Blogpost 9: Art can help

People have been talking how mental illness is connected with creativity? For example, an artistic person tends to be mentally ill because of his mind works or because of the production of his imagination? Art society has been campaigning against the stereotypes in artists and mental illness. So what if, instead of thinking that creativity is linked with mental illness, why not think that creativity can be a cure for mental illness?

In an article I’ve read “What Is Art Therapy?” in psychology.about.com which was written by Kendra Cherry. In her article, she explains how art can help their patients to overcome stress, be focused, and improve their mental health; they consolidate the techniques in psychotherapy and creative process.

She said that “It may surprise you to learn that art can be an effective tool in mental health treatment. What could art possibly have to do with psychotherapy? As an expressive medium, art can be used to help clients communicate, overcome stress, and explore different aspects of their own personalities.”

Yes, maybe some people will be surprised especially those who stereotypes the artists. But for me, it is no surprise at all. Because sometimes when I’m really stressed or I think that I’ve had enough with studying, I just get a piece of paper and pencil. I draw whatever comes to my mind and 5 minutes after sketching, it started to wear off the stress and I felt at ease. And after that I’ll continue my studying and becomes really focused on it.

Now that we’re already talking how drawing makes me focused, I remember in my last lecture in BehaSci about doodling in class can make you smart. So I research about it and came across an article entitled “Doodling should be encouraged in boring meetings, claims psychologist” in theguardian.com written by Ian Sample. He explained in his article what is actually happening when we doodle during lectures, seminars and meetings. He also mentions Jack Andrade’s survey, where he asked 40 volunteers to listen into a 2 minute telephone conversation while shading, to see if they can remember the details of the conversation. And yes, most of them remember it accurately.

He also said “A study that compared how well people remembered details of a dull monologue found that those who doodled throughout retained more information than those who tried to sit and listen.”

As I have remember it right, recording information using different drawings, colors, typography can help retain the information in our brain longer. Because we can concentrate more on a thing if we are doing something that doesn’t bore us or that we really enjoy.

Blogpost 8: Speak up! Equality Act!

How would you approach your friend that has a fever and cold? Are you going to be, Eww go home you’re sick, you might infect someone or Are you okay question: the most redundant thing you’ll ever heard. Now think of this: if you are now in a workplace let’s say you’re the manager or supervisor or head of something, how would be your approach to your employee that was diagnose with mental illness. Come on now, don’t be such a hypocrite, I know you’ll say “I’ll treat him like my regular employee” and then be very awkward around them and challenged their capabilities. Those scenarios are the reason why there people with mental illness decided to conceal their illness.

In fact, according to an article I’ve read “Mental health problems still a workplace stigma” in theguardian.com written by Philip Landau. It said in a survey conducted by Friends Life there about 40% from 2000 respondents from cross-section industries have experienced mental health problem and did not told their employer.

He also said that “Whether or not you decide to tell your employer of your mental illness is always going to be personal decision, especially as a mental health issue will not always be as immediately apparent as a physical one.”

Because of the stigma in mental illness, employees are hesitant to undergo a treatment out fear that they might imperil their jobs and at the same time their employers don’t even know how to handle that kind of situation.

In another article I’ve read entitled “Mental Health Prejudice Rife in Workplace” in huffingtonpost.co.uk written by Dr. Paul Zollinger-Read he said that nearly half of UK leaders try to ignore the situation. The employers or managers thought they were helping their employees. But said they were never been asked about their mental illness and they don’t feel opening up about it.

He also stated that “The main thing I take from all of this is that employees are being reduced to being defined by their condition rather than their skills, experience and expertise. These don't disappear because of a mental health problem, much like they wouldn't if you broke your leg.”

It’s not like the mental illness hinders a person from doing their job. Their skills and capabilities will stay with them despite how severe the illness is. Leaders value too much the importance of a healthy team that they don’t recognize the situation of his employees suffering from mental illness. If they really want healthy workers they should pay more attention not only the physical well-being but also to the mental well-being. That is why they are leaders they have to show a good example so their subordinate will follow as well.

Blogpost 7: Processing Art

In science, in order for a scientist to solve a problem, inquire a new knowledge or, correct and integrate previous knowledge they use “scientific method.” It follows a method of inquiry that is based on empirical and measureable evidence subject to specific reasoning principles. If I can remember it correctly my high school teacher taught us the six steps in scientific method; Ask a Question, Do Background Research, Construct a Hypothesis, Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment, Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion and, Communicate Your Results. In art, they also have steps in producing art; it is just that the artists never realized it.

In my research about the steps in producing art, I’ve come across an article “The Art of Thought: Graham Wallas on the Four Stages of Creativity, 1926” in brainpickings.org written by Maria Popova. In her article she explained the creative process according to Graham Wallas’ book. The creative process steps are Preparation: where you gather ideas and inspiration, Incubation: you leave your ideas alone and let your unconscious mind work on it, this is also the part where you see that most artists are sleeping, Illumination: a sudden idea that run through you mind: you don’t force it you just let it come to you and lastly, Verification: the part where you arrange your ideas.

Maria Popov also said that “But perhaps most important of all is the interplay of the stages and the fact that none of them exists in isolation from the rest, for the mechanism of creativity is a complex machine of innumerable, perpetually moving parts.”

It means that the process does not necessarily follow a specific order unlike the scientific method. Isn’t it great to know that are brain works can work that way especially in the creative process. So maybe, while you are reading a book looking for inspiration for a masterpiece your mind is unconsciously solving another problem for you.

Speaking of creative process, different artist have different form of creative process some do enhancing drugs, some meditate and some just laze around; but it does not mean that they don’t do preparation, incubation stuff, they still do it just not the same shape. In an article I’ve read “The Odd Habits and Curious Customs of Famous Writers” in brainpickings.com also written by Maria Popova she discussed a book “Odd Type” by Celia Johnson. She said that according to the book, many famous writers have an unusual way of writing: Edgar Allan Poe, has a cat that he considers the purr as an approval in his work or Truman Capote that won’t start or end his work on Fridays or he would change his hotel room if the phone number has 13 in it and others.

Also Maria Popova said that “As curious as these habits are, however, Johnson reminds us that public intellectuals often engineer their own myths, which means the quirky behaviors recorded in history’s annals should be taken with a grain of Salinger salt. She offers a necessary disclaimer, enveloped in a thoughtful meta-disclaimer.”

Some written observations of the creative process of the artists are not entirely true. The gathered information about them is words that have been passed on many ears, which means the info has been altered somehow. So if you are trying to copy their creative process then good luck with that. My advice is follow the creative process that suits you best.