History is replete with creative people who have had their career disrupted or cut short by alcoholism, drug addiction or suicide; Ernest Hemingway, Jackson Pollock and Jimi Hendrix are but a few well-known examples. Many assume that such self-destructive behavior is triggered by an inability to cope with fame, criticism or the unreasonable expectations of their fans.
While these factors may play a role, I suspect that more inherent traits are at play. As a physician and a writer, I have long believed that creative people have manic-depressive tendencies; periods of high productivity are often followed by interludes of melancholy and self doubt. Though, for most artists, writers and performers, this cycle is mild, others experience wild gyrations in their mood, eventually leading to clinical depression, usually fanned by an obsessive degree of introspection. Reluctant to seek professional help, many find solace via drugs, alcohol or, in extreme cases, suicide.
Our genetic makeup, in concert with our life experience, leads to a career choice that satisfies our basic, psychological needs. It is reasonable to assume that our talents are closely tied to personality traits that facilitate their expression; unfortunately, these same traits may come with a price.
