Creativity is Great Medicine for Us All

by Patch Adams, MD

The following is an excerpt from Patch Adam’s Foreword in the HARP title Illness and the Art of Creative Self-Expression by John Graham-Pole.

Art is an essential nutrient for human culture. Every society has used art to create a social glue, to express its faith and ideas, and to interpret the world. There have been members of communities who have made artistic expression their life’s work, while the rest of us put creative expression into our day-to-day lives for our own pleasure.

Our current economic system has disconnected art from the general public. Art now is seen as something either with a huge price tag or as a failure, without connecting it to the simple joy of creation. One hears on all sides: “I’m not an artist.” In schools, art programs are the first to be cut for budget reasons. The causes of the diminishing focus on art are several: There are few ways to judge the quality of its expression, and very, very few can make a living at it. This century of electronic wizardry, with its radio, TV, and computers, has dramatically diminished the amount of time people give to artistic expression. Manipulated consumerism has laid another blow on creativity by encouraging people to go and buy many things that they used to make for themselves.

The consequence of this social disconnection from the arts is the malaise we physicians see as so pervasive in our society. I find a frightening lack of self-esteem in our adult world. People are so unsure of themselves that you hear of workshops you can go to find your authentic self.

The amount of boredom, loneliness, and fear in our society is so massive that it seems to have become our steady state. The quantity of psychopharmaceuticals being prescribed only serves to back this up.

I started out by saying that creative expression, or art, is an essential ingredient of human culture. In fact, it is a vital part of being human. So how can we return art to our everyday life? How can we introduce artmaking to people safely and have them listen? John Graham-Pole shows us precisely how in this book. Here are the ABCs of personal reconnection to artistic expression, accompanied by that great seducer: “It’s good for your health.” John tells each and every one of us: “You are an artist and making art in any and all its forms will be good for you.” He shows without academic and scientific baggage that personal artistic expression can bring meaning to your experience of illness as well as be potent preventive medicine. I feel like I’m in the presence of a grade-school teacher introducing to his lads and lasses the enchantment of creativity—not only its product but also the absorption and magic of its creation. Get out your crayons, your kazoo, and your dancing shoes and go do.

All we are saying is: Give art a chance. John’s years around profound childhood illness and his love of the arts filter through his tender childlike nature to express themselves in this book. You just want to get down on the floor and make something. Judgment be damned: Dare to take the plunge, cast off your accustomed roles, be vulnerable, and see the world and yourself with fresh eyes.

The past century has pushed compassion, humility, mystery, and joy out of our health care system in favor of corporate medical business, where the bottom line is profit, not care, For thirty years now, the arts have tried to bring these back into the health care system—but through the back door. Deep down, everyone knows the value to their health of music, art, poetry, clowning, and dance. But our society just hasn’t made the crucial link and resolved to put these treasures into every health care setting on their own merit. Each art form has been separately developed as a “therapy” practiced by a very few specialists, with narrowly defined guidelines, because this is the language the administrators of health care speak and understand. I find it enormously limiting to regard creative self-expression as a prescribed therapy that a few specialists can bill for. I hope that those who consider using art in any of its many magical forms in their healing work will open themselves to the infinite number of ways in which it can be done. Invite artists to pass through the front doors of every health care facility to do their work of healing.

Because creativity is great medicine for all, both the creator and the one who experiences it. It prevents disease and promotes wellness. It is not an indulgence; it is fundamental to medical practice. There is no universe more boundless than that of the imagination. It gives us our wonder at the world around us, our curiosity and improvisational skills, our sense of play, and our sharing of ideas. The artist is peer to the doctor. Art uplifts, educates, brings beauty, and facilitates social change. Bringing imagination to our every endea or makes us happier and healthier. But imagination becomes flabby if not exercised. I urge you not to neglect it.

Thank you, John, for creating this book. I will hand it to both caregiver and care recipient and tell them: “Feel the wealth of possibilities for exploration. Try every exercise many times. Do them with friends. Make them fun. Turn off your TV and spend the day as a creator. You’ll like where it takes you, so make creating a part of your life.” This is not just a primer—it’s a kick in the pants.