Obsessions is poetry, and claustrophobia are the letters that are obsessive-compulsive to the outline of the words that come together to format a meaning; I’m a neurotic poet?
Neurotic is defined as a person suffering from neurosis; for example:
mental case, psychoneurotic
claustrophobe – a person suffering from claustrophobia
hysteric – a person suffering from hysteria
obsessive – a person who has obsessions
obsessive-compulsive – a person with obsessive-compulsive characteristics
psychopath, sociopath – someone with a sociopathic personality; a person with an antisocial personality disorder (`psychopath’ was once widely used but has now been superseded by `sociopath’)
diseased person, sick person, sufferer – a person suffering from an illness
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/neurotic)
Although, I have none of the above^^^^ symptoms of this psychological illness…. I can’t help to wonder why so many poets who suffered from it, was by all means the most beautiful poets.
Here are a few, to mention:
Sylvia Plath
(1932 – 1963)
“If neurotic wants two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I’m neurotic as hell. I’ll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days. ”
Read more: http://www.neuroticpoets.com/plath/
Dylan Marlais Thomas
(1914 – 1953)
“Whatever talents I possess may suddenly diminish or suddenly increase. I can with ease become an ordinary fool. I may be one now. But it doesn’t do to upset one’s own vanity. “
Read more: http://neuroticpoets.com/thomas/
Oscar Wilde
(1854 – 1900
“I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.”
Read more: http://www.neuroticpoets.com/wilde/
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
(1830 – 1886)
“If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves. You can gain more control over your life by paying closer attention to the little things.”
Read more: http://www.neuroticpoets.com/dickinson/
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
(1828 – 1882)
“I have been here before. / But when or how I cannot tell: / I know the grass beyond the door, / The sweet keen smell, / The sighing sound, the lights around the shore.”
Read more: http://www.neuroticpoets.com/rossetti/
The Poetic Foodie 
I think most poets and writter suffer from the issues, because we think too much…sometimes we think to much on things that don’t even matter.
IDK…I know I got through my own issues…
I hold these quotes form these artists to be truth in a pure and raw form. I have often stated that I am “perfectly Imperfect.” the ilttle mundane tthings in life do bring joy but as 2 sides of a coin one can interpret the 2 side as good or bad. I always say take the high road. Optimism is always a freind but if you let the Pesimistic road can always bring you down….lifs can suck so always have you vacuum ready.
Wow, you just described my greatest weaknesses. I loves it 🙂
Okay 2nd try and spelling corrected
I hold these quotes from these artists to be true in teir purest and rawest form. I have often stated that I am ******“perfectly Imperfect.”******* the ilttle mundane tthings in life do bring joy but as the 2 sides of a coin, one can chose to interpret the either side as good or bad. I always say, “take the high road.” Optimism is always a freind but if you let the Pesimistic Road take you it can always bring you down….life can sucks so always have your vacuum ready. When all else fails…use a broom to sweep up the mess and start anew.
This is a great piece to share. A reminder that we do not struggle on baring our minds for nothing. Even if not in this life, there is purpose to the pages we write as the greats mentioned above testify to.
Thinking too much… yes… it’s possible…but sometimes not thinking at all is so much worse… better in my world to think too much… and am so grateful to have such brilliant company in my poetic “overthinking” journey… keeping the writing “it out of my head” deal with myself lol
@sd21 We all have issues or we wouldn’t be human, we’d be perfect winged angels flying cloudless skies. Instead, we are here, thinking too much and writing together. Even if we think too much on things that don’t even matter, they matter to us. Glad to be here with you.
I think just from the way you’ve described yourself in your “Profile” section..you have a follower..
..Powerful
(‘.’)
(‘,’)
thank you for becoming a follower, I’ve done the same.
I must say though, just reading your avatar bio distracts me into planning another date with my husband!
Romance, poetry, and MLK…can’t wait for a longer minute to read more. Great combo.
thanks again for reading. ~ Kate
Thank you! ;)Yes mental illness could also be confused with a brilliant mind that seems destruct… Kind of like a rose in the winter, it is still beautiful out of bloom.
ok, ok…couldn’t leave this interesting page, and glad of it.
I like how you don’t completely answer your own questions.
I have mixed feelings about how important it is to figure out what is mental illness, and what is creativity. Both require treatment, and are a tricky/beautiful mix.
YK?
Love the Dickenson quote!
dylan thomas is one of my favs of the old poets…his villanelle “do not go gentle into that good night” is in my humble opinion one of the best ever written…also enjoyed the plath quote… and sometimes i think it’s a thin line that divides brilliance from madness
I agree! Thanks!
Up to a point, I’d say that one many’s weird is another man’s normal, and that mental illness of any sort (treatable kinds or not) can coexist with artistry but is neither required for it nor does it preclude it. But to be fair, I’d say that about any other part of life, too: mental illness, despite the negative-and-unusual implications of its name, is a pretty common factor in human lives and doesn’t always *have* to determine who we are any more than our height or what language we speak or whether we’re blind or sighted does. A good, thought-provoking post!
