The Topic: The Importance of Mental Health for Creative Artists

This quote by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama puts everything about mental health and art in a nutshell: Creativity is a gift that can enrich our lives and inspire others. But it can also come with challenges, such as stress, anxiety, self-doubt, burnout, and isolation.

In this episode, we will explore some of the common issues that affect creative artists, and I will also share some tips and resources to help you cope and thrive. Whether you are a writer, a painter, a musician, a designer, or any other type of creative artist, I hope you will find something useful and inspiring.

Your creativity matters. And your mental health matters, too.

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Questions for exploration

• How do you define creativity? What does it mean to you?

• How do you measure your creativity? What criteria do you use?

• How do you balance your creativity with other aspects of your life?

• How do you currently cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues?

• How do you deal with creative blocks, feelings of burnout, imposter syndrome, or other challenges related to your work?

• How do you seek help or support when you need it? Who do you turn to?

• How do you practice self-care? What activities do you enjoy?

• How do you set goals and boundaries for yourself? What are they?

• How do you celebrate your achievements and strengths? How do you reward yourself?

• How do you experiment with different methods and perspectives? What are some examples?

• How do you adapt to change and uncertainty? What are some examples?

If you feel brave, share what you found via our community on Substack.

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If you are interested in exploring mental health and creativity through a lens of storytelling, please also check out my newsletter The Sandman: Shadow Truths, which alternates with The Creative Cure and also has its own companion podcast.

You can also join my Facebook group or follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

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Petra Borzynski (2022): “You Have to Suffer for Your art”: About Creativity and Mental Illness

Equity global study finds those working in the performing arts are more likely to experience poor mental health | Equity Global Scoping Review (2022)

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Thanks to Aleksey Chistilin of Lexin Music for creating the music.

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