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getting involved in the community
Published on 2011-08-24 17:07:33
My friend Alexandra recently recommended me to be a member on the Young Professionals Board of the Park Center, a local agency that provides opportunities and promotes recovery of persons with mental illness through holistic services that focus on their needs, choices and strengths (See their PSA above). I haven’t been officially ‘inducted’ into the [...] > read more
weight and see
Published on 2011-08-17 19:18:14
I’ve been gaining pound after pound over this entire year, and it’s been really hard to figure out why. It’s true that I’ve gone out to eat more often during the week now that I have the boyfriend to have fun doing things like that. But that doesn’t really explain for the extra twenty or [...] > read more
new Seroquel XR commercial
Published on 2011-08-12 23:24:20
I posted the animated Abilify commercial on the site in March, and was fascinated with the depression ‘blob’ that follows the depressed woman around. I came across this what I’m guessing is a pretty new commercial for Seroquel XR the other day and noticed that this one features a cloud that follows the depressed people [...] > read more
Does too much sleep lead to depression?
Published on 2011-07-29 12:56:06
I’ve been having a really hard time getting up in the morning. I could stagger from the bed to the couch, but I can easily fall right back asleep for hours. It’s not like I’ve been going to sleep that late. It’s gotten to a point where I can sleep even after 11 a.m., which [...] > read more
if not a magic bullet, then what is it?
Published on 2011-07-26 20:28:35
The summer’s not yet over, but I’m already looking back at it. I think about the hypomanic episode I had and bouts of depression following it. In fact, those moments of depression never seem to be that far away. Everyday I take medication in effort to keep all those things at bay, and see a [...] > read more
it’s a date!….at my therapist’s office
Published on 2011-07-23 23:00:32
One of the things that binds me and the boyfriend together is our extensive experience with depression. Because of our shared illness, we’ve definitely accumulated some unresolved issues that influence how we think, and ultimately influence how we interact with each other. Nothing is really going wrong in the relationship, but I really felt like [...] > read more
What are some barriers to mental health treatment? Help find out.
Published on 2011-07-21 21:57:31
My friend is an undergraduate student at an university in southeastern United States, and is conducting research into the barriers which people perceive when they try to access mental health services, and whether or not a person’s race influences their perception of those barriers. He is conducting a series of online focus groups. If you [...] > read more
antidepressants lead to more depression?
Published on 2011-07-21 12:15:27
Patients who use anti-depressants are much more likely to suffer relapses of major depression than those who use no medication at all, according to new research. In an article that is likely to ignite new controversy in the hotly debated field of depression and medication, an evolutionary psychologist concludes that patients who have used anti-depressant [...] > read more
a misspent livelihood
Published on 2011-07-18 23:04:44
There are days when I am so annoyed with myself that I don’t really know what to do. That day is today. Since the time I woke up, I’ve felt all angry inside, and don’t know how to release all of that tension. Instead of listening to my professor in class today, I drew a [...] > read more
#petlove
Published on 2011-07-17 21:54:57
When I come home, I am greeted each and every time by my cat, Simon (see above). Lately, he’s been sitting on my sweater that’s on the table, but other times, he trots on by to say hello. It’ll be seven years in September since I adopted him as a little kitten from the humane [...] > read more
track your mood online!
Published on 2011-07-05 15:14:15
I found a web site called HealthCentral. They have a set-up a little less chaotic than many online forums for both depression (mydepressionconnection.com) and bipolar disorder (bipolarconnect.com). During my visit to the site, I happened to come acro > read more
American Love
Published on 2011-07-04 23:55:44
Today my boyfriend and I went to a Hot Chicken Festival in town for the Fourth of July. There were hot chicken vendors, and lots of people (forming long, long lines), but alas, no chicken. They all ran out of chicken before we could get any. So, we l > read more
the down side of things
Published on 2011-07-03 18:05:45
I’ve heard this song before, but heard it again this afternoon at the end of a “Sex and the City” episode (“Domino Effect”). I keep thinking about the song and its lyrics since. Below are the lyrics: ——- Wait > read more
weighty matter
Published on 2011-07-02 22:33:05
I’ve been going to the gym almost everyday for the last three weeks (Koko Fit Club, to be exact). There’s a testimonials page on the Koko website, and I happened to read over the comments one lazy afternoon. And according to them, the > read more
sticking to save mental health
Published on 2011-06-30 13:12:22
I came across these nifty ‘Save Mental Health’ and ‘Save Mental Health Care’ sticker templates on the NAMI (National Alliance on Mentally Illness) site’s “Identity Guide.” I just thought it was kind of cool > read more
surf’s up—-and down and up and down
Published on 2011-06-28 12:10:58
It’s been over a week since the tides changed, the ones that could’ve certainly driven me to a full hypomania followed by crippling depression. The initial episodes lasted for days at a time, of feeling agitated, nervous and anxious, with > read more
st-abilify-ing with Abilify: is it really safe?
