The healing power of art Why is there the misconception that artists are a little bit “crazy”? Does an "artistic temperament" mean that creative people operate under mental differences from the norm? And why is art often used as therapy for mental illnesses? Anyone who enjoys looking at art, or who finds comfort in artmaking while living in our high-tech, high-stress era, will be intrigued by this look at 20 historical and contemporary artists whose work reflects the mental wellness issues each one has lived with. In engaging, relatable ways, explore the existing research and theories about the relationship between mental health and creativity. Topics include why substance abuse is found at high rates among artists, how we can accurately learn about the mental health of artists from the past who were diagnosed with now-obsolete terms like "melancholia," and in cases where a formal diagnosis was lacking how are are artists posthumously “diagnosed” by modern-day professionals.  The artists discussed in the main chapters and sidebars reflect a wide range of mental health topics, including anxiety and depression, bipolar conditions, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, and PTSD, among others.