Under the Influence

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dr. Alexander Tarr has sparked a very interesting conversation!

Dr. Tarr : The Black Cat. one of my personal faves. A particularly Horrific story telling of the struggles so many face by the over consumption of Alcohol. As we know.Poe, drank.and it is speculated,taken Drug's. such as the most popular of the age. Cocaine, Cannabis, Opium and it's derivative,Laudanum. Speaking as one who has done ehm extensive "research" on Alcohol,Cannabis and Opium.

I pose the question...Was,Poe a slave to his addictions in that it hindered his success? or was it the torment of Melancholia and the plague of Horrific thought's that kept him from success?

There is no right or wrong answer here,just an avenue for discussion, so please.. Chime in.

I think that he brings up an excellent point. After all, there are no records in my knowledge that claim that Edgar Allan Poe had ever gone to a psychologist for his issues which, I think we can all agree, were very therapy worthy. However, his torments seem to be the inspiration for his writing.

Do we think that drugs and alcohol hindered his success during his time? What other writers in history have been extremely under the influence of drugs and alcohol? How were esteemed during their time?

Thank you very much, Dr. Tarr, for sparking this conversation!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dr.Alexander Tarr on February 17, 2013 at 2:09pm

In,Poe's. Time. early to mid 1800's. Psychoanalysis or Psychotherapy did not exist. in fact. Sigmund Freud. known as the father of psychoanalysis. was not a Doctor until 1881. so, no such therapy was available to,Poe.

In my, humble opinion. if I were qualified to diagnose, E.A.Poe. I would say. Borderline Personality Disorder.with low self esteem and,Severe Depression. as a result of.

Now. many people with psychological disorders. to this day. go undiagnosed. and as a result turn to, self medicating. as a means of escaping the uncontrollable thought's in their mind. many people are plagued by random thought's that they will just brushed off. but a few people. are Driven by and can not, brush off these random thought's. indeed, these thought's become, an Obsession! hence the "need" by some, to self medicate.

In what way's do people "self medicate"?

Permalink Reply by Arabella Porter on February 17, 2013 at 5:54pm