They say that art is heroism and heroism is art. Both are powerful media to express one self and make social commentary. Nowadays, we are able to appreciate them more because they cross a common ground.

Artists who we consider storytellers and image-makers are heroes, too. Their contributions to our creative culture are brave and determined, under whatever life situation they may be.

Art is a symbol of accomplishments and familiarity for every race or nation everywhere. While we admire artists’ work of art and glorify them for a job very well done, we often forget what have they sacrificed before they get to where they are now. We only see their products, their masterpieces but we don’t really see how much tears and sufferings they went through.

Indeed, artistic talent comes with a price and one of the hardships artists are going through is depression. A lot of the artists we admire are haunted by depression, anxiety, and mania and they use their artwork as art therapy every time their minds play tricks on them and they start to think and feel negative and anxious about the beauty of life and their own talent.

Did you know that even the immensely popular artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Michelangelo Buonarroti suffered mental illness?

Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch post-Impressionist painter of landscapes, still life works, and self-portraits suffered from anxiety and depression throughout his short life. In fact, he once wrote, “I put my heart and my soul into my work, and lost my mind in the process.”

Mental illness, depression, and poverty were said to be the cause of his death at 37 from a self-inflicted gunshot. He only became famous after his death and he is now considered one of the most influential artists in the history of Western art.

The paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo Buonarroti rank among the best in the world and he produced a huge volume of work with meticulous detail. This is why some art historians speculate that he had obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In a letter to his father, Michelangelo wrote, “I lead a miserable existence and reck not of life nor honor – that is of this world; I live wearied by stupendous labors and beset by a thousand anxieties. And thus I lived for some fifteen years now and never an hour’s happiness have I had.” Obviously, he also suffered from depression and anxiety. They say he shut himself away from the world for days and he even used to forget eating or changing his clothes.

We feel deep gratitude on what these incredible artists persevered despite their battles to make beautiful and immortal works of art. Until today, a lot of people not just artists are struggling with mental illness and we have to let them know that THEY ARE NOT ALONE in this fight. A 21st century breakthrough treatment for mental, physical and substance abuse, called Ketamine Therapy or Ketamine Treatment is finally here to help them.

What is Ketamine ? Ketamine is a quick-acting medication primarily used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It is used by medical practitioners and veterinarians as pain reliever. In 1970, it was legally approved as anesthetic for people. This drug played a big role during the Vietnam War because it was used to treat injured soldiers in the battlefield.

This is also given to people with treatment-resistant depression. A lot of testimonials coming from people who tried Ketamine for depression at Dr. Ken Steward’s clinic stated that they felt lighter and they no longer feel gloomy and dark after the treatment. One patient even said that after a few doses, he understood the expression ‘happy place’ for the first time. Stewart is an emergency physician in Santa Fe, NM.

According to data, mental health and substance use disorders affect 13% of the world's population. That number could increase because of the many problems every country is facing amidst this current pandemic. This illness or disorder can kill. If we value life and we believe that every life matters, don’t hesitate to share this, so people who battle this kind of crisis in their life will never feel alone again.