Published on 2011-06-26 00:09:25
Contrary to popular belief that Abilify is simply an ‘add-on’ to antidepressants, it is really an antipsychotic, initially used to treat schizophrenia and acute instances of mania. Now, in addition to what that cute, illustrated commercia > read more
Mental Health News Update: 6/24
Published on 2011-06-24 22:52:58
Forget to check for mental-health-related news stories this week? There were certainly plenty of them out this week, but I thought I’d highlight a few of them for your convenience. Depressive Symptoms: Like Father, Like Child by Bruce Jancin/ > read more
Study: City living isn’t easy. And sociologists are hypocrites
Published on 2011-06-23 15:53:06
There’s a thought-provoking article on Nature.com about city living and risk of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is twice as common in those who are city-born and raised as in those from the countryside, and the bigger the city, the higher the risk > read more
someone to watch over me
Published on 2011-06-23 12:43:10
I can see the fatigue. It’s been over a week since I became visibly agitated. Day after day, I went through bouts of restlessness, little sleep, and other clear signs indicating that I was on the edge of hypomania. And throughout this time, my > read more
June is Men’s Health Month
Published on 2011-06-21 16:16:57
Every month commemorates some cause, and June is no exception. I just noticed that last week was Men’s Health Week and the entire month of June is Men’s Health Month. Because men are considered to be the ‘privileged’ sex in > read more
fighting the current
Published on 2011-06-20 13:12:11
It was like a hard wave that crashed over me as I was finally getting used to treading that water. This sea of agitated state, or near-hypomania, seemed to have calmed down a bit, and with 5.5 hours straight hours of sleep last night, I was becomin > read more
sleep tips from the NYTimes
Published on 2011-06-18 23:33:10
I’ve been trying to get a good night’s sleep this entire week, and I think I’ve turned a corner last night. I used ambien for the first time since that little debacle almost a week ago, but I did sleep through the night and woke up > read more
what’s in a name?
Published on 2011-06-17 16:24:46
Lunatic Fringe is a term coined by Theodore Roosevelt, used to characterize members of a political or social movement as extremists with eccentric or fanatical views. It was also a title for a 1981 song by Red Rider. But if you didn’t know any > read more
normalcy. well, not so fast
Published on 2011-06-16 23:37:32
Maybe I need to take back my last hope-filled post about my update on trying to stop me from reaching full hypomania. I really thought I was making progress in squashing that agitation, but it’s night time, and I am feeling my nerves stirring > read more
getting back to a routine
Published on 2011-06-16 10:53:21
Since mid April, it’s pretty obvious I’ve been really lax about keeping up with my journal. I suddenly lost whatever it was that got me writing at a consistent pace, and it’s been kind of hard for me to pick it all back up again. Bu > read more
a hard day’s night
Published on 2011-06-13 22:51:55
I took ambien last night in order to get some sleep, but I decided to keep doing stuff around the house even when that ‘sleep threshold’ hits you after about 30 minutes. After baking some brownies, etc., I realized that I was wide awake > read more
getting caught
Published on 2011-06-13 05:56:24
There’s a song that my boyfriend often likes to mention to me. It’s the Get Up Kids’ “Don’t Worry I’ll Catch You,” and he whispers that line to me when I seem like I need a little encouragement. Thankfully, h > read more
Ri-DIRK-ulous
Published on 2011-06-12 20:41:18
I’m watching the game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. It’s been a set of exciting games, with the Mavs leading the Heat 3-2. I’m not usually that much of a NBA watcher, but this series has been a > read more
Why are we happy?
