Mental illness in your life?

BADVENOM

I am normal. :bonk: :bonk:

Gerald

I was considered insane at one point in my life (for about 5 years). Took a few doctors and a year in court and lots of red tape to get my records sealed.. Let me tell you, that sucks..

Snake Bitten

Like rabies...

BADVENOM

[img]/images/graemlins/eatme[/img]SB

Mark O

You've got to be crazy to see a shrink!

Whitebeard

I work 54 miles from home, you tell me!

City

Kenny:

You've GOT to realize that this is a temporary situation. It WILL pass. When your level of anxiety spikes, attempt to focus on the better parts of your life "I know I'm better off than most guys going through a divorce".

As for therapy, spirituality is fine, but it's not one on one. If you've got any continuing medical insurance left you can probably get some mental health coverage. Make a few calls and interview a few psychiatrists and/or psychologists (or ask a friend for a recommendation). Try a few sessions. Therapy does NOT have to include drugs! It's gonna help to have someone looking out for YOU and YOU ALONE.

Be happy to help in any way I can. PM or email me if you like!

Joker

Interesting responses. almost half have issues or know people that have issues. For the ones with issues you are not alone. Kenny I can't relate but I can say that it helps to go out and do new things. If you don't the only experiences you have to go on are the negative past.

Live a little and build new experiences and new memories.

I would like to note that I was being a bit sarcastic in saying EVERY artist is crazy or has issues. There are some who are level headed and God bless them. However I think if a poll was taken of 100 "artists" and everybody was truthful we might be surprised at the numbers.

Also being crazy or having issues isn't limited to just wacky artists. It appears to be a growing problem in this society and the answer of course is just pop a pill for everything and mask the root. Granted there are cases where medication is a must or a need but I think most find it easy to pop the pill. Of course to me this is only delaying the train wreck and the person will have to face life some day. The longer it is masked and festering the bigger the wreck is what I feel.

You know feeling bad is part of life and not a bad thing. How else could we appreciate the good things. The key is to create more good things going on in our lives. The hardest part is being brave enough to face the demons and start creating a new path with choices and experiences you desire rather than wander or just be a victim of what life throws your way.

Sorry for getting strange and promise to return to the pric that I am but I felt it had to be said.

Remember Kenny it boils down to perspective. It isn't always what it seems and sometimes it good to step away and view our situation as an outsider and see what other people see in you. You seem like a really cool guy and very caring person. Don't let this temporary situation take that away from people that you effect in a postitive way everyday. You life and routine has been changed and you need reinvent yourself in a way. Look at this as an opportunity to do and see things and meet people that you wouldn't have done prior to all of this. Look at this as an exciting adventure in you life just starting.

SeriousEric

Sounds JUST like SnakeBitten!!

Joker

I would be more worried about Remmy losing it. The dude is simply freaky strange.

SUN RA KAT

Thanks, City Snake and everyone else - It's important to me to know I have friends here at the Alley. I'm feeling better today - got some good sleep last night.

Joker and others know of artists and their struggles. I've done art before and I also do photography. Most of you know that I also am a musician and record under the name SUN RA KAT. I even uploaded some of my music to ViperAlley Radio. I know lots of musicians and almost every one of them has personal struggles and they use their music to help them deal with it. Right now I'm putting together a new CD from a lot of serious music (totally different from the happy music that I posted on ViperAlley Radio) that I composed in 2000 and 2001. I'll probably start composing new music, so even going through painfull situations can be a positive experience.

I've been praying to God and some of you have also been praying for me as well and I very much appreciate that very much and it does work. I'm going to a self improvement forum (Landmark Education) in mid-May in Cincinnati. It will be about daring to take risks to get big rewards. I know that with my new life situations that I will need to take risks to get to where I want/need to be. I know that stepping back and looking at where I'm at from an objective point of view is very important since being too close to the problem and looking at everything subjectively is way too restrictive to see what is really going on and I'd miss the big picture if I keep on doing that. I'm going to count my blessings instead of sheep.

Joker

Kenny your def ok in my book and hope to hear your music!

Gerald

Kenny, I've been in your shoes. Divorce sucks. Especially when your the one who is left hurting. Hang in there. Time heals. You may not see the light, but, pal, trust me.....it's there. Friends and keeping busy will help you through.......... [img]/images/graemlins/surrender[/img]

Whitebeard

Kenny, you can call anytime day or night.


You have the number and remember the T-thirt



Attitude-the difference between ordeal and adventure.

Keep the spirts high. Sorry on not being so available over the last few weeks.

Minivan Man

Makara, don't worry, it's not artists that are crazy. It's long-hairs. Long-hair hippy men are crazy, crazy, crazy.

True story: Back when I was in law school, I was clerking between my 2L and 3L years at a law firm. Law students clerk that summer to try to get a permanent job after graduation. Every week, a different section at the law firm put on a luncheon for the law clerks and the attorneys to meet one another. At the real estate section luncheon, the partner-in-charge had a "neat icebreaker." She wanted to go around the room, and have each law clerk "tell something about themselves that they've never told anyone before." Yeah, right. So, as we go around in this little pathetic circle, the law clerks take turns telling equally stupid "secrets" about themselves. One of them said--I shit you not--that they used to have a parrot, and one day they forgot to put paper down in the parrot's cage--that, and other equally forbidden secrets--were revealed. Well, I am good and pissed by the time they reach me, so when it's my turn I say, quietly, "I have an invisible friend named Mustapha." I did not smile, or say anything further, letting the silence build until they moved on. I almost added, but figured it would be too much: "Sometimes Mustapha reminds me of my mother."

Minivan Man

And Kenny, I know you're sad but...you really have much to be thankful for. Trust me, there will be lots of other women. In fact, they're a dime a dozen in some parts of Brazil.