The term "mad as a hatter" will forever be linked to the madcap milliner in Lewis Carroll's classic children's book, Alice in Wonderland. But few actually know that the true origin of the saying relates to a disease peculiar to the hat making industry in the 1800s. A mercury solution was commonly used during the process of turning fur into felt, which caused the hatters to breathe in the fumes of this highly toxic metal, a situation exacerbated by the poor ventilation in most of the workshops. This led in turn to an accumulation of mercury in the workers' bodies, resulting in symptoms such as trembling (known as "hatters' shakes"), loss of coordination, slurred speech, loosening of teeth, memory loss, depression, irritability and anxiety -- "The Mad Hatter Syndrome." The phrase is still used today to describe the effects of mercury poisoning, albeit from other sources
B12 and mental health Many symptoms of B12 deficiency are debilitating but I have been stunned by the incredible lack of knowledge of this condition within the mental health community. Sadly our health professionals are simply not taught enough, or at all, about the impact low B12 can have on mental health. Depression can be one of the first presenting symptoms of this condition. Many health care professionals would be shocked to learn that B12 deficiency can also cause psychosis. The Neuropsychiatric symptoms of B12 deficiency can precede the development of anaemia . Having a diagnosis of bipolar or Alzheimer's means that patients may be firmly pigeon-holed and very rarely assessed again. B12 deficiency is commonly misdiagnosed as various mental and physical health conditions due to the lack of education on this subject.
The idea of the mad artist seems to be supported to some extent by research, as well as the experiences of mental health challenges for many creative people. The terms I chose for the title – mad and crazy – have been used for much of human history to “explain” creative people, or to discount, disparage and dismiss those who are psychologically different. Not that we may not suffer from very real emotional and mental health issues, but what do psychologists and researchers say about how these issues can relate to creative thinking? A related term is “neurotic” – which cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman addresses in an article, along with many other topics: “While neuroticism has been associated with a host of negative outcomes (including imposter syndrome, stress, anxiety, impulsivity, depression, and impaired physical health) and even some positive outcomes (such as threat detection and increased vigilance), creative thinking doesn’t appear ...
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