Published on 2011-06-09 15:10:08
Dan Gilbert is a Harvard psychologist who says our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong. The author of Stumbling on Happiness, he challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. He says our “psycho > read more
birth defects and antidepressants
Published on 2011-06-07 10:28:47
Lately, there have been ads on television run by www.rxbirthdefects.com that have been asking them to contact them if anyone took particular antidepressants during pregnancy (I guess they’re recruiting people to join a class-action lawsuit). Ac > read more
Rewriting the future
Published on 2011-06-06 13:43:29
Paul Simon is releasing a song from his awesome new album “So Beautiful or So What” titled “Rewrite.” (Above is a video of the entire song, if you’d like to hear it).It’s a catchy little tune, but like most Paul Si > read more
Still in the Shadows: Men and Depression
Published on 2011-06-01 16:54:38
There are many ties that bind my new boyfriend and me. We both love Paul Simon, apple butter, soy milk when getting coffee from Starbucks, and so on. But another one is our personal experience with depression. My BF is also in treatment for chronic d > read more
a little high-5 to me :)
Published on 2011-05-31 10:09:59
Mastersinpsychology.net recently posted a list of what they think are the TOP 50 BLOGS ABOUT DEPRESSION on the web today. And apparently, this “Little Spark” blog is one of their picks. They thought my journal “is a standout choice > read more
Let’s Tweet for Mental Health!
Published on 2011-05-25 11:13:59
It’s Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month, and they posted some sample twitter messages that could be sent out during May. They suggest that you use the hashtag #mentalhealthmonth. The following are some suggested messages: Do More > read more
Celebrating Mental Health Month
Published on 2011-05-25 11:05:08
May is Mental Health Month! Started by Mental Health America in 1949, the goal of the month is (obviously) to raise awareness about mental health and MH conditions. This year, they have two themes that they’re celebrating. Do More for 1 in 4 is > read more
Turn of events
Published on 2011-05-23 14:24:22
So…it happened. I went to the Paul Simon concert this past Thursday, and I’m still reeling from it. If I must compare going to this event to something else, then it was like a religious experience. I got to hear the hymns of my life perfo > read more
Here comes Rhymin’ Simon
Published on 2011-05-18 10:29:23
Most people that know me have been told that my cat is named Simon, after Paul Simon, the musician. And I will be seeing Paul Simon live on stage tomorrow night!! It’s really like meeting the long, lost godfather to my (feline) child for the fi > read more
Strangest moment….
Published on 2011-05-17 14:59:16
My friend just read this poem to me, and I knew I had to post it. There Comes the Strangest Moment by Kate Light There comes the strangest moment in your life, when everything you thought before breaks free– what you relied upon, as ground-rule > read more
ECT #38 (my 23rd maintenance treatment)
Published on 2011-05-13 10:10:49
My maintenance ECT treatment was yesterday, and since my parents are in town, they took me to the psychiatric hospital where I have ECT. I always feel awkward when they are the ones having to take me there, probably because it’s like giving the > read more
what Jack Daniel’s has taught me
Published on 2011-04-26 11:32:59
I visited Lynchburg, Tenn., to the Jack Daniel’s distillery on Sunday (yes, I went to a liquor-making place on Easter). It was a really nice (and free) thing to do on a sunny weekend day. Sure, these advertising people who market Jack Daniel > read more
How to tie a strong knot
Published on 2011-04-14 16:59:27
When those who’ve never seen “Sex and the City” hear about this television series, they undoubtedly think that it’s all about sex, and the city. And, well, there’s definitely a lot of sex going on in the city in those ep > read more
it’s too revealing
Published on 2011-04-12 09:56:51
Today, I was offered a really interesting, amazing opportunity. Amy, a community leader for a health-activist community WEGO Health and also the creator of the blog Una Vita Bella, invited me to be a participant in creating a short video about mental > read more
Masters-ful plan
Published on 2011-04-10 20:26:24
I’ve never quite understood the lure of watching a game of golf on television. It’s not like golf fans wear “I heart Phil Mickelson” tees while watching TV, like one might wear for his/her favorite football team. While the int > read more
fade to…
Published on 2011-04-09 20:48:06
My mother left the country last Sunday, and I hadn’t talked to her much since she returned to Japan. So, I called her last night (which would be around 11am on a Sunday, Japan time). We talked about random things, like how Kate Spade is having > read more
