“There were a lot of benefits to being dyslexic for me…I think I came into an appreciation of all those qualities of language…” Novelist Richard Ford The traditional framing of ADHD, dyslexia and some other conditions as “learning disorders” seems to be increasingly challenged by the views of many researchers and artists that these can [...]
By Morty Lefkoe At one point or another, everyone has uttered the words: “I am happy.” And: “I am upset.” Notice what happens when you say: “I am [something].” You are describing yourself. Any words that follow the statement “I am” is your description of yourself. Moreover, when we say, “I am [something],” it feels [...]
Perfectionism can be an unhealthy way to try to satisfy distorted ego needs or defuse shame or low self-esteem, for example – but it is a simple name for what can be a complex set of drives and attitudes that can also fuel our pursuit of excellence and motivate social change. Hilary Swank: “The great [...]
“When the player becomes stressed or fearful, the game will increase in intensity and difficulty. When the player calms himself, the game returns to its default state.” Game designer Erin Reynolds There are many different sorts of video games, and many studies on their psychological and social impacts – research that is often critical or [...]
One piece of good news is that using the Internet, particularly searching the Web, can slow our normal age-related cognitive decline. Googling is good for your brain. As Dr. Gary Small, Director of UCLA’s Memory Clinic and Center on Aging, said in an interview, “Our study ‘Your brain on Google: Patterns of cerebral activation during [...]
By Morty Lefkoe “It can’t be done” is never the truth. What people really are saying when they utter these words is: “I don’t how how to do it.” Or, “it can’t be done the way we’ve always tried in the past.” Or, “it can’t be done according to the only way I can think [...]
“Because I think visually, not being able to read meant that other parts of my brain were pushed further…” That is a comment by movie director Joe Wright about being dyslexic, from an NPR / All Things Considered show which I found thanks to the Dyslexic Advantage Facebook page of Brock Eide, MD, MA, and [...]
“It’s like having a drink. But it’s quicker. You know how your brain shuts down from pain? The pain would be so bad, it would force my body to slow down, and I wouldn’t be as anxious. It made me calm.” That is a quote by Christina Ricci from a 1998 Rolling Stone interview. Studies [...]
A research news article reports, “The amygdala is known to be involved in social anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and obsessions and compulsions, and is now being linked with separation anxiety and general anxiety.” // Excerpt from lyrics (based on Emily Dickinson) in video: Fearing – by The Amygdaloids While I was fearing it came But with [...]
By Morty Lefkoe How many times have you attended a personal growth workshop, or listened to a self-help audio course, or viewed a set of DVDs designed to change your life? Given the type of people who usually read my blog, probably most of you. And how many times did you get a high when [...]
“I think it’s true of all stammerers. They can’t stammer when they sing.” Carly Simon As a child, Carly Simon suffered from stuttering, and found that singing helped. She commented, “There’s something about the mind connecting differently to the vocal cords when you apply either rhythm or melody.” Glen Campbell, 75, recently made public the [...]
Karen Moncrieff, after working for years as an actor, became a screenwriter. In a magazine article, she notes “Writing felt so comfortable in a way that acting never really did. With writing, I was using all parts of myself, all of my skills.” She said, “I let my emotions and feelings be my guide. I [...]
The mythology of the mad artist continues in various forms, supported to some extent by research – for example, studies indicating writers are more susceptible to depression. Video from World Science Festival: ‘Genius’ Dark Cousin’ – “When talking about geniuses, the conversation inevitably strays towards topics of eccentricity, or even madness. One needs only to [...]
By Cheryl Arutt, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, specializing in creative artist issues, trauma recovery, and fertility. I am continually amazed at the work of the unconscious in the minds of creative artists. The capacity to hold many details in the conscious, wakeful mind may seem limited; the unconscious is capable of holding [...]
“I think acting has healed me.” Charlize Theron Creative expression can transform our painful reactions to traumatic situations, providing a way to give voice to difficult feelings. Charlize Theron as a teen saw her mother shoot and kill her father in self defense. She said in a 2004 interview that her work has helped her [...]
Erin Brockovich commented about the famous Hinkley, California vs PG&E lawsuit featured in the movie (starring Julia Roberts) and using her dyslexia: “I can still go through all 634 plaintiffs. I learned to do that because of my dyslexia. I had no real coping skills; I could not read and comprehend in my brain the [...]
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Site author: Douglas Eby, M.A./Psychology, is a writer and researcher on the psychology of creative expression and personal growth, especially for high ability adults. He is publisher of the Talent Development Resources series of sites.
