For ethical reasons, few will reveal who has/had it. But if we closely scrutinize the personal life of those who are reputed to be moody, we might find one or two.
Reputedly moody player was Bobby Fischer - but I do not know for certain whether he had bipolar disorder or not.
Well, I don't mind revealing that I have been diagnosed as being bi-polar. I'm only a recreational player but I was drawn to chess at a very young age and alot of people have suggested that my illness could have been a reason. I don't know what any of the studies say or anything. I just love chess.
A man who was driving a car got a flat tire and stopped to put on his spare tire. He put the lug nuts in the wheel cover. A car driving by hit the cover causing him to lose his nuts. Behind a fence a voice offered advice. The fence was around a mental institution. The advice was to take one nut off each wheel and use them on the tire. Then the driver could get to a service station. The driver said, "Thanks. That was really a clever idea, especially from someone confined in a mental institution." The advisor, said, "I'm crazy, not stupid."
A person who is "crazy" can certainly play chess, but is often limited in some important way. It could be attention span, cooperation, following rules, anger, etc. The suggestion that bipolar disorder is linked to creativity requires considering all with that problem, not just those doing what is considered creative. A major snag in discussing this is the fact that many who are diagnosed with a problem are misdiagnosed or subject to a variety of diagnoses from the numerous professionals who treat them. Moody is a very unclear term to use when discussing a person's mental situation, especially when trying to pin a specific condition on a person not known in person. I knew Fischer, but cannot diagnose him. I heard everything from crazy to not nice. I know and have known individuals in chess and elswhere who have mental disorders. I cannot associate such problems with creative advantages in these people.
I think if you are creative, then whatever your advantages or disadvantages may be, you will find something creative to do with them.
A man who was driving a car got a flat tire and stopped to put on his spare tire. He put the lug nuts in the wheel cover. A car driving by hit the cover causing him to lose his nuts. Behind a fence a voice offered advice. The fence was around a mental institution. The advice was to take one nut off each wheel and use them on the tire. Then the driver could get to a service station. The driver said, "Thanks. That was really a clever idea, especially from someone confined in a mental institution." The advisor, said, "I'm crazy, not stupid."
A person who is "crazy" can certainly play chess, but is often limited in some important way. It could be attention span, cooperation, following rules, anger, etc. The suggestion that bipolar disorder is linked to creativity requires considering all with that problem, not just those doing what is considered creative. A major snag in discussing this is the fact that many who are diagnosed with a problem are misdiagnosed or subject to a variety of diagnoses from the numerous professionals who treat them. Moody is a very unclear term to use when discussing a person's mental situation, especially when trying to pin a specific condition on a person noy known in person. I knew Fischer, but cannot diagnose him. I heard everything from crazy to not nice. I know and have known individuals in chess and elswhere who have mental disorders. I cannot associate such problems with creative advantages in these people.
Best thing I've read in a long time! Thanks Lonnie, you made my day!
I agree with Greenlaser and Gonnosuke.
Now I have the question if bipolar disorder can affect negatively the performance of a chessplayer....
I guess yes, but how much??
sirfraijo, wrote,"Now I have the question if bipolar disorder can affect negatively the performance of a chessplayer.... I guess yes, but how much??" How much does how you feel during a chess game affect your result? Not to mention the effects during the time needed for study, sleep, and travel. During a game you can have a headache, be thirsty, have stomach problems, drowsiness, or any other problem. These are just internal problems. Adding external problems makes things worse, especially for those with mental or personality problems. Just having racing thought makes functioning very difficult and makes a person not even want to be seen in a public place such as an over the board tournament. Imagine having anger, panic, paranoia or any other emotional problem during a game. How much would that affect your game? Perhaps, we cannot say how much in the quantitative sense, but we can say very much. Those taking medication have the problem of side effects and additional meds for those effects which have other side effects.
Bipolar disorder is just not about "moody" (I am also moody), but "severe mood swings (going from extreme highs to extreme lows) that don't follow a set pattern" - [WebMD] and without apparent cause or underlying medical condition (like thyroid disorder), drugs or medicines, or provocative circumstances. It is a difficult diagnosis, possible only by a qualified MD. Here is a set of interesting points which might lead on to suspect (not diagnose) bipolar:
http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/nimh/bipolar_screening_test.asp
A man who was driving a car got a flat tire and stopped to put on his spare tire. He put the lug nuts in the wheel cover. A car driving by hit the cover causing him to lose his nuts. Behind a fence a voice offered advice. The fence was around a mental institution. The advice was to take one nut off each wheel and use them on the tire. Then the driver could get to a service station. The driver said, "Thanks. That was really a clever idea, especially from someone confined in a mental institution." The advisor, said, "I'm crazy, not stupid."
A person who is "crazy" can certainly play chess, but is often limited in some important way. It could be attention span, cooperation, following rules, anger, etc. The suggestion that bipolar disorder is linked to creativity requires considering all with that problem, not just those doing what is considered creative. A major snag in discussing this is the fact that many who are diagnosed with a problem are misdiagnosed or subject to a variety of diagnoses from the numerous professionals who treat them. Moody is a very unclear term to use when discussing a person's mental situation, especially when trying to pin a specific condition on a person not known in person. I knew Fischer, but cannot diagnose him. I heard everything from crazy to not nice. I know and have known individuals in chess and elswhere who have mental disorders. I cannot associate such problems with creative advantages in these people.
were they able to re-attach his nuts?
I don't know any chess player that assumed as a bipolar. I suspect some chess players, they are:
Nimzowitsch, Paul Morphy, Blackburne, Bobby Fischer, Judit Polgar, Ivanchuk, Nigel Short and Morozevich, but these are only suspects....
I'm a bipolar, and I'm looking for this theme, bipolar disorder and chess... Chess helped me a lot in controlling schizophrenia and other symptoms of bipolar disorder.
:)
Have to say GreenLaser although it might not be unequivocably true and I get the theory that racing thoughts would stop you, but being BiPolar II myself actaully they can be focused as per se a game of chess. back in the day I was the best chess player in my Primary school all year long, captainbed the chess team with one loss out of 6, came 4th in a citywide chess tournament (should have taken the draw and tied for 3rd, so maybe my bi-polar let me down there lol!), nope I could quickly work out the realms of possibke moves in reply and be 3 moves ahead even if it requires sacrifice(s) to make checkmate, I saw what ithers didn't. I represented my city.
there is a member called Polar Bear, but he never seemed to reach Bipolar Bear. but you have a point because his threads are very plonky.
Dude i have bipolar and Adhd
As a person with ADDHD , PSTD and Bi - Polar Disorder ; mainly Depressive with some manic traits , i have found it both creative and hard to pay at some levels. There are days i play great and others im a total cluts. I have not found any one who s able to train me on how to put things together so i can play without errors. My total IQ is over 140 but with issues problems im below 70.. i call my erros do to dearty glasses syndrome as opp how did i miss that.....I made it though college with honors and earned a Masters in PE - Exercise scince, inworked in the field for over 18 yrs. im now retired. were can i find a insturctor to work me. and help would be great
Has anybody here read something about the bipolar disorder and chess?
Any famous chess player with this illnes?
Alleghedly many creative artists have this disorder, and apparently is the reason for their creativity...