FDA’s ECT panel meeting remarks online
Published on 2011-04-08 17:06:52
PsychCentral.com has posted many of the remarks by various people who’ve spoken at the FDA neurological devices panel that’s examining the reclassification of ECT devices. The Reliability of ECT Machines Informed Consent for ECT Donald Jo > read more
enjoy the preview
Published on 2011-04-07 14:13:22
Two days ago, I had to get out my black fleece jacket from the closet so I could walk across campus without becoming frozen from the cold and the wind. The night before that, a huge thunderstorm/tornado hit around the area, causing the power for my b > read more
bleaker street
Published on 2011-04-05 11:37:37
Everything looks to be a shade of gray as I drive in pouring rain. The only things that show any color at all are the red brake lights that come on intermittently. But everything else blends into the gray sky and the pavement. I saw my psychiatrist f > read more
mental disorder + graphic design
Published on 2011-04-03 20:36:11
My friend Jeremy told me about a British designer Patrick Smith who’s created posters that bring minimalist design and mental health awareness together. See all of them here. > read more
march-ing on (just barely)
Published on 2011-03-31 22:06:36
I do a double-take at my phone screen as I see what day it is. March 31. One more day til April. I have no idea how in a world I even got to the end of March, because I certainly haven’t finished all the work I should have by this point in th > read more
the suicide gene
Published on 2011-03-29 17:13:18
There’s a new study out on the journal Molecular Psychiatry that studied thousands of people with bipolar disorder, and found that genetic factors may influence the decision to attempt suicide. Scientists from Johns Hopkins have identified that > read more
Everything has a story
Published on 2011-03-26 17:30:27
For the last week or two, I’ve been having trouble writing, whether it is for an assignment or for this journal. This blog post could be about anything, and I’m still having issues getting myself to write something. So, when I was in West > read more
Can books make you more mentally ill?
Published on 2011-03-25 22:18:26
For my class on social inequality, I got to focus on a certain topic regarding inequality. Naturally, I picked mental health. Since I have two book reviews due, I have been trying to get through reading two particular books, titled “The Protest > read more
digging ditches
Published on 2011-03-22 22:32:06
My mom brought over some cake from Japan to be taken to my psychiatrist, Dr. A., so yesterday morning, I figured I’d just head on over to her office to drop it off, even though I didn’t have a scheduled appointment with her. I was plannin > read more
I get it. I’m fat.
Published on 2011-03-20 20:18:49
There are several things I expect will come out of my mother’s mouth when she’s staying with me here at my place. One, she will most certainly tell me that cleanliness of the home leads to better management of my illness. And two, she wil > read more
Using texting 2 care 4 ur depression
Published on 2011-03-19 21:15:32
There’s a study that’s been e-published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine that looked at a trial of using text messaging to provide aftercare to mental-health patients. After five months, compared to the half of the patients ran > read more
a good time to stop?
Published on 2011-03-18 15:20:06
When Dr. F. mentioned yesterday about the eventual end to my having ECT, I was a little surprised. I had become resigned to going through the treatment for a long time to come, so it was a bit of a shock to me to hear that he doesn’t foresee th > read more
ECT #36 (my 21st maintenance treatment)
Published on 2011-03-17 21:59:38
This morning was another day for ECT. Since my mother is in town, she took me to the hospital. I really can’t recall much of what went on today except that the staff all came up to ask me if my family was okay from the earthquake and tsunami in > read more
ECT #34 (my 19th maintenance treatment)
Published on 2011-03-17 21:59:38
This morning was another day for ECT. Since my mother is in town, she took me to the hospital. I really can’t recall much of what went on today except that the staff all came up to ask me if my family was okay from the earthquake and tsunami in > read more
the resolve of the Japanese people
Published on 2011-03-14 17:29:03
My friend had texted me asking if my family was okay. I hadn’t checked the news that morning yet, so I immediately turned on the television. I stood frozen. Despite my little knowledge of Japanese geography, I did realize almost immediately tha > read more
The Psycho-meter: is it offensive?
