The Tortured Artist: Is There Really a Link Between Depression and Creativity?

Artists just can’t seem to catch a break. There’s the stereotype of the starving artist, which holds that artists must be willing to accept a life of meager wages for the sake of their craft; and perhaps even more destructive, there’s the popular trope of the tortured artist.

Because a notable string of brilliant talents have met tragic ends due to depression or other mental illnesses, we somehow got the idea that genius creativity necessitates madness.

There are figures like Van Gogh, who sliced off his own ear and later committed suicide, plus the countless film stars and music idols who struggled with addiction and met their own tragic ends. For these artists, their struggles have become synonymous with—and sometimes overshadowed—their talent.

But do artists really have to suffer for their work? In this post, we’ll examine the myth of the tortured artist and consider other reasons why highly creative people might be more prone to depression and mental illness.

The Origin of the Tortured Artist

Before we used the term to describe the tragic fates of artists like Sylvia Plath or Kurt Cobain, the idea of the tortured artist actually dated back to ancient times, with the Greek myth of Philoctetes.

Philoctetes was exiled on an island because of a wound, and during his isolation, he invented the bow and arrow from scraps he found in a cave.

His brilliant invention came at a time when he was isolated (a condition many artists work in), and his wound (which could symbolize his emotional suffering) was the reason he was isolated in the first place. Since the arrow became an essential weapon for the Greeks, he received the social acceptance he longer for, as his work was deemed valuable.

It’s easy to see how this myth could perpetuate the idea that depression and isolation are necessary for creativity, but this is a dangerous notion, and one that needs to be dispelled.

Creativity and Mental Illness

A 2017 study called “Creativity and Mood Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” set out to explore whether mood disorders cause creativity, creativity causes mood disorders, or an unknown variable causes both.

It’s commonly believed that the artist’s life and depression go hand in hand, but researchers found that bipolar disorder was most often associated with creativity. Low-grade depression, in contrast, was not associated with greater creativity.

But here’s the important part:

While bipolar disorder and major depression are associated with creativity, the study found no evidence that mood disorders enhance creative ability.

So why, then, are artists, entertainers, and writers ranked sixth on a list of the 10 careers most likely to cause depression?

There are many factors that could create a “tortured artist”:

High expectations: The pressure of high expectations can come from within, or from external sources if the artist has already set a high standard with previous work.

Frequent rejection: Many artists are all too familiar with rejection. For example, most writers receive far more rejection letters than they do publishing offers, but that doesn’t mean they’re unsuccessful.

Often low wages: Many creative jobs aren’t valued as highly as those in other fields, like the sciences. If an artist is just starting out, they likely need to keep their “day job” (which comes with its own sources of stress).

Criticism: Even the most successful and acclaimed artists face criticism every now and then. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get fixated on the negative.

Deadlines: The stress and pressure of deadlines can add a lot of pressure for artists, and it’s certainly not easy to summon creativity on demand. Impending deadlines can hamper creativity as well as the artist’s self-esteem and also feel discouraging.

Lack of job security: Many artists work freelance, or work on various projects as the opportunities arise. While this arrangement certainly has its advantages, it can create a sense of instability, especially in those times when work is slow and gigs are few and far between.

Lack of benefits: Most freelance jobs also don’t come with traditional benefits, like health care agreements, retirement plans, or paid sick leave and time off.

Hectic schedule: Independent artists usually don’t have a set schedule, which means they might inadvertently fall into work patterns that aren’t the healthiest (like working late into the night). It can also be hard to balance work and family life when your home is also your studio or office.

None of this is to say that creative careers in themselves lead to depression or mental health issues. But certainly, a case can be made for improved working conditions and better benefits for creatives in all parts of the world.

As for the other job “hazards,” fortunately, there are steps that artists can take in an effort to counter the potentially depressing conditions.

What Artists Can Do

Here are some things you might try doing if you work in a creative field:

Take frequent breaks outdoors: Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D! This is a really simple act, but you’d be amazed how great some fresh air and sunlight can feel after a few hours of working alone at a desk or in a studio.

Call a friend: Your work might require solitude to focus, but don’t forget to maintain regular contact with your friends and family. And check in with them too!

Learn to handle rejection: Rejection sucks, and I’m not suggesting you pretend to enjoy it—but there are healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with it. As an artist, you’re going to encounter rejection and criticism, but you shouldn’t equate rejection with your worth.

Stay organized: I know, I know—creativity and neatness usually don’t go hand in hand. But having a system in place to keep track of deadlines and everything else related to your gigs will definitely make your life easier and eliminate at least some of that stress.

Ask for help: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help—whether you need to take some time off, vent to a friend, or ask for an extension.

Be kind to yourself: As an artist, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in your work that you can’t even think about anything else until a project is finished. But don’t forget to look up every now and then, take a breath, and take care of yourself. Practice self-care and check in with yourself by paying attention to how you feel physically, but also mentally and emotionally by journaling or talking to a friend.

Professional Help Is Available

The steps above can help lift your mood and decrease your chances of becoming depressed, but they aren’t fail-safe, nor are they a substitute for professional help.

I’m definitely not trying to minimize the seriousness of mental health issues by suggesting that going for a walk can fix everything. It’s a good practice to maintain, but it can’t replace professional treatment.

There are free and inexpensive online counseling services ready to assist you if you’re hesitant or unable to start in-person therapy.

Do All Artists Suffer?

van gogh tortured artist image — Sailko / Creative Commons

Although there are many studies demonstrating a correlation between mental illness and creativity, there is very little evidence that mental illness causes creativity.

Many of history’s most talented artists—from Vincent Van Gogh to Virginia Woolf—are seen as geniuses not in spite of their mental illnesses, but because of them.

This has led to the romanticization of the starving artist trope, and a dangerous belief that an artist needs to be mad or “tortured” in order to be brilliant.

Presumably, this might lead aspiring artists to believe that feeling depressed or unstable is a normal or even necessary part of the creative process, which could lead them to ignore critical signs and avoid seeking help.

Writers and Depression

It’s true that statistically, writers and artists are more prone to depression than people in many other occupations. However, the current evidence shows us that this has more to do with the conditions of the job—like pressure and solitude—rather than an innate connection between mental illness and creativity.

When we see something in an artist’s work that is an expression of pain, we should listen to them; not celebrate their pain as the reason for their greatness.

If you or someone you know needs help, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a free, 24/7 helpline that you can call at any time.

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