When I look back on the person I was in college -- during the worst period of my depression -- I am honestly amazed that I still have so many friends who knew me back then. I spent most of my time in the computer lab talking to folks online, and barely had enough energy … Continue reading (Mental Health) How to Help Others
Month: May 2018
(Mental Health) How to Help Yourself
If I could have readers leave the Desk at the end of the month with only one new piece of information, it's that mental illnesses are actual, physical ailments in the brain. While the way we think and perceive has something to do with how the illnesses are expressed, the fact remains that most conditions … Continue reading (Mental Health) How to Help Yourself
(Friday Fiction) Veniamin Kovalenko, Werebear Detective
This week, Veniamin continues to be dragged through the briar-patch of therapy, kicking and screaming. Dr. Mabel Watney tilted her head and looked at him in a mixture of disbelief and exasperation; it was a universal matronly expression that silently screamed "What did you just say to me?" Veniamin smiled to himself, glad that at … Continue reading (Friday Fiction) Veniamin Kovalenko, Werebear Detective
(Mental Health) My Comorbidity
One of the reasons it can be difficult to talk about mental illness is the simple fact that so many diagnoses feel poorly defined, or that just when our understanding of terms starts to stick in the public consciousness experts change the game on us, or that those of us with mental illnesses seem to … Continue reading (Mental Health) My Comorbidity
(Mental Health) My Executive Function
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a bit of a misnomer; I think the name is a big reason why ADHD is so poorly understood and controversial as a mental illness. Those of us with the disorder aren't necessarily hyperactive, and it isn't always characterized by a deficit in attention. We aren't bouncing off the walls … Continue reading (Mental Health) My Executive Function
(Friday Fiction) Veniamin Kovalenko, Werebear Detective
Here, we continue Veniamin's therapy session from last week. "If managing stress was as easy as me telling you what to do, I would have written a book about it and you wouldn't need to come see me." Dr. Mabel Watney shifted in her seat behind her desk, folding her hands in her lap. "It … Continue reading (Friday Fiction) Veniamin Kovalenko, Werebear Detective
(Mental Health) My Anxiety
When I was a little kid our family had an ancient brown Chrysler my mom called "Nellie". I wasn't sure if it was actually brown, or if the car was covered in that much rust, but Nellie was a formidable vehicle, a 20-foot land yacht with leather seats that gave you frostbite in the winter … Continue reading (Mental Health) My Anxiety
(Mental Health) My Depression
Back when I was 14 or 15, my sister ran away from home for a month and it straight-up wrecked me. We had no idea where she was or if I would ever see her again, and it was the first time we had been apart for that length of time. Growing up, we were … Continue reading (Mental Health) My Depression
(Friday Fiction) Veniamin Kovalenko, Werebear Dectective #3
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! I wanted to devote The Writing Desk towards that effort all month long, including Friday Fiction, and Veniamin Kovalenko Werebear Detective is a perfect candidate for this. Venia comes from a long line of werebears who traveled from their home country of Russia to Sitka, AK and finally to … Continue reading (Friday Fiction) Veniamin Kovalenko, Werebear Dectective #3
(Writing) A Writer’s May
The month of April was...not great for me as a writer. I didn't make much progress on anything of note, though I *did* resume a long-dormant Pathfinder game that I'll take as my big win. I could attribute the lack of writing to my day job, or family stress, or the general pressures of being … Continue reading (Writing) A Writer’s May
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 