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Are musicians more suceptable to mental issues?

I

Icey101

Jun 22, 2011
492
10
Australia Victoria
#1
I've seen it in a few instances, maybe its generic across the population, or maybe its how musicians think in to much detail or performance anxiety, not quite sure, also trouble with booze and drugs etc is it more prevalent in musicians?

Could it be anxiety? depression?

A keyboard player who i though was solid as a rock didnt turn up to rehearsals once, he sent out an email the next day said he couldnt go outside for a week. Depression? The leader gave him the boot which was sad.

My drummer at the moment cant rehearse without bringing in half a dozen cans

All the long history of musicians doing drugs and booze etc?

whats the real issue here?

share your experiances
 
#2
One in 4 people will suffer some kind of mental health problem at some point. It's not exactly uncommon.

But I would guess that it is more common for musicians for a number of reasons. (including drugs, chaotic lifestyles, creative minds, demographics.)
 
#3
i've found that the kind of people who are drawn to drugs / alcohol etc are the same people who are drawn to create art.
Many choose to vent some frustration / anger / love / surprise or whatever emotion they are feeling through music, however they may also not be aware how to express what they are feeling musically, so they drink / whatever.
 
#5
I think it's more of a function of how our society does a poor job nurturing artists/musicians. If someone is naturally inclined to be an artist, and isn't really good at much else, he/she will probably live a less privileged lifestyle compared to those who are naturally gifted at more conventional professions.

Granted, some musicians/artists are lucky and make it big. For those who don't, life can be pretty rough unless you have something else to fall back on. And even if you do have something to fall back on, you're still somewhat compromised.
 
#7
I think you have it backwards: people with emotional issues are more prone to be musicians than others are. I suspect it is the angst that they (we) have no other way to express that is at the root of it all...
 
#8
Several years ago I was at a lunch with and for some neighborhood volunteers in Atlanta. I was seated at a table of 8, myself included. The others were from all walks of life, ages, genders, etc.

Somehow the subject of depression arose. With a show of hands everyone at my table admitted they were clinically depressed and on prozac. That was an eye-opener and disconcerting. I did not raise my hand because I was on something else.
 
#9
I’ll recall sarcastic words of an acclaimed local artist, saying that all art comes from communication disorder - from those not being able to say it in simple manner, like normal persons do, then they have to invent their own complicated, less understandable ways instead.

On the other hand, among few media stories I saw recently, about people who reach their 100th year, still being vital and perfectly conscious, most are close connected to the music, some of them still perform.

(apologies for my English, I’m also bit of an artist… ;))
 
#10
I read the same thing about other professions as well. For example, apparently a large majority of people who work in I.T. suffer from depression.

I suppose the long and mundane lulls in between playing can very quickly turn into a daily grind. Much like a dull day job and the long wait to leave work at the end of the day (the fun part).

I work in I.T. and play regular gigs, so does that mean I'm totally screwed?

Oh and alcohol only makes things worse in the long term, but I guess that sounds fairly obvious.
 
#11
The only musicians I know who seem depressed are the ones who take themselves too seriously. They try to pull this "tempermental artist crap" on you and I don't buy it. I actually know of two who seem very depressed because they "didn't achieve the greatness they deserved." No, they haven't actually said that, but you can tell that's the thought within the tone of thier voice. Actually, bitter is a better word. I've dealt with too many of them in the past and have no time for people like that.

On the other hand, I know quite a few non-musical people who have been diagnosed and who are being treated for depression....with one of my brothers being one of them. To be honest, depression in one form or another runs in my family but so far (knock on wood) it hasn't hit me...and I'm 58. I have my down days just like anybody else but it's nothing that I would call depression.
 
#12
I suffered badly from anxiety for a good year and a half, I think it's mostly better now but I still notice it from time to time. It completely takes the joy out of living on days that it's bad. I don't think it's from being a musician though, it's from teenage naivete and thinking that drugs wouldn't affect me negatively. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones that managed to work out how stupid I was being.
 
#14
I've thought about this too. I don't know of any study done but from what I've seen, it seems that musicians are more sensitive, emotionally, to things. They get touched by things more than the average person. That may have something to do with it. They're also around alcohol and drugs, playing in bars and in clubs, more so than the average person, IME anyway, so they may be influenced more often than someone else.

