“It is through art, and art only, that we can shield ourselves from the sordid perils of actual existence.” –Oscar Wilde
Living with a mental disorder is living in constant fear of your own mind. Though often functioning, the vast majority of mentally ill people are neurologically atypical. To suffer and to live in what seems like constant isolation is torture. In order to numb the pain, to heal from the hurt that you never asked for, an outlet is necessary. When you belong to a community of like-minded, creative people, your entire perspective on life can shift. When you are an artist, these deep-rooted feelings of isolation can be washed away by your peers.
Artists are often portrayed as the brooding, struggling young adult.
Hemingway struggled with depression his entire life, and unfortunately, he took his own life. Elliot Smith, one of the most influential lyricists in indie-rock music, unfortunately, did the same. Artists functioning with depression are more common than those who cannot function. There is a stigma behind mental disorders that is incomparable. From the typical, looming, dark cloud that is often associated with those suffering from depression to the blatant misuse of terms like bipolar or panic attack, there are and always have been stereotypes built against those who suffer from mental disorders.
These pigeonholes often lead to people romanticizing mental disorders.
In order to seem “artsy,” it has become a trend to misdiagnose yourself with something that cannot necessarily be controlled. This is perpetuated by tropes, such as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and the Sexy Tragic Muse. These characters are generally your typical quirky girl with a tragic backstory – she loves all the songs you haven’t heard and is an artist of some kind. These characters lack depth and dimension and are often just an accessory to the protagonist. The portrayal of artists as such creates a toxic image, and perpetuating it by making mental disorders trendy and artsy is just as toxic. To be depressed or to struggle with anxiety is not in direct correlation to a person's depth of personality – it is pain. To imitate such pain for popularity is inappropriate.
Oftentimes, these artists who are portrayed as broken souls are fully functioning people.
Depression does not rear its ugly head solely in the tears of its victims, just as anxiety is not always rocking back and forth and hyperventilating. Depression can be a lack of motivation, not wanting to complete projects or always taking a nap instead of going out. Anxiety can be silent and horrifying – a feeling trapped in your own head. Medication is not always an option or necessity, depending on the severity of the disorder; however, an outlet is.
Being able to pour yourself into a song, to let everything you feel translate into a painting or to put your emotions into words through poetry is to be human.
As humans, we are naturally creators, and when we do not create, we are empty. Some can only imagine what it is to be suffering for years alone and to stumble upon a small record store and venue, only to find yourself surrounded by people who have similar stories. Surrounding yourself with people who made it through what you deal with on a daily basis is such a foreign feeling, but when they tell you about the lyric that saved their life, it gives you hope. There is a sense of self and an aura of love among artists and creators.
Art in and of itself is a form of expression, but to be an artist and creator is to be a part of something larger than you could ever know.
This community and group of peers can bring a sense of belonging to those of us suffering from mental disorders. They do not pigeonhole you as a person, but instead, they offer guidance and support. The stigma behind depression and anxiety is forgotten, the people behind the art are genuine and there is a lack of judgement. Art and the community surrounding it may just be the best treatment out there.
