The Creative Mind and Antidepressant Medication

Our CreativeMindSeries.org Blog follows some of the interesting topics that link our creative mind. Not surprisingly, many people with a creative mind (or the potential of a creative mind) come across the topic of antidepressant medication at some time or another in their life. On February 19, 2012, CBS shared an interesting report about the powerful placebo effect of antidepressant medication. In case you missed the airing and would like to see it, here is the link to the segment. It is less than 14 minutes long and worthwhile watching.

 http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7399362n&tag=pop;videos  Video Description: Treating Depression: Is there a placebo effect? A Harvard scientist says the drugs used to treat depression are effective, but for many, it's not the active ingredient that's making people feel better. It's the placebo effect.

We also recommend the less than 5 minutes 60 Minute Overtime video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-57380908-10391709/how-the-powerful-placebo-effect-works/?tag=contentMain;contentAux  Video Description: When Harvard researcher Irving Kirsch told Lesley Stahl that the difference between taking an antidepressant and taking a sugar pill is minimal for most people, the 60 Minutes correspondent said, "But people are getting better taking antidepressants. I know them." In this "Overtime" feature, you'll hear Lesley share her own family's personal experience with antidepressants-- and how the news in her own report affects her family.Also in this video, Lesley discusses new and controversial research on the placebo effect and the ethics of lying to patients who might benefit from the power of the placebo.

For those of you who have read our "What's the Deal With Learning Disability" eBook http://www.explorationinternational.com/LDbook.html , the videos will reecho the topic of the creative mind of emotionally sensitive people, the history and true meaning of depression, and the effects medication has on the creative mind. Would Beethoven, Emily Dickinson, Hans Christian Andersen, have created the same artistic work if taking antidepressants?

For our Emotions software users, please revisit our online Emotions Software User Guide http://www.explorationinternational.com/EmotionsUser.html and take a look again at our images on the page. Imagine how different the emotional experience would be for anyone if he/she were under antidepressant medication.

Most importantly, though, it is imortant to remember that the creative mind thinks outside the box. Ideally, for the creative mind, there is no all-or-nothing thinking. The creative mind does not need to decide on whether to take antidepressants or not to take antidepressants. For the creative mind, the questions might be:  "What is the price for taking antidepressants?" "What can I do in addition to taking antidepressants?"  and "What alternate means are there to achieve the same positive effects as antidepressants?".  http://www.explorationinternational.com/EmotionsTip123.html

Emotions and Actions: Technique #3: Talking

Technique #3: After saying "It's o.k. to feel....", (angry, sad, annoyed, frustrated) many  of our Emotions software users chose to use "talking" as action and would like to pass on the following tips:

1. Distinguish to whom or with whom you are talking.

• Talking to a man will mostly likely get you some advice or problem solving solution response. This is great if you are 'frustrated, angry, annoyed, etc.' because you have car trouble or another problem that needs fixing. If you are not looking for a solution or problem solving answer though, your husband, boyfriend,  or other man might not be the right person to talk to.
• Talking to a friend might get you into a situation where you end up having to listen to his/her anger, sadness, annoyance, or frustration. If you feel you can listen, that is great, but if you need someone that listens to you, then being able to know what friend to talk to is helpful.
• Talking to a family member, relative, neighbor, acquaintance, friend, teacher, or professor  can make a big difference. It has really helped to distinguish how close someone is. Sometimes it is better to talk to someone who is emotionally more distant than someone close.
• "Before using the Emotions software, I would tend to share my happiness, frustration, anger, or annoyance with anyone  who happened to be there,  my barber, mailman, my landlord,  my neighbor, even my cashier at the local supermarket. I must have driven them crazy. The  Emotions software has changed so much and I am actually looking forward to those challenging feelings. I don't think I have ever been that creative in my life."  

2. Remember that your emotion is a catalyst for growth.

• Whether or not the "talking" action leads to growth or not is a great way to determine whether one chose the right conversation partner. Ask yourself while you are listening to someone, "Does this conversation contribute to my growth?"
• If you have a chance to have a session with a psychologist or therapist, use the same criteria. Does this session lead to my personal growth? Surprisingly, some software users have found that some sessions were a waste of time and moved on to another therapist.

3. Finding the right person to talk to for your personal growth can be a trial and error process.

• Don't give up using the "talking" action as the third step in your Emotions software. Keep your notes that the Emotions Journal generates for you for future reference. Those notes are really helpful and actually fun to read later on.
• If you learn that the first person that you talked to did not contribute to any growth, try another person. If the second person does not help either, try again. Sometimes it takes time to learn which person is the best person to talk to for different emotions.