Published on 2011-03-10 12:02:54
Huffington Post has an article titled “This Week in Crazy,” featuring a “psycho-meter.” What do you think? Is this just funny, or is it offensive? > read more
poetry in motion
Published on 2011-03-10 00:06:40
I was sorting through some stuff in a box when I came across a piece of paper with a quote written on it. It read: Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in. It&# > read more
taking care of self, starting with the lashes
Published on 2011-03-08 23:34:32
I was cleaning out my closet today when I came across a little Kiehl’s bag tucked way behind a a pair of some shoes. And lo and behold, there’s product in the bag! I found a totally unused yummy, black-raspberry lip gloss and a stick of > read more
bursting the bubble
Published on 2011-03-07 21:27:46
It’s technically spring break for me, but that distinction doesn’t really matter once you’ve been out of school and have other things going on in life aside from school. Even if that’s the case, it is still nice to get a littl > read more
Are psychiatrists becoming like ‘candy’ dispensers?
Published on 2011-03-05 23:44:39
There’s a really interesting article in the New York Times today, titled: “Talk doesn’t pay, so psychiatry turns to drug therapy,” written by Gardiner Harris. It’s basically about how the low insurance reimbursement rate > read more
after a suicide
Published on 2011-03-04 21:19:42
My friend’s co-worker committed suicide this week. It took the authorities a few days to identify the body because he jumped in front of a moving train. My friend told me that his co-worker stopped coming to work a month ago when he checked him > read more
‘Unhappy Hipsters’ that make me happy
Published on 2011-03-03 12:36:44
Where do I go to get some laughs lately? http://unhappyhipsters.com I came across Unhappy Hipsters when the weekly WPLN (Nashville’s public radio station) e-newsletter had the link. Basically, they take a pic from “Dwell” magazine > read more
new Abilify commercial is here!
Published on 2011-03-02 10:31:47
Illustrations interest me, because I enjoy design and I also used to be an editorial cartoonist. So when I saw that the new Abilify commercial (see above) was an animated illustration, my curiosity was piqued, but not just because it involves no real > read more
eighth anniversary of my first suicide attempt
Published on 2011-02-28 23:18:13
People remember their first kiss. I remember my first suicide attempt. It was February 16, 2003, when I tried to kill myself in my college dorm room. It might not be considered a ‘serious’ attempt since the amount of sleeping pills I to > read more
if you’re happy but you don’t know it
Published on 2011-02-27 23:44:56
by Jessica Tam Recently, a new study out in the Academy of Management Journal that showed that a fake smile can be bad for your health. So, when one of the contractors said to me, “I like coming here, because you’re always so happy,” > read more
Mocking others’ mental stability
Published on 2011-02-25 17:43:04
Mike Huckabee was on a radio show today and decided to respond to some of his critics. As for a response to MSNBC “Hardball” host Chris Matthews, Huckabee offered this prescription: “Chris, see a doctor. Do it quickly. You’r > read more
measure of wellness
Published on 2011-02-23 23:23:48
“My ECT is scheduled for next week,” I tell my therapist. Dr. L. asks me, “How do you feel about that?” I pause for a moment. I clutch the pillow next to me like a three-year-old holding her favorite teddy bear. “I don&# > read more
Needs Effort
Published on 2011-02-23 19:43:17
(image @ http://teacher-stamps.co.uk) “You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.” -Author Unknown It’s almost mid-semester, and I feel like I’m already running out of gas. I remembered a column I had read at > read more
OpEd: Why banning ECT would be a big mistake
Published on 2011-02-22 23:43:23
In Today’s the Irish Times, Dr. Muiris Houston penned a column titled “Why banning ECT would be a big mistake.” Here’s an excerpt: If even a small minority of lives can be saved with the treatment, then access to ECT must be > read more
freebird
Published on 2011-02-21 00:09:00
It’s time for President’s Day Sale weekend, and predictably, I made my way through several stores to see just what I wouldn’t be able to live without. So, I went to West Elm, an affordable, contemporary furniture store with other kn > read more
still not guilt-free
Published on 2011-02-19 22:37:09
“What are you writing your thesis on?” asks Jamie, as four sociology grad students drink beer and eat some dinner at a local restaurant. “I’m writing mine on electroconvulsive therapy,” I answer with a slight bit of hesitation. “Oh,” sa > read more
anatomy of a remodel, part 2
Published on 2011-02-18 11:31:16
Though the process got held up for a few days due to rain and snow, my bathroom remodel is moving right along. Apparently joining the team of contractors is my cat, “Inspector Simon.” Every time that contractors leave, he runs into the co > read more
The Finish Line
Published on 2011-02-17 20:35:51
I finally finished it. For a book that’s in generously sized font and a mere 180 pages, it should’ve taken me just a few days-or week at most to be done. But regardless of the time it took, I reached the last page while at Starbucks today > read more
When does comedy go too far?
