Weird Cake

Tale to Anonymous

2011-12-12T14:00:00.001-08:00

Post i found, can't find author thought....

.... I found out who Anonymous really is. Anonymous is not an individual, but is, rather, a family. The patriarch is John Doe; the matriarch is Jane Doe. For years, they have been able to hide the fact that they are brother and sister, not husband and wife. As is usually the case with incestuous hook-ups, their offspring are transmogrifying into drooling swamp things, freelance racists, misogynists, homophobes and brownshirts in clerical collars.

Until the day before yesterday, I had a post on this blog about one of my clients. Then Anonymous visited three times and threatened both my client and me because of the content of the post. I'm not very worried about myself because if you try to get something from someone who has nothing, that's pretty much what you get. I would never intentionally cause problems for any of my clients however, so I took the post down.

My client is a religious organization. (Don't ask which one; if I told you, it would out Anonymous. Don't ask who Anonymous is; if I told you, they wouldn't be anonymous anymore, now would they?) Anonymous has a theological bone to pick with my client (and with me for that matter). Anonymous's theology happens to be all about "correct" belief and "correct" practice, whatever "correct" means. I guess Anonymous doesn't think it would be politic, polite or practical to discuss those differences in public, so they hide behind the curtain of nondisclosure and, well, anonymity.

Their theology of right belief and practice is a hard, judgmental and unforgiving one. That kind of theology is our form of incest in these times. It is our idolatry and our insanity. Legalism is its cult. It should hardly be necessary to say, but I will anyway, that by "legalism" I mean a theology that puts itself above Christ and above the principles of love of God and neighbor. Legalism is not a loving interest in the body of Christ that is concerned with everyone’s spiritual and physical welfare; it is an overriding obsession with its own power over other people. Just as the love for one individual which excludes the love for others is not love, love for one’s own theology that is not part of one’s love for the body of Christ is not love, but is, rather, idolatry.

An anonymous collective, left to its own devices, quickly builds a theology out of rage and hate. Those who oppose this theology will be eliminated. Enemies of this theology are to be dealt with swiftly and severely. Anonymous does not forgive. Anonymous does not forget. Anonymous is devoid of humanity, morality, pity and mercy. Anonymous works as one, because none of us are as cruel as all of us. Anonymous cannot be harmed, no matter how many Anonymous may fall in battle. Anonymous is a hydra, constantly moving, constantly changing. Remove one head, and ten replace it. Anonymous reinforces its ranks exponentially at need.

Anonymous is legion.

Bad News and Pain Without Love

2011-09-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Is there ever any good news out there? Forget the economy that's in shambles (double recession is already here), but for those with mental health issues, well it's never a good prognosis, everything is cut short from your temper to your life...http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/news/theme_news_detail.php?id=800730120&tab_id=116Shouldn't come as a surprise, but it's simply not good news in a realm where good news can make all the difference.I can think of a friend who suffers from borderline personality disorder. The smallest thing in her life may set her off into a catatonic state. Joyful things used to be something she could -- well -- feel joyful about. Now it's a struggle, largely due to her struggles. What left her with a smile before is now fleeting; it's harder and harder to experience joy. So you'll find people in this type of situation resort to tactics 'normal' people may not fathom, cutting, suicide, self harm...... all to accent the need to feel-------feel something, anything....I guess that song is true in some ways,'I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all'....Scary.A wake up call to catch the symptoms and address them before they snowball to a point joy becomes a whisper in your life.

Fallacy of BiPolar Diagnosis Rise in Kids

2011-07-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was reading 'Sway' by Brafman (http://www.amazon.ca/Sway-Irresistible-Pull-Irrational-Behavior/dp/0385524382) and there was a chapter on Bi polar disorders.

The books deals with irrational behaviour and how even the most educated can be easily swayed by status quo or popularity.

In the case of bi-polar disorder the number of children diagnosed rose 40X (It was at least that, might have been more) in the past 20 years or so. However, correlating stats that should've increased if the diagnosis was correct did not increase. Teen suicides never increased (they in fact decreased), but drugs and programs continue to expand.

At what point do we acknowledge something is amiss? Yes, the way we diagnosis the disorder has changed, but just because a child is sad doesn't mean they have a psychological disorder. I pin this one on hypochondriacs and bad psychiatrists.

Explanation for Increases in BP in children?

2011-07-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

I'm not a hypochondriac so I'm not one to advocate running out and getting kids tested for every seeming abnormal issue. It's startling to see how many kids these days are popping pills for maladies that didn't exist 40 years ago.

There has been a 400% increase in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in young children and a 40 times increase between 1995 to 2003 alone according

What are your thoughts? Is there a rash of doctors too eager to doll out bi-polar diagnoses for kids?

Read more in this article.

The Postmodern age of healthcare

2011-05-23T11:06:00.001-07:00

Social media and our perceptions through this postmodern era have changed how we view medicine.

I was thinking a bit more after reading this article: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136283080/shop-for-a-pyschotherapist-to-avoid-the-lemons

It's true, in the age of the internet we no longer go to the neighborhood doctor and never think twice about a diagnosis. Now, there's so much more information for patients to arm themselves with, and also more options to check out who offers the best care. This is particularly important when it comes to therapy.

