Incidence and symptoms of depression
For centuries there has been debate about the connection
between creative genius and mental illness and, in particular,
manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder. Aristotle
asked in the 4th century BC "Why is it that all men
who are outstanding in philosophy, poetry or the arts are
melancholic?" English poet John Dryden wrote: "Great
wits are sure to madness near allied" and throughout
the 20th Century the claim has been made that "there
is a thin line between genius and madness".
Mental illuness is a general term that refers to a group
of illnesses, in the same way that heart disease refers
to a group of illnesses affecting the heart. Episodes of
a mental illness can come and go throughout people's lives.
Some people experience their illness only once and fully
recover. For others, like Spike, it recurs throughout their
lives.
The causes of mental illness are unclear. A predisposition
to some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, can run
in families. Many other factors can contribute to the onset
of mental illness in people without a predisposition, such
as stress, bereavement, relationship breakdown, child abuse,
unemployment, social isolation, accidents, drugs, alcohol
and life-threatening illness.
Stress probably played a major role in Spike's mental illness.
He acknowledged that the trauma of serving in World War
2 led to his first bouts of depression.
"Suddenly all these mortar bombs started to rain down
on us and one blew me up. I should have stayed up really.
I should never have come down."
There has been some speculation about the exact nature
of Spike's illness. According to Charlotte Robson, wife
of Spike's therapist Joe Robson (both became lifelong friends
and Charlotte is still in touch with Spike's chidren) says,
"Joe always said that he was not a psychotic. He was
just very clever."
There are two types of mental illness: psychotic and non-psychotic.
A psychosis is a condition caused by an illness (including
schizophrenia and some types of depression) that is known,
or thought to, affect the brain causing changes in thinking,
emotion and behaviour. Psychotic illnesses are comparatively
rare. Non-psychotic illnesses, on the other hand are much
more common, and include phobias, anxiety, some forms of
depression, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Spike talked about his illness as 'manic depression', which
is now called bi-polar disorder. A person with bipolar mood
disorder experiences depressive episodes alternating with
periods of mania involving extreme happiness, over-activity,
rapid speech, a total lack of inhibition and, in some more
serious instances, delusions of grandeur.
In Australia, experts suggest that as many as one in five
may develop a mental illness at some stage in their lives.
Everyone is vulnerable to mental health concerns. People
with a mental illness need the same understanding and support
given to people with a physical illness - it is not an illness
for which anyone should be blamed.
Mental health web site links
Read an interview with Spike's
daughter Jane about her thoughts on his illness
Listen to Spike read some his
poems about depression
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