Meet the World Changers
Isaac Newton: Bipolar Disorder and Depression
Abraham Lincoln: Depression and Anxiety Attacks
Michelangelo: Obsessive-Compulsive order
Vincent Van Gogh: Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression
5th person is currently being researched. Ideas (Renee Richards, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana)
Abraham Lincoln: Depression and Anxiety Attacks
Michelangelo: Obsessive-Compulsive order
Vincent Van Gogh: Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression
5th person is currently being researched. Ideas (Renee Richards, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana)
Isaac Newton: 1642-1727
During the 16th and 17th centuries the mentally ill were kept in communities or were personally cared for by their families. Many of the other mentally ill were left to live on the streets. In the eyes of the law at the time, the mentally ill lacked the ability for reason. The main belief about mental disorders was that the sickness was caused by supernatural or natural events. The events consist of things like a previous sickness or something like an astronomical event or the devil.
During the 16th and 17th centuries the mentally ill were kept in communities or were personally cared for by their families. Many of the other mentally ill were left to live on the streets. In the eyes of the law at the time, the mentally ill lacked the ability for reason. The main belief about mental disorders was that the sickness was caused by supernatural or natural events. The events consist of things like a previous sickness or something like an astronomical event or the devil.
Abraham Lincoln: 1809-1865
Those who were treated for mental illnesses in the 1800s did not receive the proper care that is needed. Nellie Bly decided to disguise herself as a mentally ill person to view the treatment from a patient’s point of view. According to Bly it was way too overcrowded. She also stated that the same routine and treatment was used for every mentally unstable patient, regardless of their disorder. Operating under the theory that melancholy was caused by an excess of black bile present in the body, the treatment regimen involved, among other tortures, bleeding, blistering, inducing vomiting and diarrhea, fasting, and mustard rubs and sweating followed by a cold bath.
Those who were treated for mental illnesses in the 1800s did not receive the proper care that is needed. Nellie Bly decided to disguise herself as a mentally ill person to view the treatment from a patient’s point of view. According to Bly it was way too overcrowded. She also stated that the same routine and treatment was used for every mentally unstable patient, regardless of their disorder. Operating under the theory that melancholy was caused by an excess of black bile present in the body, the treatment regimen involved, among other tortures, bleeding, blistering, inducing vomiting and diarrhea, fasting, and mustard rubs and sweating followed by a cold bath.
Michelangelo: 1475-1564
During this time period, little knowledge is known about the exact treatments. Many people believed that mental illnesses were health problems that concerned religious nature. Because of this belief, many of the mentally ill underwent exorcisms. Their was also a common understanding that mental health was attributed to psychological afflictions. Therefore, a change in environment, living conditions, and occupations was prescribed.
During this time period, little knowledge is known about the exact treatments. Many people believed that mental illnesses were health problems that concerned religious nature. Because of this belief, many of the mentally ill underwent exorcisms. Their was also a common understanding that mental health was attributed to psychological afflictions. Therefore, a change in environment, living conditions, and occupations was prescribed.
Vincent Van Gogh: 1853-1890
People who had mental illnesses at this time were admitted into institutions, that in many ways, were similar to a jail. People were not allowed to leave the facility they were put into no matter how much they wanted to. By placing people into mental hospitals, citizens were able to “ignore” them and not worry about them roaming the streets. Once you were placed in an institution, you practically disappeared from life. Patients were often times abused and isolated.
People who had mental illnesses at this time were admitted into institutions, that in many ways, were similar to a jail. People were not allowed to leave the facility they were put into no matter how much they wanted to. By placing people into mental hospitals, citizens were able to “ignore” them and not worry about them roaming the streets. Once you were placed in an institution, you practically disappeared from life. Patients were often times abused and isolated.
How did they cope/How were they treated?
Isaac Newton
When Newton was younger, he spent much of his time in solitude. He played by himself by building miniature carts, mills, and machines. If he was criticized, he would withdraw from the science community. He refused to speak or acknowledge the scientists that
criticized him. He spent many times journaling privately or writing to his only friend at Cambridge about his anxiety, depression, self-loathing, and suicidal thoughts. Newton also would list all of his wrongdoings and sins when he was having a period of anger. At his
worst moments, he would hallucinate and talk to imaginary people about his issues.
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln often wept in public and recited poetry. He told jokes and stories at odd times—he needed the laughs, he said, for his survival. As a young man he talked more than once of suicide, and as he grew older he said he saw the world as hard and grim, and full of misery. "No element of Mr. Lincoln's character," declared his colleague Henry Whitney, "was so marked, obvious and ingrained as his mysterious and profound melancholy." His law partner William Herndon said, "His melancholy dripped from him as he walked." Lincoln was able to succeed with such a heavy depression because of his support system. During his first major depressive episode, his friends and neighbors became alarmed at his frequent references to suicide and kept watch over him constantly. Lincoln managed his depression through humor, reading and writing poetry, and religious faith. Lincoln’s famed sense of humor was apparently a way he fought his depression.
Michelangelo
Michelangelo suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He would isolate himself and work on his arts for very long periods of time. He refused to ever take off his boots. He also had a very short temper and would suffer from angry outbursts towards those who offended his beliefs. Many of his works were left unfinished. This led many to believe that because of his disorder, he would not proceed with a project if he felt he could not finish it the way he imagined. Many say that Michelangelo painted while laying on his back and others stated that he stood and had to frequently lean backwards in order to paint over his head. Little is known of the toll that this took on his body or the affects of all the paint
that he would have breathed in his lungs.
Vincent Van Gogh
Dr. Gachet, Van Gogh’s physician, treated his epilepsy with digetals. This drug can cause people to see yellow. In order to counteract his mental illness, Van Gogh drank absinthe. Absinthe is a toxic alcoholic drink that many artists drank at the time. The artist also used lead based paints that led some to believe he suffered from lead poisoning from nibbling on paints. Van Gogh wrote over 800 letters to cope with his health issues. Many of his late paintings show an optimism to return to good mental health. The painting ‘Wheat field with crows’ depicted wheatfields under troubled skies that reflect his melancholy feelings of extreme loneliness. The dark sky seems to represent a feeling of overshadowing doom. It was in fact in a wheat field like this that on the 27th July 1890 Vincent Van Gogh shot himself in the chest with a revolver.
Reflection
I have a basic idea and direction of my project. I am still deciding on a 5th person but I have some great options. I have uncovered some interesting and impactful information that has fueled by enthusiasm for this project. The next post will include my 5th figure as well as more information that I find over the next couple of weeks. To find my sources and/or more information about the direction of my project click on link below. Thank you!
I have a basic idea and direction of my project. I am still deciding on a 5th person but I have some great options. I have uncovered some interesting and impactful information that has fueled by enthusiasm for this project. The next post will include my 5th figure as well as more information that I find over the next couple of weeks. To find my sources and/or more information about the direction of my project click on link below. Thank you!