I think the conversation about performers lost to mental illness needs to be more focused on the fact that society expects creativity to be fulfilling in all areas of life.

Creating great art doesn& #39;t fulfill the need of feeling like you belong. Forming intimate relationships.

The idea that doing what you love will make you happy across the board is false. Many of us have used performance and creation to try to fill those voids but it just leads to more sadness-more alienation from the world around us. We never learn how to find happiness in reality.

Your own work can only be a reason to keep going for so long. Suffering for art can only go so far before you feel like you& #39;re just living to please other people while you& #39;re isolated and struggling. Admiration and support can& #39;t replace the need for real human connection.

And, if you& #39;re like me. One day you& #39;re gonna look up and realize how much of what makes life worth living was missed out on because you thought that you& #39;d be happier trying to be a star than coming down to earth with everyone else.

Charisma isn& #39;t a replacement for social skills. Being liked isn& #39;t the same as being cared about. Don& #39;t throw away what matters for short term validation.