Kathryn
A post in which we can reflect (to some extent) of ourselves – such is the poetic mind.
I agree. Th greats have always been a bit troubled, a spot off. I can only hope that my own neurotic behavior and inner demons will bless me with the right mix of crazy that leads to poetic nirvana (and seemingly some kind of tragic suicide, but I’d really rather skip that part for now, personally).
So interesting and inspiring! Thanks much. I have a trouble with displaying too much neurosis because I am an attorney in my day job! People are not so interested in neurotic attorneys–you make me think I should set up a secret, anonymous, blog! K.
Thanks for following me. It made me ponder more about myself as an artist while reading your page about neurotic psychopath poets. You described it well and now I am following you, too.
Don’t be fooled. The Spirit that is talking thru you tells the truth and is disguised as neurosis. The heart speaks, the mind seldom listens. Your poetry is a transformation of soul. Enjoy the journey.
I think its what makes us poets! This special trademark that gives us talent! As long as it is within the healthy limits I think it is a blessing! Love the information in this post, I just learned a new information, for that thank you!
Hey there Nelvin,
Just wanted to take a moment to tell you I am pleased you are following honiebriggs.com. I will try to give you something to smile about with each post. I enjoyed touring around your site and will back often to check out what’s new. Happy Friday the 13th.
What a cool site…..thanks for dropping by…I’m going to follow you because you have a lot of different stuff that is educational as well as entertaining and thoughtful and inspiring. Did I leave anything out? lol
Oh, yeah….I like your name, Nelvinray again, thanks.
tom
As a rule I think “normal” is overrated and in my opinion – at least for me – nonexistent. 🙂 I much prefer the infamy, self-distruction, imbalance and chaos that usually accompany writers and artists who are dedicated to honing their craft. 🙂
Thank you for this post and your follow. It’s a pleasure to meet you 🙂
Terrific piece! 🙂 Enjoyed it very much!
Nice blog! Poetry is really a form of spiritual evolution. The souls of deep poets are unleashed while others may still live in captivity.
It’s a question of realizing that the universe is always changing but also ‘crystallizes’ in many moments — when we realize the poetry of the world — we are expressing. Awe at everything — from our own being through the levels of the world around us. Each poem is another step towards the re-unification of the ‘dream’ worlds and the world of ordinary ‘reality’. The power of sacred poetry can be intoxicating.
I love every one of these poets, especially Plath. What a mess she was. Not sure who’s a non-neurotic poet. Joyce Kilmer?
The creative mind is cognizant of itself. It is no wonder writers are considered neurotic. Small minds talk of others. Great minds speak (and write) of grand ideas.
Red.
I wonder which category i fit into, my writings are random and hardly ever a consistent type. Thank you for following my blog 🙂
thanks for this. great writers/poets and I enjoyed reading their quotes – cool to see their pics all in one place as well.
thank you for subscribing, I am grateful that it brought me to your amazing and thought provoking site! I am going to follow you with delight! I love what you have presented. It strikes a true chord. For many, the passion and emergence of the creative process in whatever arm form is urgently prompted by inner stirring of heart, mind, psyche, or soul that cannot be contained in the personal self alone. They wind, churn and are not stilled until they birth into some life of form that finds even the most humble expression, then aching for refinement, greater and greater reflection of its source. I love the quote from Emily Dickinson. Even a poem starts with a simple impulse that desires to cause one word or two, not an entire poem, not even the first three lines.
Linda
One persons insanity is another’s sanity.
My spells of insanity bring out a more creative side.
‘Embrace the madness’.. 🙂
Great post!
Emily Dickinson is one of my ‘fave’ poets.
Thank you for subscribing to my blog. I’m looking forward to navigating yours. It looks so interesting.
Thank you for checking out my blog 🙂 Your blog definitely looks like something that I will enjoy exploring.
Erik Satie, the French composer, suffered from this. He dressed in a black jacket, black pants, and carried a black umbrella wherever he went, his entire life. A story goes that he asked a friend to hold the umbrella while he tied his shoe, and the friend broke the umbrella by accident. Satie never spoke to his friend again.
When he passed away and they went over his estate, they found an entire closet full of black jackets, black pants, and black umbrellas. Maybe twenty copies of the same outfit. No other clothing.
Check out his music. Poetry in motion.
Love this post Nelvin. Thanks for checking out my blog
brilliant post you’re right on this, interesting…
Very inspiring stuff – gives hope to the rest of us mortals.
Cheers!
Reblogged this on Astha-The Frozen Vividity.
Love this
Interesting quotes. Now that, thankfully, there is at least a bit less stigma about mental illness, as writers nowadays, we are lucky that we can hyperfocus without worry that we will be locked up or shunned. And how lucky that medicine and treatment exist for those of us that rely on both! thanks for the reminder that if I don’t follow my good routines, hyper focus would be obession indeed. Makes me want to carve out more time to write. ~ Kate
Great post! And thanks for the link ,