[Michelle]

In reference to artists who are mentally unstable...

I find this comes from being sensitive in such a way it makes one want to die in order to be relieved of the a.) incredible pain and b.) boundless joy and ecstasy that comes with it. It also stems from having to a.) be vulnerable in order to produce "art" while b.) subjecting all your exposed vulnerabilities to judgement, criticism or even simple enjoyment by others. Art is strangely private and intimate while being public and exhibitionistic. Any artist who claims to be free of understanding these paradoxes has not yet understood art.

In this day and age though, there are more possibilities for artists to help (and be) themselves.

I've been through years of psychotherapy, done reiki, trying eft, 8 years conservatory, converted my belief system to subjective reality, work day and night to release anything which might stand in the way of my singing well ... and now finally feel like I might be somewhere close to sane and creating true art.