The fact is that with the growing technology and advancement in automation industry, the people are becoming more and more prone to shortcut-ism. If the remote is far away, we don’t feel like watching television. We don’t want people to open our cupboard; Come on! they are supposed to get buried under the earth, not the clothes. The geek of class is the best friend when an assignment is announced. Who says we are not sporty? we love PS games.

“Do not delete this message or you will be permanently banished from paradise. Just send it to 10 people and find a place in heaven”. Yeah, we want shortcut even for paradise! Such type of outrageous e-mails and text messages are v common and obviously they are nothing more than a mere psychological blackmailing. I doubt that there would be a verse in any holy book, stating that just pressing a ‘send’ button would liberate us from all the punishments, no matter even if a perfect incarnation of devil we have been in the past .The tragic element being that even highly educated and v sane people, without using their brains are becoming a victim to this contemptuous blackmail.

Actually we want to achieve maximum by working minimum and in ecstasy of being able to find a shortcut, we often forget that the gains acquired by shortcuts are mostly short-termed! Conscience is not an issue; it hardly haunts us (as key to an ideal life is a sleepy conscience ). But the real fact as stated by the American writer Henry Miller is ,“In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest.”

There are a number of studies worldwide that continue to produce evidence that support this statement.  Several researches have suggested that there is indeed a link between brilliance and mental illness.  It is believed that mood disorders allow a much wider arena for creative thinking – in fact, one of the criteria for diagnosing mania includes sharpened and unusually creative thinking.  Further studies suggest that “poets tend to be the most emotional and introspective among all writers, and had a much higher rate of mental illness than nonfiction writers who tend to be the most rational and analytic” (Granato, 2006).

Although it may not be an established notion that writers have an increased risk for mental illness, it is not something that is concealed in contemporary films:

Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Susanna Kaysen is admitted to a psychiatric unit after an overdose of aspirin. When asked about her plans for the future, she claims to dream of becoming a writer.  She keeps a journal throughout the duration of her stay – where she writes down random thoughts and feelings – which then serves as an outlet leading to her recovery.

Secret Window (2004)

Renowned writer Mort Rainey is assaulted by a mystery man who claims that he has stolen the latter’s work and published it as his own. This mystery man is later revealed in the plot as Rainey’s own fictional character who had somehow managed to manipulate the author’s life by creating in himself a separate (split) personality.

Nim’s Island (2008) 

Alexandra Rover, author of a popular adventure series, suffers from agoraphobia and engages in constant conversation with the main character of her books.

Writers and mental illness do not only go together in filmmaking, but also along the course of history:

  Charles Dickens – suffered from clinical depression

Edgar Allan Poe – bipolar disorder

Sidney Sheldon – bipolar disorder

Leo Tolstoy – depression, with suicidal tendencies

And the list goes on.

It is not clearly established whether brilliance causes madness or vice versa.  There is, however, good reason to suggest that the existence of a certain mental illness or imbalance may enhance the person’s ability to think more clearly, create more vivid pictures and scenarios, and express himself more fully and completely as a result of the decrease or lack of inhibition from rational thought or the limits that reality places upon his thinking.  This imaginary thinking also allows him to make inventive leaps into unfamiliar territory without being grounded to preconceived and preestablished natural laws, which is of great importance in the lines of science fiction and fantasy.

So does it mean that you have to be mad in order to make it to te Bestseller List? 

What comprises brilliance is a combination of many different things.  A writer could use a touch of madness, a dose of inspiration, a heap of talent, an ounce of genius, or just the right amount of luck (if he believes there is such a thing).  And oftentimes he may lose his cool, or get lost inside his manuscript, or drown in the emotions of his verse – what matters most is that he knows how to pull himself back together and keep on writing.

References:

Associated Content. “The Common Link Between Writers & Mental Illness.”

The American Journal of Psychiatry. “Creativity and mental illness: prevalence rates in writers and their first-degree relatives.”

Listal.com, “Authors with Mental Illnesses.”

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Do you realize these days’ people are less patient somehow? Just an example the mobile phone has replaced the need to write letters. If people used to write love letters for example now you simply sent text messages. Thanks to technology we have become even more impatient it seems. Now we don’t bother to call but chooses instead to send SMS umhmm that wonderful Short Message Service.

Apparently people don’t even bother to spell right these days again thanks to SMS mania. What is my problem? No don’t get me wrong. I am not against modern technology! Infect I love the fact that thanks to technology now I don’t have to buy an IPOD, MP3 Player, Camera, Radio, Video player, I can surf the net, check my email anywhere. I don’t need a real calendar, I don’t need to buy a calculator and I can go on and on but I think you are getting the picture here. Yes indeed, mobile phones these days come packed with so many limitless multimedia capabilities. Plus telecommunication providers now offers all sorts of cell phone plans, freebies and give-away along with a bundle of other accessories you are just simply spoilt for choice.  Contract no contract cell phone plan or simply prepaid if you do not want to be tied to rigid terms and conditions in a written contract.  Cell phones models changes so fast here you think you’ve got the latest state of the art the ultimate model next day you surf the net and you find a new even better model and suddenly you feel the urge to change a new cell phone yet again. So! It’s all wonderful no? Yes and no actually.

Coming back to my question what is the problem?

