Creativity & Bipolar Disorder: Origins, Links & Research | Dr. Sheri Johnson |

Dr. Sheri Johnson, Professor of Psychology and Director of the CALM Program at the University of California Berkeley, and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss the relationship between creativity and bipolar disorder, how to maintain creativity outside of mood episodes, and answer questions from the talkBD audience. Hosted by Dr. Erin Michalak.
#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder. Our episodes are available on all podcast platforms:
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Dr. Sheri Johnson is a professor of psychology at the University of California Berkeley, where she directs the Calm Program. Her work has been funded by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Science Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute. She has published over 200 manuscripts, including publications in leading journals such as the Journal of Abnormal Psychology and the American Journal of Psychiatry. She is co-editor or co-author of five books, including Emotion and Psychopathology and a best-selling textbook on Abnormal Psychology (Wiley Press). She is a fellow for Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), the Association for Behavioral Medicine Research and the American Psychological Society.
Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America’s top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That’s Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country.

[@user-ti6dh7id2c]

I live with type 1 bipolar disorder. I write in my free time and receive a lot praise from family and friends. Professionally, I'm a very successful "corporate fixer". This comes from my innovation and out of the box solutions to the issue that needs solving. There is no doubt for me that this stems from my (hypo) mania. Thanks for this great podcast!

[@PolarisWhale]

Creativity is a great healing outlet. I feel emotions really intensely sometimes and its a great, really productive way to spend your energy. Much better than being trapped with yourself.
I'm incredibly grateful for my support network of friends and I often find myself making art for them as little gifts because I appreciate their support so much. Many of my own friends are artists themselves and I can connect with them on a personal level.
I'll definitely be sharing this video with my therapist.

[@Lovepourstogether]

I can’t wait to do a dive into your podcasts and the talks. Have a wonderful day!! 🩵

[@CRESTBD]

Thank you for watching our podcast! :)

[@tesssangra9901]

Thank you for this discussion!! Battling med induced anhedonia’s influence on creativity so this is great insight!

[@PolarisWhale]

All very enlightening, thank you for helping me understand myself.

[@PolarisWhale]

Alright now I'm getting anxious, these are hitting really close to home.
Thank you for sharing still.

[@CRESTBD]

@@PolarisWhale Thank you for tuning in - please take care ❤

[@bealion]

This was a fantastic discussion. Thank you!

[@CRESTBD]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BobbyBrewers]

Then there's the religious people who say it's a demon and that prayer is the cure, like my mother and stepfather. As typical religious people, they made my life particularly hard.

[@BobbyBrewers]

I don't think this was comfortable for Victoria to publicly address. So, I'm sorry. I can see myself in Victoria.