The researchers determined that writers were 121% more likely to suffer from the condition, and about 50% more likely to take their own lives than the public overall. 7 In contrast, dancers, visual artists, and directors were less likely than the general public to suffer from a mental illness.
Studies of artists and writers collated in Scientific American confirm that artists and writers are up to 20 times more likely to suffer from bipolar disorder (also called manic depressive illness) and 10 times more likely to suffer from depression.
People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, traumatic events) are more likely to develop depression.
If you are a writer, there is a good chance you've dealt with anxiety at some point in your life or even deal with it daily.
'” Arnold Washton, a psychologist at Compass Health Group says that depression may also be more common in the people who have only known wealth, since they may not be familiar with bootstrapping themselves through difficult times.
At an individual level, high achievers often suffer from perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-doubt and anxiety. The stress of constantly striving to reach an almost impossible goal coupled with the ever-present fear of failure can be a major source of stress.
There's also the perception — and sometimes reality — of constant competition and failure doesn't seem to be an option. Grueling hours, constant criticism from others, including strangers, and a loss of the identity you once possessed can open the door to mental health conditions such as depression.
Because writing is hard work. Sure, it's not physically hard but your brain uses a lot of energy and we have not evolved to spend hours a day trying to produce words from our heads. But there is a difference between being tired and feeling fatigued, stressed and on the way to burnout.
Writing is hard. Not everyone has the capacity to create stories or articles out of thin air. More often than not, writing is an activity that requires solitude, which is why some of the world's best writers are also introverts.
The first is 'scriptophobia' (Biran, Augusto and Wilson, 1981) or 'writing phobia' (Johnson, Shenoy and Gilmore, 1982), which is an irrational fear of writing in front of another person.
While it's true that both types of personality can experience problems with their mental health, it's widely accepted and proven that introverts are more susceptible to depression than many other personality types.
Compared to the novice brains, the brains of the expert writers showed additional activity in the caudate nucleus, which is responsible for automatic functions, and the Broca's and Wernicke's areas, which deal with language and word formation.
It's not only the solitary nature of writing that makes writers lonely. It's also that most writers are introverts. We tend to be naturally introspective, and some of us even suffer from social anxiety.
The researchers determined that writers were 121% more likely to suffer from the condition, and about 50% more likely to take their own lives than the public overall. 7 In contrast, dancers, visual artists, and directors were less likely than the general public to suffer from a mental illness.
The Advantages of Being an Introverted Writer
Introverts usually spend more time reading and writing than extroverts. As you'll spend more time alone as an introverted writer, you'll have more time to explore your thoughts and emotions, which will add depth to your work.
Being a freelance writer is perfect for introverts, as it capitalizes on many introvert strengths, from working alone to problem-solving. No time like the present to find your dream job, right? Or at least something that fits your skill set and lifestyle a little better.
Writing gives introverts a welcome break from hours of speaking. Writing gives introverts time to think. Introverts prefer to think before speaking, while extraverts sometimes speak before thinking. We don't blame the chatty extraverts--it's their nature.
Given that many novels take many years to perfect, it stands to reason that late twenties, early thirties are prime time for putting in those writing hours. Harper Lee, for example, wrote To Kill a Mockingbird at 31 and saw it published at 34.
A potential disadvantage of being a writer is that the quality of work is subjective. The appeal of a written work can vary from one reader to the next. A young reader might enjoy a simple article with words that are easy to understand, while a mature reader might find it dull.
As it turns out, writers rate their career happiness 4.1 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 7% of careers.
People of any socioeconomic background can experience mental health conditions. You can have depression regardless of how much money you have or make. Although money makes some aspects of life easier, there are other factors that play into mental health and well-being.
High achievers are wired to be dissatisfied when we meet goals — that is the evolutionary motivation to do the next big thing — but the result is often cumulating disappointment. Year after year of finding success less fulfilling than we expected makes us pessimistic about ever attaining satisfaction.
Research suggests that continuing difficulties are more likely to cause depression than recent life stresses. This can include: long-term unemployment. living in an abusive or uncaring relationship.