I know that a lot of musicians that are hurt in childhood are really good songwriters. Their lyrics seem to come from a deeper well than someone who grew up without abuse or rejection. This isn't a university study or anything, just my observation.
 
#15
From what I remember, reading about depression and burn outs, lots of stress, working irregular and long (over)hours, night shifts, and working under high pressure repeatedly for a long period of time, all increase the chances for a depression / burn out.

Now, if one takes a look at the lifestyle of a performing artist (that often has a day job on the side as-well, when they're not successful enough), they mostly work at night, performing is giving everything under stress, this is done time after time.
Some take uppers (like cocaine/speed) to "have enough energy" or drink to cope with the tension before /during a gig. (drink & drugs also increase the chances for a depression).

One may conclude that it is the circumstances of the job that cause eventual depression and not the 'artistic mind'.
 
#17
Personally I feel at my absolute best when I am performing.

It is the times when I am most reflective and dare I say depressed that I write my most profound work.

History has shown (and possibly in a biased way) that many artists suffer from one form of mental issue or another. I think that in order to tap into the deeper meaning of the things that resonate with humanity you have to dig into a part of the psyche that often makes you face it's darker side. Most of society live in their state of ignorance and simply tap along to the music because it sounds good. It's the artist that found the place that brought forth the music and often times it's not a pretty place.


capnsandwich said:
I've thought about this too. I don't know of any study done but from what I've seen, it seems that musicians are more sensitive, emotionally, to things. They get touched by things more than the average person. That may have something to do with it.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#18
I have a degree in Psychology and have done a lot of research on this as well as having personal experience with band members and having had some issues myself. The drug and alcohol issue begins with the fact that most musicians play their first gigs at house parties where drugs and alcohol are being used. Everyone gets trashed and allegedly has a good time. The next step is that if the band is good enough, they play in bars. Again, lots of alcohol. This trend usually continues and gets worse until a catastophic event such as a DUI, an accident or the end of a relationship occurs. I don't think musicians drink or use drugs more than anybody else. The difference is that most people use them after work while musicians usually use them before and during their performance. When they do not use them, many believe that they cannot perform and this leads to performace anxiety. I have played with many musicians who did some stupid things as the result of drug and alcohol use but I also know non musicians who have been arrested and done other things as the result of substance abuse. I believe that if you are going to do drugs and alcohol, you will do them regardless of whether you play an instrument or not. However, as a musician, you are usually exposed to them more often.
I have never done drugs but I have done a lot of drinking over the years. I rarely drink at all now. I have been playing for over 30 years. During that time I have played everything from small clubs to large venues in front of 25,000 people and have appeared on television. Several years ago, I developed a phobia about playing live and took time off. I was also dealing with a health issue so maybe that played a role. It eventually went away but for many people it can be devastating. There is a correlation between depression and performance anxiety. In both cases people have doubts about themselves and it can get worse over time. They can become manic depressive and get excited about playing but then back out because the anxiety or depression takes over. Drug and alcohol abuse can cause people to develop depression and anxiety. When they are sober, they feel guilty about using drugs and drinking. This causes more depression and anxiety which causes them to drink more. It is a difficult cycle to break without professional help.
 
#19
mongo2 said:
Well, my father did say I'd have to be crazy to want to be a musician. Maybe he was right to a certain degree, it is a passion that I've seen can border on obsession in some people I've played with.
Click to expand...

Yes crazy indeed

I have to say that Musicians are mostly cut from a different mold than most people as with any artist

I don't see musicians failing mentally anymore than the average population
I know more mentally unstable folks that are non musicians
 
#20
capnsandwich said:
I've thought about this too. I don't know of any study done but from what I've seen, it seems that musicians are more sensitive, emotionally, to things. They get touched by things more than the average person.
Click to expand...
We don't. Only the guys who write songs do. Here's one study about that:

Invalid Link Removed

The key quote from the abstract is:

"Male composers attained significantly lower mean testosterone values than male instrumentalists and male nonmusicians; female composers had significantly higher mean testosterone values than female instrumentalists and female nonmusicians."
 

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