Creative Mind Audio

"The differences between the brains of highly effective creative achievers and the brains of the rest of us are far less important than the commonalities."

Shelley Carson continues in her book Your Creative Brain:

"There are certainly genetic differences that influence creativity, and of course, there will always be people who are more creative than others. However, through the study of highly creative brains, we’ve found that all of us have creative brains. We are all—barring serious brain injury—equipped with basically the same brain structures."

Shelley Carson earned her Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University, where she continues to teach and conduct research on creativity, psychopathology, and resilience.

Topics in our audio interview related to the creative mind include:

* the seven brain activation patterns she discusses in her book

* the relation of creativity with ADHD

* flexibility in thought

* mood states like anxiety and fear.

Responding to a question of mine about highly sensitive people, she says that usually she emphasizes the value of taking in more ideas and information to fuel creativity – but people who are already taking in too much information may need to cut down on their input, to “allow them to move forward in the creative process.”

Her book: Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life - [Amazon] … [Bookshop]

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ADHD and creative thinking

From our interview: (me:) You've talked about both creative and ADHD people sharing some cognitive behaviors, such as distractibility, inattentiveness, and novelty-seeking. How can those traits be positive for creative work?

Author Sarah Fay recalls: "I received six diagnoses and my first one came when I was was 12 and a lot of [my memoir] Pathological is about that.

"I think this is is something we're seeing now with young people on TikTok and Instagram - self-diagnosing but also receiving diagnoses.

"My experience taught me to associate emotions like anxiety with pathologies and diagnoses like Generalized Anxiety Disorder."

She adds, "And no one explained to me that even with a diagnosis it doesn't go away.

“And so much of my life was spent hoping that the next diagnosis was going to be the explanation, was going to be the reason, and that it would make my life easier in some ways..."

This audio is an excerpt from her video conversation "Creativity, Mental Health, and Recovery" at the Anxiety Super Conference - free Replay Weekend (50+ expert speakers) Sept 28-30 (2024), and recording packages available.

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Continued below with links to her book Pathological and to her Substack site, an excerpt from her book Cured: The Memoir, video excerpt from her conversation at the Anxiety Super Conference, and more.

“We’re the general contractors of our health, and there’s so many micro-changes we can make towards flourishing.” - Donna Jackson Nakazawa 

This audio is a brief excerpt of her interview video at the Reset Super Conference titled Trauma and immune responses in the brain.

The Conference site summarizes some main points, and gives a profile:

* How chronic stress impacts our immune system

* The tie between the brain’s immune system responses and mental health

* Science-based practices to reprogram the brain

“Journalist and author Donna Jackson Nakazawa describes how chronic stressors can activate immune responses in the brain and cause anxiety, depression and even Alzheimer’s.

“Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, author of six books, and an internationally-recognized speaker whose work explores the intersection of neuroscience, immunology, and human emotion.

“Her book "The Angel and the Assassin: The Tiny Brain Cell That Changed the Course of Medicine" was named one of the best books of 2020 by Wired magazine. Her other books include Childhood Disrupted and The Last Best Cure.”

Learn about multiple programs by Donna Jackson Nakazawa, including “Your Healing Narrative: Write-to-Heal With Neural Re-Narrating™” and “Breaking Free From Trauma.”

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"Studies over the past 30 years show there is a greater likelihood of autoimmune disorders, mental health concerns, depression, anxiety, bipolar, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and heart disease.

"There is almost not an illness, or medical concern, or mental health concern that is not tied to a history of Adverse Childhood Experiences."

Video is an excerpt from her interview "Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences" at the Anxiety Super Conference Sept 2024.~~~~

One of her books is Childhood Disrupted [Bookshop.org] [Amazon]

Nakazawa writes:

“This book explores how the experiences of childhood shape us into the adults we become.

Cutting-edge research tells us that what doesn’t kill you doesn’t necessarily make you stronger.

Far more often, the opposite is true: the early chronic unpredictable stressors, losses, and adversities we face as children shape our biology in ways that predetermine our adult health.