Emotions and Actions: Technique # 2

Technique #2: No matter how you feel right now (happy, sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated....), think or say the phrase:  "It's o.k. to feel ....."  (It's o.k. to feel happy; it's o.k. to feel sad; it's o.k. to feel annoyed...).

Saying or thinking the phrase "It's o.k. to feel ..." is one of the most powerful techniques you can use to link emotions and actions.

The moment you are saying "it's o.k. to feel...", you are making a judgment. Most of our emotions derive from different parts of our body (or associated areas of the brain: see visual depiction at: http://www.explorationinternational.com/Emotions3.html.

Making a judgment accesses the prefrontal cortex of the brain which is responsible for executive functions and cognitive processes like planning, working memory, attention, problem solving, verbal reasoning, inhibition, mental flexibility, multi-tasking, initiation and monitoring of actions, planning complex cognitive behaviors, personality expression, decision making, moderating correct social behavior and the orchestration of thoughts and actions.

By saying "It's o.k. to feel..." , an emotion can become a catalyst (promoter, facilitator) for the creative mind.

While some people are intuitively creative, emotions, especially the most negative and challenging ones, are the most powerful catalysts that propel us into growth.

Using emotions as a catalyst for personal growth is a skill that can be learned like walking, riding the bike, or swimming. Our Emotions Software was designed to teach that skill. Once learned, anyone can apply the skill of turning challenging emotions into personal growth, especially during a time when emotions appear to be most negative and overwhelming.

Emotions and Actions: Technique #1

Many people believe that emotions are to be managed and controlled. Unfortunately, viewing emotions that way means missing out on the true Magic of Emotions and the Power of our Creative Mind. www.explorationinternational.com/emotions.html

Many people are aware that emotions affect our actions and behavior. We feel sad...we cry, we feel angry....we fight, we feel scared....we run. However, not many people know how our actions and behavior can affect emotions and how emotions can propel us therefore into personal growth.  

Even though the most effective techniques for personal growth are very unique to each individual, here are some techniques that you can try in addition to the skills taught in our Emotions Software:

Technique #1:  No matter how you feel right now, breathe in something pleasant that is nearby. (The scent of your clothing, a piece of food that you like, the scent of a candle, the scent of a pet, the scent of a plant.) Do not just smell the item but consciously breathe it in. Take a long breath and notice how your action of "breathing"in something pleasant makes you feel and how your action affects your emotion.

The Power of the Creative Mind: Writing, Learning Disabilities, Emotions

Insight #1: Despite all technological and scientific advances, research has shown that much of the capability of the human brain and the potential of the human mind still needs to be explored. Writing, Learning Disabilities, and Emotions are three major ways that assist each individual in the exploration of the Power of the Creative Mind.

Writing: By simply beginning to write, the mind accesses areas of the brain that otherwise would not be explored. The process of writing touches parts of the brain that connects with the past, the present, or the future http://www.explorationinternational.com/Writing.html. You can share your discoveries through writing here!

Learning Disabilities: Each learning disability is the other side of an amazing ability. Our Iceberg Principle http://www.explorationinternational.com/LDTips6-10.html shows how much of the human mind remains undiscovered by neither recognizing a disability nor an ability. Help others by sharing your abilities here. If you have a learning disability but are not aware of your ability, check our list of historical people http://www.explorationinternational.com/LD.html to find yours.

Emotions: Our emotions connect all parts of the human brain and the human body http://www.explorationinternational.com/Emotions3.html. Our emotions are meant to propel us into growth and new discoveries. In addition to our Emotion's Software (see below), we will add some additional techniques on this blog to show how emotions can impact our behavior and help each individual how to access the power of the creative mind.

Please note: If you are not able to post your comment here, please use our contact form on our website http://www.explorationinternational.com/contact.html to write to us and we will post your comment for you.

What makes writing good writing?

....when you turn the ordinary into something extraordinary!

Try it the next time you write something. It doesn't matter if you write a blog, a note, something on facebook, an essay, an article, a poem, or even part of a novel.

Writing something extraordinary can include a simple word. Use the synonym feature in a word processor to expand your vocabulary.

Writing something extraordinary can include a name. Names can open the door to a different time and place. For example, using any of the mythological names can bring up a new image in the reader's mind. Be like "Athena". Did you know that Athena was not only the goddess for creativity but also the goddess of duality? The duality found in almost any person. The duality of good and bad, the dualtiy of abiltiy and disability?

Turning writing into extraordinary writing can include many more things....more to come on the blog soon.