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Saturday, July 18, 2009
Are there neurotic athletes?
Lots of talk regarding the artistic giants:
“Scientists are discovering more all the time about brain chemistry and creativity,” says sociologist and author B.J. Gallagher. “Highly creative people have more finely tuned nervous systems, which makes them high-strung and neurotic. Their brains are wired a little differently. They’re more prone to ADD, bi-polar, depression and other difficult mental states. They turn to drugs, alcohol or activities to ease their pain.”
The question then becomes how much do these issues affect their artistic drive, or are caused by it.
Would Ernest Hemingway have been the compelling, adventurous writer if he didn’t struggle with inner demons? Would Kurt Cobain have written such vivid, introspective music without the personal struggles? Would John Belushi have created the endless stream of hilarious characters and comedy routines without drugs and alcohol? Would Jackson have written such electrifying music without his tortured early years resulting in an obsessive search for childhood as an adult? And was his apparently debilitating habit for prescription drugs part of this?
Why are The Beatles drug use held in admiration when they create Sgt Pepper, but top athletes are not held in the same high regard when they achieve the pinnacle?
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