This early biological blueprint depicts our proclivity to develop life-altering adult illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, and depression.

It also lays the groundwork for how we relate to others, how successful our love relationships will be, and how well we will nurture and raise our own children.

My own investigation into the relationship between childhood adversity and adult physical health began after I’d spent more than a dozen years struggling to manage several life-limiting autoimmune illnesses while raising young children and working as a journalist.

In my forties, I was paralyzed twice with an autoimmune disease known as Guillain-Barré syndrome, similar to multiple sclerosis, but with a more sudden onset.

I had muscle weakness; pervasive numbness; a pacemaker for vasovagal syncope, a fainting and seizing disorder; white and red blood cell counts so low my doctor suspected a problem was brewing in my bone marrow; and thyroid disease.

Still I knew: I was fortunate to be alive, and I was determined to live the fullest life possible.

If the muscles in my hands didn’t cooperate, I clasped an oversized pencil in my fist to write.

If I couldn’t get up the stairs because my legs resisted, I sat down halfway up and rested.

I gutted through days battling flulike fatigue—pushing away fears about what might happen to my body next; faking it through work phone calls while lying prone on the floor; reserving what energy I had for moments with my children, husband, and family life; pretending that our “normal” was really okay by me.

It had to be—there was no alternative in sight.”

…

See related article How Trauma and stress impact our immune system and mental health.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES): "That dysfunction can give us the message that I am not okay."

Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist and speaker. This audio and video are from her interview for the 2024 Anxiety Super Conference, titled: "Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences."

She comments about some early experiences so many of us have:

"Because of that household dysfunction, our brains do a couple of really significant things: they begin to give us the message that we're not okay.

"Our little brains are so active and so busy trying to help us, but instead of saying 'My situation is not okay' - our developing brain doesn't have the wherewithal to do that - instead we go, 'I am not okay in who I am, in my body, in my being - I'm wrong, I'm terribly terribly wrong.'

"And that begins to shift the action of our nervous system, and our self-beliefs and how we see ourselves, and how we respond to ourselves in adversity for the rest of our lives."

Here is a video excerpt from her presentation at the Conference:

⏩ Learn about multiple programs by Donna Jackson Nakazawa on her site, including "Your Healing Narrative: Write-to-Heal With Neural Re-Narrating" and "Breaking Free From Trauma."

Her book: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Guided Journal by Donna Jackson Nakazawa [Amazon] [Bookshop]

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[Photo at top - detail from: Girl holding bear by Annie Spratt on unsplash.]

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Related podcast episodes

Healthy relationships and attachment styles with Aimie Apigian, MD

How attachment styles and trauma impact our relationships - with Dr Diane Poole Heller

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"Many people in my practice are actors and performers and people who have a platform.”

Dr. Cheryl Arutt is a trauma-informed Clinical & Forensic Psychologist, Certified EMDR therapist, and specializes in trauma recovery and creative artist issues.

She finds, “A lot of times people will think that when they achieve a certain level of success, they'll feel like, Now I'll feel whole, I'll feel okay, I can relax. And what ends up happening instead is, Why am I still me? …

“And what I found in my practice with all these years is that people just keep kind of moving the goalposts and they'll achieve it.

“They'll get that great job, or the relationship or, you know, they want to have a baby. Then they have a baby, then they're stressed about the things that have to do with the baby. I refer to them as feeling states driving around looking for a place to park.”

Her site: drcherylarutt.com

This audio is an excerpt from Ep 103 - How Trauma Drives Anxiety and How to Heal With Dr. Cheryl Arutt from the More Than Anxiety Podcast by Megan Devito.

From the Show Notes by Megan Devito:

"In this episode, Dr. Cheryl Arutt joins me to discuss the deep connection between anxiety and unresolved trauma. She shares insights into how past experiences can manifest as ongoing anxiety, creating a cycle of stress and avoidance.

Dr. Arutt challenges the belief that simply managing anxiety is enough, emphasizing the importance of understanding the body's role in this struggle and sharing hope through EMDR for a life that isn't consumed by constant anxiety and vigilance.

