Some studies suggest creative people are more prone to depression and anxiety. It stands to reason that artists and creative people may turn to addictive substances to help with mental disorders. A history of drug and alcohol addiction is undoubtedly rife among famous creatives, contributing to a romantic idea of the ‘tortured artist’.
But countless professionals now agree this mythology is deeply harmful. In her celebrated 2018 manifesto on creativity, best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert warned against the most common ‘creative contract’ of suffering. “This is the contract that says, I shall destroy myself and everyone around me in an effort to bring forth my inspiration, and my martyrdom shall be the badge of my creative legitimacy.“
