I saw this picture online last week, and I wanted to post it on my blog and see what people thought of it.

I’m trying to decide what I myself think of it, especially as an obsessive-compulsive who is also a creative writer.  Do I believe that my creativity is tied up inexorably with my mental illness?  Would I be just as creative without OCD?  Do mental illnesses perpetuate the arts or stifle them, or does it depend on the person?

Before I went through cognitive-behavioral therapy, I used to wonder if I wouldn’t be as interesting without my OCD.  I don’t devote much time to thinking about that anymore, so this picture is really bringing up those old thoughts.  While I believe that OCD/mental illnesses can draw creativity out of a person, I don’t believe that it is the wellspring of it, by any means.  In many ways, my OCD hampered my creativity.  Now that it is under control, I feel much more creative freedom.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  Mine are obviously not yet sorted out!