Published on 2011-02-16 00:57:39
I love the sharp, astute observations that comedians often make. Their humor point out a way of looking at the world that has not been articulated by any other media. And the fact that they are funny make it all the more fun. One of the more brash co > read more
a valentine thank-you
Published on 2011-02-14 22:46:37
I noticed today, when I was picking up some pizza at Papa John’s, that they were advertising their heart-shaped pizzas. Obviously, they’re meant to be eaten today, for Valentine’s Day. I guess couples can have a romantic night by sh > read more
When watching ‘the virgin suicides’ ≠ suicidal thoughts
Published on 2011-02-13 21:56:15
Depression has always made it a bit uncomfortable for me to see a scene in a movie or other programs that included a suicide attempt. That discomfort escalated to a point of real uneasiness after I made my own first attempt. Since then, seeing thos > read more
Carry Your Pills in Style!
Published on 2011-02-12 13:37:26
Yes, this is a “Style Alert” for depressed people…. Some people look for the perfect shoe, others look for the perfect bag. I’ve been looking for the perfect pill box. Well, I don’t go “pillbox shopping,” but > read more
news: do the “crazy” dance
Published on 2011-02-11 14:22:13
This picture really is worth, well, maybe a, “WTF?” The linked photo is of the varsity dance team from Waunakee High School, in Waunakee, Wisconsin. Their “We Get Crazy” routine features the 18 dancers in straitjacket costumes > read more
piled on
Published on 2011-02-11 11:12:51
It all started in the afternoon with just a flutter of nearly invisible pellets falling from the sky, flakes so small I couldn’t even see where they landed. But within minutes the roads were covered with a blanket of snow. I was on the intersta > read more
A Love Letter to my sleeping pill
Published on 2011-02-09 09:42:45
Dear Ambien (Zolpidem Tartrate), I really missed you last night. I went without you yesterday, and it became a sleepless night. Even after watching old episodes of “Sex and the City” well past 3am, not a wink of slumber came to me. Sure, > read more
Let the remodel commence!
Published on 2011-02-08 14:42:36
At first glance, these photos may not really relate to the topic of mental health, but I beg to differ. It’s interesting to see the process of renewal happen so visually. As we take down certain old parts, we sometimes find things that are fl > read more
fumble
Published on 2011-02-07 10:20:03
Lately, taking medication daily has lost my interest, so I’ve been rather inconsistent about taking all of my meds as I’m supposed to. Naturally, this causes issues, most usually ones that can be kept to myself, but sometimes, they affect > read more
David Letterman talks about ‘the black hole’
Published on 2011-02-04 23:16:01
I had an obsession in my early teen years: David Letterman. I’m not quite sure how it all started, but for several years, I collected every media clipping I could find about him and even found a biography (or two) on him to read. In fact, the p > read more
good morning
Published on 2011-02-02 10:57:12
It’s 5:30am. It’s been about two hours since I woke up, not necessarily out of my own volition, but because my body just wouldn’t stay asleep. “I have a cold,” I tell my body in order to entice it to rest a little longer > read more
You’re only a day away….
Published on 2011-02-02 00:12:18
I can’t really recall having lived through all 31 days of January, but I guess February is here. In the past month, I’ve been reading the book “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” by Haruki Murakami (it’s the bo > read more
Resource on Deep Brain Stimulation
Published on 2011-01-30 23:15:57
http://medical-trip.com BBC’s morning program, “BBC Breakfast,” had a 5-minute segment about deep brain stimulation, or DBS. DBS involves the use of electrodes which are implanted into the brain through holes drilled in the skull. T > read more
a therapeutic alliance
Published on 2011-01-29 21:47:40
It is four weeks into 2011, and I have yet to settle into some sort of a routine. It’s not that I’m so busy as much as the fact that I’m just unorganized about activities, cleanliness—well, life in general. So, it’s prob > read more
FDA Panel: More testing needed for ECT Machines
Published on 2011-01-28 22:17:12
FDA panel advises more testing of ‘shock-therapy’ devices by David Brown/Washington Post/1.28.2011 An expert panel advising the Food and Drug Administration decided Friday that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) machines should undergo the s > read more
I can’t quit you
Published on 2011-01-28 10:18:03
There’s a topic that’s come up from time to time in my posts. And it’s time once again to bring the topic up. Yes, the one about my relationship with zolpidem tartrate, commonly known as Ambien. I’ve pledged previously to st > read more
after-shock
Published on 2011-01-26 09:56:27
photo taken while stopped at a red light The sky is an eerie pale gray. Snowfall must be imminent, but right now it is raining. I am driving through this rain that’s making everything around a blur. Such weather would understandably make anyo > read more
Measuring the risk of ECT machines
Published on 2011-01-24 05:32:55
This week, the FDA is re-evaluating the risk classification for electroshock devices/ECT machines, which is currently classified as high-risk. American Psychiatric Association and other specialists wants to see the devices downgraded to a medium-risk > read more
ECT Lessons-I’ve-Learned #10: When in doubt, talk.
