please delete posts. thanks for the article -pure brilliance

Dissociation
A crisis whisked me to the Land of Oz
It is the land of dream with different laws

Disoriented and humble and afraid I stood
The brick road branched into a yellow wood

Which way do I go – to the left or the right?
Someone please save me from this plight!

But no one was there to hear my plea
No good witch or wizard could I see

Determined was I to find my way home
Into the underwood I did roam

There were lions, and tigers and bears oh my!
And treacherous witches so scared was I

I had to believe that I’d make it back
From a proprioception that was whack

Dorothy’s shoes dropped from the air
“This Too Will Pass” was written there

Faith grew stronger and fear was gone
I looked them over and put them on

Their magic gave me courage within
Compassion and love inside my skin

The good witch appeared; it was my time to go
“You have all that you came for don’t you know?”

The road less traveled made the difference for me
But had I strayed left I know where I’d be

Flying with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell
Forgetting about home; caught in a spell

Somewhere over the rainbow and the first star to the right
There is an anesthesia consciousness just out of sight

It is the place where genius draws from the well
And schizophrenic lost ones escape their hell

Shelley Carson, you have my greatest respect and gratitude. Through the inspiration of your genius and a trip to the Land of Oz, I found unexpected joy, hope, faith, courage, compassion, love and sanity. My existential crisis caused by the cognitive dissonance of anomie gave me an anhedonia from which my ego had only two choices: bend or break under the strain (theory). I surrendered and bent. My south pole left brain ego deferred to my north pole right brain soul.

I had an unhealthy ego but luckily I found your article and found two good souls that saved me. Now that I’m right side up, I discovered that life isn’t a problem to be solved or endured but a mystery to be lived.

When the ugly duckling became a swan the good witch said it was time to go! May love find you happy, healthy, and well. In other words, God bless you.

Using the right brain metaphors I found a match to Kazimierz Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration. It is a blow by blow description of "The Hero's Journey."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_Disintegration

I hope it helps.

Brominated Vegetable Oil is an ingredient that can be found in "clear" sodas. The FDA knows it is toxic and over 100 countries have banned its use due to the harmful effects on the human body. Bromide competes with Iodine. Standard blood tests can't tell a "brominated thyroid" from a healthy thyroid as it will give the same good passing result. In addditon to an array of other malfunctions, it can cause the deepest darkest depression known to man (severe anhedonia) as well as bromide psychosis.

I agree with Max Levine M.D.'s opinion that "it is wise to examine the serum for bromide routinely in every acute psychosis, rather than to do so only "when indicated." If the test is not made routinely, one will overlook some cases, for sometimes one does not suspect a bromide psychosis until an unexpected recovery has opened one's eyes, at which point it may be too late to verify the diagnosis chemically."

It wasn't until my thyroid seized my esophogus did I find the root cause of my ills. I quit immediately (again) and the thyroid swelling diminished as well as the continuing anhedonia.

At least now I have an answer for the question "What's your poison?" Diet Mountain Dew and No Thanks!