A key focus of the episode is on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy.

Dr. Arutt explains how this therapeutic approach can help rewire the brain, allowing individuals to process traumatic memories and break free from the grip of anxiety without the need for traditional methods like exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)."

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The photo is actor Paula Patton, who once commented, “You have to do the things you’re meant to do. Sometimes the thing you’re most afraid of is the thing you’re meant to do. Fear is a liar.”

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Trauma and anxiety and getting dysregulated

Comments by Cheryl Arutt (from the More Than Anxiety Podcast transcript):

"Multiple experiences of abuse or neglect or developmental trauma people who were in a lot of situations where they didn't have a lot of power and they couldn't get out of the situation they were in...

are more likely to develop these shutdown and dissociative kinds of, I'll check out and just not be in my body and not be present ways of surviving rather than you know I'm going to rev up...

And those are really important too, because then there's nobody home to heal in the body, and that becomes a go-to whenever something seems from 50 paces like, oh, this might be really not a good thing, I'm out of here before, I'm not sticking around to find out what it is basically.

So you know, even people who have this very high-functioning presentation and can be really go-getters and can be achievers and they may excel at a sport or they may excel, you know, in other things, can also talk about periods where, like, I don't know how I got from a to b, or I'm not in my body or I'm not home...

and understanding that as another very common way that the nervous system tries to protect us and keep us going, but then it can grow into a problem in and of itself too.

That's part of the, if we look 360 degrees at how we react. So to get back to the question of how do we do that response flexibility and how do we do the choosing the best option...

The problem is that if you're out of that window, whether it's above it or below it, it's very hard to generate those kinds of things, because the part of our brains that we need for that is very often offline."

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Photo of Paula Patton is also used in my Substack post Building A Satisfying Life in the Arts.

Related posts, podcast episodes, videos:

How to feel safe in stress and trauma healing, and the Cell Danger Response

Highly sensitive people can be more prone to stress and trauma

Strategies to Reduce Anxiety for Highly Sensitive People

How trauma impacts our lives - Understanding the basics with therapist Britt Frank

See videos in Playlist: Emotional Health

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"Sensitive people are more prone to stress because we are picking up so much more information from the internal and external environment."

Dr. Natasha Fallahi, a mind-body health expert, functional medicine practitioner, known as “The Sensitive Doctor,” says trauma arises from overwhelm in situations when we can’t fully process and integrate our experiences.

Publisher The Shift Network writes about a previous course of hers:

"Dr. Natasha explains that trauma is essentially an experience of overwhelm that occurs anytime you’re unable to process and integrate something — then, in a maddening twist, this same trauma opens you up to absorbing more energetic information, adding to your overwhelm.

"When you can’t return to your homeostatic baseline where you feel like your true self, your mind, body, and spirit can get stuck in a liminal state of distress...

"Thankfully, there is a way to step off this treadmill and learn how to maintain an energetic balance for your uniquely sensitive system. The principles of psychoneuroimmunology hold the answer, says Dr. Natasha."

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Related:

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Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a psychotherapist and author specializing in helping highly sensitive and neurodivergent people.

» One of her free webinars is Sensory Overload & Sensitivity.

The information page notes:

"Sensory Overload tends to be one of our biggest challenges. It is when our senses take in more information than our brain can keep up with processing.

"You might be surprised that it is often the culprit of symptoms of emotional reactivity, anxiety, irritability, sleep issues, exhaustion, and even loss of productivity, creativity, and focus.

“What makes it extra hard is that the world isn’t set up for those of us with high sensitivity."

» Also hear related podcast episode:

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"Both groups of people tend to get overwhelmed by environmental stimuli."

Jules De Vitto adds in a post that although both highly sensitive people (HSPs) and those with autism "may have sensory processing challenges, there are some key differences between the two conditions."

In this brief excerpt from her related podcast episode, she speaks with Robert Siegers, exploring this topic of High Sensitivity compared with Autism.