Published on 2011-01-23 08:27:31
I know I already have a “Lesson” titled “Communication is Key” but I thought I needed another lesson for myself to emphasize the importance of talking to your doctor. It’s been about two years since I first started ECT ( > read more
ECT #36: (my 21th maintenance treatment)
Published on 2011-01-20 16:56:36
I had my 36th electroconvulsive therapy treatment today. I usually have the procedure every six weeks or so, but with being of town and other scheduling issues, it’s been at least two months since I had my last one. I was the first ECT patien > read more
judging a book by its cover
Published on 2011-01-19 12:59:26
The UPS man just dropped off a box that we’ve probably all seen at our doorsteps—the one with that swishing arrow on the side of the package…yes, the Amazon.com box. My Amazon box usually contains a required textbook, but there̵ > read more
like father, like daughter
Published on 2011-01-16 10:24:38
(This is not really the best picture of either of us, but I must have snapped it on my phone recently and thought I’d post it anyway.) Contrary to a likely assumption given by all the posts I write about parental units, I do have a father in ad > read more
a rather obvious connection between optimism and depression….or something else?
Published on 2011-01-15 12:06:29
In case one wondered, it helps to be more optimistic in order to be less depressed. And new research coming from Australia shows that the most optimistic adolescents may be somewhat less likely to be depressed than their peers and have less heavy dru > read more
back to the Music City…
Published on 2011-01-14 22:40:21
I am finally back home in the United States. I think my cat got either really bored or really missed me while I was gone, because he has decided to sleep next to me for the last two nights, something he’s never actually been into doing previous > read more
The sound of silence
Published on 2011-01-14 09:07:12
They say that silence is golden. Well, if silence is really made of gold, then that may be why all that silence that I keep is weighing heavily on my mind. People use lies to disguise what’s truly going on, but I’ve often come to use > read more
scenes from the homeland
Published on 2011-01-11 03:50:00
I figured out the slideshow thing on WordPress. Here are a few more photos from my stay in Japan. My sister and I were supposed to leave Japan yesterday, but the snow in the US caused some flight cancellations, thus causing us to stay for another n > read more
Happy 2nd birthday, `little spark`!
Published on 2011-01-09 19:37:35
Two years ago today, I decided to start keeping a journal `Jumpstarting a Life with a Little Spark to the Head.` I simply meant for it to be a personal diary as I went through ECT for the five weeks following that start. Well, I`m still here, and app > read more
Your pet is not an antidepressant
Published on 2011-01-05 21:40:19
As people who know me may be aware, I love my cat Simon (That`s him in the picture). I adopted him from the Humane Association six years ago after my psychiatrist and a friend urged me to get a cat. It`s been one of the best decisions I`ve ever mad > read more
2010 in review, according to WordPress
Published on 2011-01-04 19:34:44
WordPress sent me a little review about regarding my 2010 blog performance. I wrote 271 posts over the last year. Apparently, they were pleased. They gave me a list of the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010, so here they are…. 1 EC > read more
cityscape
Published on 2011-01-03 00:27:33
I can`t seem to figure out how to set up a slideshow setting correctly, so here are a few pics took at the end of 2010 in gallery mode. > read more
2011
Published on 2010-12-31 19:43:15
happy new year from `a little spark`! > read more
Thanks-giving
Published on 2010-12-31 07:12:33
In just a few hours, it will be 2011 here in Japan. The New Year in Japan is kind of like Thanksgiving, loaded with tradition—and food (I hope to post some pics of the food and stuff later). It would be easy for me to look back and write out my > read more