You see, the problem is no I don’t have a problem with technology in this case the mobile phone let me be more specific here. But, but I do have problem with some people with mobile phones. I’m talking about how annoying it is when you are trying to enjoy a movie someone’s cell phone rings. Or when you are in a concert which you pay not quite so little and again someone in the audience so conveniently forgets to switch off their cell phone.  Imagine you are trying to explain something to a business partner and his or her phone keeps on ringing ever so often. You start the conversation again and a text message comes in and he or she stops to answer it. You are in the library trying to enjoy some nice peaceful quite time boom, someone’s cell phone rings! Or when you are enjoying a nice cup of cappuccino with a friend in a really nice hang-out engaging in a light relaxing conversation someone some where is talking loudly on the cell phone. That’s the problem I’m talking about.

I supposed you can argue it’s a free world. If you feel you have the right the other party too feels that he or she has the right as well. I sometimes gather enough courage to give the person a, what my friends call the “dirty look” stare. Some times it works many times it does not.  You may think my ranting about cell phones is lame but look around you this mobile madness is every where you go!

I guess it boils down to values. I mean the individual’s personal value that is. I think it’s pointless to try to reason with some people about cell phone etiquettes because for me personally you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that it’s simply basic courtesy.

Symptoms of love sickness feel like the flu, or more appropriately, mental illness. Symptoms may include:

• mood swings
• mania – elevated mood, inflated self-esteem; high energy, delusions
• depression – bouts of crying, lethargy, melancholy/grief; thoughts of suicide
• insomnia
• loss of appetite; weight loss
• nausea and digestive disorders
• headache, dizziness
• obsession and compulsive behavior – preoccupation with loved one; constantly checking for messages; writing the loved one’s name repeatedly; overwhelming thoughts of loved one
• urgent sexual desire – an “itch”
• loss of concentration – absent-mindedness, disorientation, daydreaming
• deep gut pain and general malaise

According to Dr. Alex Gardner, a Glasgow clinical psychologist, a person can die of a broken heart. Gardner says,

“You get into a state of despair and hopelessness. Hopelessness is like a pit … when you are in it, it is very hard to get out.

You have no vision and there is no way forward that you can see. You find yourself in such a state of despair that you just curl up and die.”

People in any stage of love (lust, romantic or long-term) can experience love sickness.

“The sweetest joy,the wildest woe is love.”

- Pearl Bailey (1918-1990), American singer/actress

Love and Brain Chemistry

When a person falls in love, a series of chemical changes happen in the brain. The pleasure of love comes from dopamine, the body’s pleasure chemical; and phenylethylamine, the “love drug” found in chocolate. The brain also releases an energy booster, norepinephrine.

Humans naturally crave the dopamine high. It’s part of the reward system set up in the brain, to encourage humans to do the tasks needed for survival. The brain releases a shot of dopamine whenever we eat, drink or have sex.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) enhances the flow of information between nerve cells. PEA causes the pleasure rush from chocolate, and is part of love’s euphoria. When lovers part, their PEA levels plummet.

Falling in love also elevates levels of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine stimulates the production of adrenalin.

This chemical cocktail creates the high of love. The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin, released during love and sex, create a sensory image map of the loved one. The brain associates the beloved with sensual pleasure, and releases its chemical high at the sight, smell, sound, taste or touch of the loved one.

Love operates from the ventral pallidum, or pleasure center of the brain. When a potential mate triggers a feeling of pleasure, humans want more where that came from. The ventral pallidum is also responsible for addiction. With the help of a few hormones, humans become addicted to their loved ones.

Much like a drug addict deprived of a fix, the lovesick person suffers withdrawal when the loved one is gone.

Coping with Love Sickness

The only cure for love sickness is time.

If the absent lover returns, so do the pleasure chemicals. If the relationship has ended, the mind and body need time to go through withdrawal, grief and healing.

Love sickness is common during the first two stages of love. If the relationship moves into the final, long-term stage, the symptoms disappear on their own.

Gradually, the brain replaces phenylethylamine with endorphins that give a more stable feeling of pleasure. It weans itself from the addiction. As the relationship grows, the afflicted person builds up a resistance to dopamine. The brain continues to deliver the pleasure chemical, but without the lovesick intensity.

This doesn’t mean love has vanished. The pleasures remain, but emotions are calmer. At this stage, some lovers develop a secure emotional bond, but others run into problems. They may sabotage good relationships because they crave the euphoria of new love. Or, they may fail to end bad relationships. Even bad ones have their highs.

Love Sickness Survival Tips

Eat

Love uses a lot of energy. The body deals better with stress if it’s fed. Fruit and honey elevate mood. Bread settles a queasy stomach.

Create

Release pent-up energy by doing something active or creative. Write, clean the kitchen, walk. Keep busy.

Cry

A good cry helps clear the head and reduce the pressure. Let the emotions out.

Learn

Take time for self-examination. Fear and insecurity increase the misery of love sickness. Learn about love. Learn about yourself. Learn about loving yourself first.

If the relationship has ended, let yourself grieve. If the relationship is ongoing and destructive, take steps to end it. Not all relationships are meant to be.

If the relationship is new, give it time.

Love sickness is a natural but traumatic condition. There’s no magic manual, and love isn’t easy. Be kind to yourself, and let nature run its course. True love survives, and grows strong.