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Transpersonal Coach and Trainer for HSPs Jules De Vitto, MAEd, MSc, comments in her article "Is The Highly Sensitive Person the same as Autism Spectrum Disorder?":

"Autism is characterized by a range of symptoms, including difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory processing challenges.

"Some individuals with autism may have heightened sensitivity to certain sensory stimuli, while others may have a diminished sensitivity or a lack of response to certain sensory inputs."

"Although there may be some similarities between the sensory processing challenges experienced by highly sensitive individuals [HSPs] and those with autism, there are some key differences between the two conditions.

"For example, individuals with autism may have difficulty with social communication and interaction, while highly sensitive people do not necessarily have these challenges.

"Additionally, individuals with autism may display repetitive behaviors and may struggle with changes to routine, which is not a hallmark of sensory processing sensitivity."

The confusion between HSP and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), she writes, "lies in the fact that both groups of people tend to get overwhelmed by environmental stimuli.

"Those with autism may panic, act out or shut down in response to overwhelming situations, and some highly sensitive children can do the same thing when they get overstimulated."

But, she finds, "despite this overlap, ASD and HSP can be distinguished from each other based on the research that highlights their distinct differences.

“These differences have been largely supported by a study, led by Dr. Bianca Acevedo of the Neuroscience Research Institute of the University of California which analyzed 27 papers comparing high sensitivity, autism, and other conditions."

This Creative Mind Audio is an excerpt from her Highly Sensitive Humans Podcast.

She summarizes, "In today's episode, I speak with Robert Siegers exploring the "similarities, differences and overlapping traits with the purpose of opening up a dialogue around this important topic.

"We also explore the purpose and potential limitations of using labels and diagnosis. We discuss the importance of understanding neurodiversity with the intention and goal of delving into the lived experience of being highly sensitive and how it may overlap or intertwine with other diagnoses - ultimately, respecting and honouring the diversity of our human experience."

She notes that Robert is "a highly sensitive person and entrepreneur from Germany. He is the host of the Understandable podcast. On his channel, he talks about mental health topics such as high sensitivity and other neurodivergent conditions."

» Hear the full Season 2 Episode3: "Is the Highly Sensitive Person the same as Autism Spectrum" in the Podcast section of the HSH Website - see link to the website at Highly Sensitive Human Academy – "A central hub providing an abundance of resources and accredited courses for Highly Sensitive People all over the world."

Also se her full article "Is The Highly Sensitive Person the same as Autism Spectrum Disorder?" in the HSH Website.

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» Related Creative Mind Audio podcast episode: Thriving as a highly sensitive person, or autistic, or both - especially as a woman.

From my episode Notes:

Therapist and author Julie Bjelland, LMFT comments about her podcast Episode 189: Highly Sensitive, Autistic, or both? Understanding the Differences. See page on her site for the HSP and Neurodivergent Podcast.

"I discuss the differences that set autism apart from high sensitivity, particularly in women. I highlight the outdated diagnostic criteria for autism and the misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis in many women.

"We'll explore the unique characteristics of autistic women, such as the challenges of masking, the need for solitude, and the intense sensitivity across multiple senses. I also emphasize the importance of self-compassion and acceptance for autistic individuals and the need for a neurodiverse society."

Understanding Autism in Women - An Online Guide - Author Julie Bjelland, LMFT, summarizes: "This guide is important for individuals and practitioners and contains the most recent research and information we know about autism in adult women. Many sensitive women are discovering that they are also autistic because past diagnostic criteria has been inaccurate."

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“I always felt awkward and shy.” Steven Spielberg

“I wouldn’t say I have much of an outgoing personality." Idris Elba

“I’m very sensitive in real life.” Jessica Chastain

This is an audio version of one of my articles on Medium, with comments by artists, psychologists and others about high sensitivity, as well as introversion and shyness.

These are separate experiences that share some qualities, and can overlap and interact for many of us.

Actor Idris Elba commented in an interview: "I’m pretty shy. It’s interesting how people describe me because I’m not Mr Life of the Party...people get disappointed when they meet me because they expect me to be really confident and exciting and I’m like, ‘nah I’m going home now.’”

