Music and songwriting. But I don't think all BPs are creative.

I know all people with bipolar aren't creative ..its just what alot of professions have told me in the passed

mine is painting

i am a musician. I play flute, sax, and sing. I find that playing flute is almost a form of meditation. I love to breathe deeply over and over for an hour, and just focus on the music. A day without music is not worth much to me. And I also think music soothes the savage beast.

I was also a dancer before I got old and got RA. I did a lot of contemporary and ballet and a little jazz. I love to improvise to music. I still dance in my mind and with my arms. I just can't do the pirouettes and the jetts anymore. Sigh

I also like to draw but I am not that good at it. If I get busy it falls to the bottom of the to-do list. Maybe in the summer, I will get back at it again. Good topic.

When I was in the hospital many years ago with a full blown psychotic mania drawing with pastels was my outlet. I felt tremendous pressure to to it as the bp would naturally would have that effect on me. My pdoc (he's also my therapist) used that art to chart my progress as it became more coherent and more organized....less chaotic and manic. It was like a diary of my illness. I encourage you to keep to your artistic outlet. It made a world of difference to me and my recovery...even though I fried my brain because I went AMA (against medical advice) and did not take antipsychotic medication. Why? Because I was so manic I didn't think I was!!!! I was a stubborn, angry lil bitch.

For me it's poetry, drums, guitar and bass.

I model, paint, doodle, do still life, photography, collage, work with figurines in shadow boxes *a lot lately*, write (which works into my artwork - collage pieces and figurine ones), and I sing horribly in the shower (which is probably more theraputic than all of the previous list combined!!! LOL)

The crayons are my favorite (tho I don't do them much now) because I too was in the ward with psychotic issues and, aside from colored pencils, it was the only medium available. But it turned out perfect because I could put LOTS of pressure on them without ripping the paper if I was angry or upset while scribbling. I also documented my progress without even realizing it :) they start with a drawing of my best friend that I was having issues w/ at the time, looking laid out for an autopsy. The second was half red, line o' black, the other half blue - that was the 'angry' one that I took a lot of pressure to get my feelings out. The last one is lightly done, a flower off the table in the community room.

they're my most basic work - but they're some of my favorites :)

I do all different kinds of art and all of it helps. I sing, write, play the piano, dance, paint, sculpt, do ceramics, culinary art, draw, crotchet, color,cross stitch, make jewelry. I love to listen to music.

Dance