Paranoia

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About Paranoia

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Why Paranoia?

"Research is providing support for the idea that creative people are more likely to have traits associated with mental illness. One study found that the incidence of mood disorders, suicide and institutionalisation to be 20 times higher among major British and Irish poets in the 200 years up to 1800. Other studies have shown that psychiatric patients perform better in tests of abstract thinking. Another study, based on 291 eminent and creative men in different fields, found that 69 per cent had a mental disorder of some kind."

The above is a direct quote from an article I read on the internet. I have also read of so called "schizotypes" who posses traits of schizophrenics, yet manage to hang on to their sanity while at the same time tapping into the right side of the brain more than normal people with the result that they demonstrate more creativity. This was demonstrated by asking groups divided into schizotypes, normals, and schizophrenics to come up with novel uses for various common household items. Not only were the schizotypes much better at creating novel uses for the items, but by monitoring brain activity of the groups it was found that the right hemispheres of their brains were much more active.

It is just common sense that paranoia requires a creative mind. In order to believe in elaborate conspiracies one has to be able to imagine them in the first place!

In my life a phrase I hear all too often is: "Your starting to sound paranoid." My response is generally along the lines that being paranoid in no way negates the possibility that "they" really are out to get me. My big problem is not that I won't see it coming, but that I will see it coming, and talk myself out of trusting my instincts!

I think paranoia is reflects a set of skills that is undervalued at least, and possibly actively suppressed. Why would that be? Do you really need to ask?

If you accept the premise that there is a link between paranoia and creativity why not explore it? If it is not your cup of tea, then just go your own shiny happy people way. But don't blame me if something bad happens!