And Jessica Chastain has said:

“I’m very sensitive in real life. I cannot not cry if someone around me is crying…even if it’s not appropriate.”

This tendency to react empathetically and more emotionally, such as more easily crying or being tearful, is among the qualities of highly sensitive people found by psychologist Elaine Aron and other researchers.

See more below, including link to the main article with videos, related articles and resources.

...

"It is hard to change that feeling flawed piece...it's so seeped into your bones because it's your inner child. It's stuff that you learned with a child's brain."

⏩ From Episode 195 Feeling Flawed of the HSP and Neurodivergent Podcast.

From the original Show Notes:

"In this conversation, Julie Bjelland and Willow McIntosh discuss the importance of accepting and embracing sensitivity and neurodivergence.

“They share personal experiences and highlight the need to normalize and celebrate these traits.

"They also emphasize the impact of feeling flawed and the power of self-compassion and self-acceptance.

“The conversation explores the connection between nature and well-being and the role of sensitive individuals in bringing balance to the world."

» Follow link above to Julie's site to find this episode 195 and page with Resources & Links including:

* One-on-one Coaching and Consultations with Julie

* Feel safe to be yourself in the world. LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC safe. Join Julie’s private, nurturing community: Sensitive Empowerment Community

* Free Autism Quiz Helping to Identify Women

* Autism Assessments for Women in California with Julie

Also see

⏩ Courses for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent

⏩ Understanding Autism in Women - An Online Guide by Julie Bjelland, LMFT

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From the video version of the podcast:

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» From original transcript:"Think about two children...one of them is getting the message that they're flawed in life and that they need to change who they are. "The other one is celebrated for who they are. They're honored, they're accepted, they're embraced. How do we think they're going to enter into the world, experience the world? "It's going to be completely different because that feeling of being flawed is like a thousand pound weight on top of you, everything that you do. It affects literally everything that you do. It prevents you from your light shining bright. "And then there are some kids who are raised with parents who are very supportive, with caretakers, with people around them. They're very supportive of their uniqueness. And those kids are so remarkable. They don't have that feeling flawed holding them back. "And I just imagine if you had that message, if I had that message that we didn't have to carry that weight. It is hard to change that feeling flawed piece. It's hard. It's like so seeped into your bones because it's your inner child. It's stuff that you learned with a child's brain."

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book: The Adventures of Niko the Highly Sensitive Dog: The Magical Portal by Julie Bjelland, LMFT (Author), Carol Huckle (Author), Barbara Dessi (Illustrator).

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Image at top is from book: Neurodivergent - Embracing Neurodiversity: Socially Acceptable Stimming Techniques for Autistic Individuals by Rick Canady

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Related Creative Mind podcast episodes

» Elizabeth Gilbert on Self Acceptance

» How self-acceptance is a foundation for a healthy and creative life

» Self Esteem and Creative People with Marisa Peer

▶️ Enjoy more episodes of The Creative Mind Audio Podcast

▶️ See more videos in Playlist: Neurodivergent & 2E

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Do you enjoy and benefit from my posts, podcast episodes, videos and more?

As a writer and content entrepreneur, I love researching, creating and publishing material here, and on other Creative Mind Sites, that can help creative people learn more and thrive more.

But creating and publishing is only free in some ways.

Consider supporting my work with a donation.

One key tool is my desktop computer. (The image is for illustration, it is not mine and that is not me.) Your donation would help pay for a recent upgrade to a newer (still old, from 2017, but refurbished) iMac, which enables my ongoing work.

Other costs include hosting fees (over $120/mo) of my 7 personal sites (I don’t like and don’t use ads on the sites), and other expenses including a podcast platform, video editor, and digital production apps.

Thanks for considering a donation to help. Much appreciated. Douglas

* GoFundMe

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» From the podcast:

Cathleen King, DPT: “Sometimes those of us who are creatives, we have this greediness with ideas…we're indulging our ideas all the time. That is another form of nervous system dysregulation when you can't shut off your idea switch and just be in the present moment.”

