Madness as Muse: The Role of Mental Health in Shaping Poetic Creativity

Abstract

In this paper, we look at the connection between mental health and creativity, highlighting poetry as a means for people to describe their mental states. Many researchers have looked at the connection between art and mental health and there are poets such as Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsberg, John Keats, Anne Sexton and Emily Dickinson who often let their personal mental health issues influence their poetry. A close look at personal stories and works of literature in the paper reveals how people use poetry to explore and understand their mental health. Also, the article looks at implications for mental health treatment, suggesting that creative activities should become a more common approach in therapy. The study intends to bring together personal experiences and medical practices to understand better the link between madness and creativity and to overcome stigma about mental health and nurture a deeper respect for artistic pursuits.