Mental illness education

Human Tourniquets And Freaks Who Love Them

March 29, 2013 Communication skills for the crazy

I originally wrote this three years ago. Looking at it again, it’s an important post describing a time when not even best friends were safe from my insanity. I’ve updated it for the present.  Mood music:  TourniquetMarilyn MansonAntichrist Superstar You know the type. They hang  out with people who act more like abusive spouses than [...]

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For Parents With Kids Freaked About Winter Storms

October 26, 2012 Children's issues

This week being the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of 1978, I thought this might be of use. Mood music:  Fight The Good FightTriumphAllied Forces The author takes a stab at offering a mom advice on childhood anxiety. He’s no doctor, but he’s lived it. I got a message awhile back from a mom who [...]

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MomDay Monday – School Daze

April 22, 2010 Children's issues

Every school has its issues. Issues with teachers. Issues with other parents. Miscommunication. Problems with other students. Every school. There’s no getting around it. We’re all human. We all have failings. And a school is, after all, made up of us imperfect humans. But at what point does a school have so many issues it [...]

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Happy and Productive in the Debris Field

April 20, 2010 Children's issues

The author used to come unglued around chaos. Now it floats past him. Mood music for this post: “Sons and Daughters” by The Decemberists: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5H8DwJI0uA&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Looking at the week ahead, it’s amazing I’m not hiding in a foxhole right now. I’m working from home the first part of the week while the kids are on [...]

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Windmill Hands

April 18, 2010 Mental disorders

Ever wondered what that weird thing is the author does with his hands? Wonder no more. Those who know me well have seen it at one time or another, usually when I’m sitting at a desk engaged in a project. My face gets slightly contorted and I start shaking my hands around like they’re on [...]

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Skeptic Slang and Charles Manson: Six Degrees of Separation

April 17, 2010 Communication skills for the crazy

Skeptic Slang and a glimpse at mental illness in the making. Mood music for this post: “My Monkey” by Marylin Manson: A note about the music: Marilyn Manson put this on his “Portrait of an American Family” album, which was recorded in the Sharon Tate murder house. The title and chorus were taken from a [...]

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Bad Behavior, Easily Defined

April 14, 2010 Addiction

The author turns to his musical hero for some easy-to-remember descriptions of depression and addictive behavior. Mood music for this post: “Pray for me” by Sixx A.M.: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFjz6O7ewwg&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Many times by now, I’ve mentioned that one of my inspirations for this blog is Nikki Sixx, bassist and lyricist for Motley Crue. That’s because he gave [...]

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Meet My Demon

April 13, 2010 Addiction

Why the author treats his demon like an imaginary friend, and how it helps. It won’t give up It wants me dead God damn that noise inside my head From today’s mood music, “The Becoming,” by Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDfyR22u_gI&hl=en_US&fs=1&] At last night’s OA meeting, I saw quite a few people with heavy [...]

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Pieces of Mind

April 11, 2010 For travelers

This happens every time I have a week of travel. By the time Sunday rolls around, I reach a point in the afternoon where I sit in the chair by the living room window as my brain cracks into pieces. I feel a buzz, even though I’m sober. I feel some bloat, even though my [...]

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Sticking it to Kids Who Are Different

April 9, 2010 Children's issues

The author on why the school sports mentality is leaving kids who are “different” in the dust. Mood music for this post: “Mandocello” by Cheap Trick: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kH6H8wzfl4&hl=en_US&fs=1&] I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how schools tend to deal with kids who are different. Kids like the one I used to be. The school we [...]

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