Willow McIntosh. "Depth of processing is one of the abilities that we have, and that's something that can serve us and it can also turn against us or we can turn it in on ourselves."

» Related quotes:

"The thoughts are unstoppable - but so is the music. It comes to me constantly." Lady Gaga

“…something in there is running all the time.” Stephen King

…

Most of this Creative Mind Audio is a brief excerpt from interview with Cathleen King and two functional medicine doctors for their Health Babes Podcast.

The last few minutes are comments by Willow McIntosh about working with a busy creative mind as a highly sensitive person.

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Cathleen King, DPT, a doctor of physical therapy, teaches neuroscience principles, and is a mind-body practitioner.

See her resources below.

Health Babes Podcast #138 Somatic Healing & Nervous System Recovery with Dr. Cathleen King, hosted by Dr. Becky Campbell and Dr. Krystal Hohn.

What is nervous system dysregulation?

Cathleen King writes:

"Ever feel like your body and mind are constantly on edge, even when there’s no clear reason?

“Maybe you find yourself tense, restless, or easily overwhelmed, or perhaps you’re dealing with physical symptoms that seem tied to stress, but you can’t quite figure out the cause.

"It could be that your nervous system is sending out signals that it’s out of balance or what experts often call a dysregulated nervous system.

"A dysregulated nervous system can turn routine experiences into sources of stress. The things you used to handle easily may feel intimidating or exhausting, and tasks that once brought joy might feel overwhelming.

"This state can leave you feeling anxious and jumpy like you’re always bracing yourself for something—even if nothing specific is wrong."

From her article Understanding A Dysregulated Nervous System: The Symptoms and Signs.

» Also see related posts wit Dr Cathleen King:

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Resources from Cathleen King:

📖 Free ebook: How Healing Happens - a 127 page guide on "brain retraining and nervous system somatic healing."

Primal Trust Membership & Community - "Learn to consciously self-regulate your biology and heal."

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A Racing Mind

Many of us as creative people have intense physical, sensual, creative, intellectual and emotional energy that can drive our work, but may also lead to intrusive thinking.

Lady Gaga once commented about one of the common experiences of many artists: a racing mind.

She talked in an interview about using prescription medicine because “I can’t control my thoughts at all. I’m tortured.

“But I like that. Lorca says it’s good to be tortured.

“The thoughts are unstoppable – but so is the music. It comes to me constantly.”

From my post How to Manage Our Energy, Negative Thoughts, and Overprocessing as HSPs.

Musician and actor Lady Gaga has been open about her struggles with mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following her rape at age 19, depression, anxiety, and more.

She has talked about using prescription medicine because “I can’t control my thoughts at all."

She has also said “A lot of people are afraid of medicine for their brains to help them. I really want to erase the stigma around this.”

In a 2020 interview with Oprah, she said medication "does not affect my creative process. I don't take anything that does."

[But she has also talked about smoking, using cocaine, alcohol and other drugs which can and do affect our creative minds.]

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Depth of processing

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance with programs for people with High Sensory Intelligence.

In this Creative Mind Audio, he comments that "Depth of processing is one of the abilities that we have [as a highly sensitive person], and that's something that can serve us and can also turn against us.

“We can turn it in on ourselves if we allow our thoughts and our minds to overprocess, and if we fall into self judgement and criticism, especially when our energy gets low...

“One of the reasons I'm passionate about this is because I have a really creative mind - my mind is incredibly busy."

His audio comments are from Highly Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast Episode 150: How To Manage Low Energy, Negative Thoughts, and Overprocessing.

Hear longer excerpt in post:

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Photo: Stephen King and his dog Marlowe, by Jill Krementz in her book The Writer’s Desk. It is also used for King’s own book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

King has said:

“I’ve taken off two months, three months at a time, and, by the end, I get really squirrelly.

“My night life, my dream life, gets extremely populated and crazed.

“It’s as though something in there is running all the time.”

Quoted in multiple articles of mine, including Developing Creativity: Excitabilities – Our Teeming Brains.

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See more Substack posts and podcast episodes on emotional/mental health.

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