No pain, no gain?

Hughes relates the conditions of illness and disease and their effects on the body and mind with the abilities that creatives achieve. Many of the artists listed in the chapter had to struggle with their pains of illness, disease, or injury by means of a creative outlet. Hughes mentions many similarities between enduring pain and creative onset. The most obvious comparison which I related to was that of isolation. "Marcel Proust took refuge in illness in order to procure the seclusion necessary to achieve his vast enterprise" (118). Many times when I am sick, specifically when coping with migraines, I also need to be in a state of isolation where no outside sources; noises, light, etc; can disturb me. Likewise, when I am painting, drawing, scrapbooking, etc. I have to be in "my zone" - a quiet, undisruptive state in order to apply internal creative thoughts into the external.

Hughes mentions that "inner conflict is often seen as the cause of creativity itself" (119). In this respect, creativity is almost like a self-serving coping mechanism. It becomes a form of therapy in order to express, heal, and hopefully thrive. Many creatives mentioned in this chapter did not seek out such creative talents until they were stricken with some illness or injury.

I also related to the quote from Dr. Philip Sandblom, "the slight fever livened the associations and filled the thoughts with fantastic, dreamlike pictures..." (122). The few times my oldest son has struck fevers, he got very delusional and often mumbled or talked in illogical, irrational ways. I don't recall doing this verbally, but can remember feelings of dislocation when suffering with migraines. Hughes also mentions the presence of auras in regards to migraines. I cannot recall having this experience with a migraine, but I do experience this when I faint, which unfortunately happens frequently. I can usually feel a "spell" coming on because my hearing and sight becomes hindered...almost like tunnel vision for both senses. I get cold, clammy, and sweaty, and I can recall right before passing out that I experience what I now know to be entoptic images. I've always described this as like the snowy appearance on an old tv screen when a channel doesn't come in. Upon coming to, I remember having such vivid dreams seeming to have lasted for hours, only to find that I was "out" for a few moments. The symptoms sometimes resemble those sensory hallucinations that occur prior to epileptic seizures. It makes me wonder what creative potential awaits for me in this state...if I could only stay "out of it" long enough to tap into.