No longer is medicine the ivory tower it used to be, we trust information, not what someone in authority necessarily says.

That doesn't mean be an idiot and ignore your doctor, but it does mean you can shop around when it comes to finding a therapist that you like.

First Sheen Now Zeta Jones

2011-04-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

Don't know the details but one thing is for sure in the past couple of months: bi-polar disorder is taking front stage in the headlines..... Well, mostly the tabloids.

Nonetheless there is an interesting air of publicity coming the way of a disorder that has been mostly swept under the rug. If there's anything good about Charlie sheen is a kind of sick awareness campaign to the mind has been raised.

I wonder how long before an organization picks up on the bi-winning slogan to raise somec ash for good. Actually, come to think of it that would be a bad idea, probably best to steer clear of anything Sheen related when it comes to bipolar.

What's sad is a fascination with people who have mental health problems.

Catherine Zeta jones is beautiful, powerful, and maybe bi-polar? (She hasn't confirmed as of yet.)

So what?

How about less interest on what 'might' happen if she flips out and more about how she's functioned over time.

Let's not assume and seek the worse in humanity, let's strive to celebrate the best.

Sheen is Bi Losing

2011-04-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

http://youtu.be/h5aSa4tmVNM

What's not to love?

Um, a lot.

Destructive behaviour leads to funny conditions in humanity, both for the victim and for the voyeuristic onlooker.

Sheen is probably sick, and he's also capitalizing on the stupidity of regular folks like you and me....well maybe not since we don't have ticket so to his 'show'. But you get the point. Mr Sheen needs help, what kind I don't know, but he's also simultaneously spinning a money grab machine all at the same time.

Makes me wonder how much of the latest kerfuffle is actually true....

Quick Recipe - Curry Shrimp with Tumeric

2011-04-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to pick up cooking,well i mean I'm trying to pay more attention to tastey neato food.

I cooked this last night, was tasty, but would add a couple more vegetables next time (snow peas?)

Start off with a hot pan with some oil. Add a teaspoon of corriander seeds for 1 minute. Add a chopped onion, let it turn golden brown. Once brown add 1 tsp tumeric and 1 tsp cayenne. Stir for 1 minute, turn down the heat.

You'll get some nice colors here for the next step, just add half a cup of coconut milk. Simmer.

Add 20-30 shrimp (peeled) depending on size.

Let cook until shrimp are done. Add chopped cilantro on top.

I would add snow peas and a red pepper if you can (will have to add a bit to the spices.)

Serve on a bed of rice.

Voila! Easy dinner for two.

The Sad Story of Sheen

2011-03-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Destructive choices can yield destructive people.

Some Americans may be fascinated with the implosion of Charlie Sheen. These nobs pay $100 to see a terrible show in person. Not because they watn to be part of something unique or memorable. but because they enjoy watching the fall of another human being. They want to see the car accident unravel before their eyes.

Who's sicker? Sheen or the people who go and see him in studio. Well they certainly aren't smarter. Giving money to Sheen is like having a 4 year old trick an investment banker for 100K. Just pl ain silly.

Stop the madness. There's actually a segment of the population that suffers from legitimate diseases that are now being made a mockery out of. By the way, I'm sure Sheen suffers from the same issues in his head as the same group he's deriding.

He's sick. Why else does he attempt to 'raise money' for local bi-polar charities. Just playing the part? Or is he sick? And no, it's not Fringe, he didn't cure himself with Lobster venom or whatever concoction is hilarious today.

Radiation scare

2011-03-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

Check out this chart at this link. It shows the daily limits/ radiation exposure of common elements.

Really puts things in perspective. http://xkcd.com/radiation/

Also really shows us how much radiation your partner gives up at night.....

Pray for Japan too, incredible carnage there....

ADHD v Bipolar Diagnosis in Kids

2011-01-29T16:21:00.000-08:00

Diagnosis of, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder cases being diagnosed increase as treatments and knowledge improve. Some parents still overlook typical symptoms, especially in ADHD cases.

Everything, as we know, exists on a spectrum. You can have too much diagnosis or not enough.

Lately, since we're looking, certain warning signs have been released by the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to help parents detect ADHD symptoms early and to assist in providing treatment options before potential mental disorders become overbearing.

The symptoms include inability to pay attention, inability to sleep, lack of attention to detail, quickly or easily distracted, trouble completing simple tasks or assignments, talkative, and showing difficulty in playing quietly.

Other factors that may influence a child’s attitude and behavior include stress from family or school issues, or recent drastic lifestyle changes.

Here's what a bad mom would do: ignore the symptoms.

Here's what a bad parent would do, give the kid pills for ADHD.

Symptoms don't lead to a diagnosis of ADHD. Hyper kids may be cracked out on sugar, additives, MSG, etc. Try things like a GOOD DIET before labeling ADHD.

I wonder how much diet has to do with crazy kids. Or maybe it's teaching style! :P

Depression Apps

2011-01-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

Anybody use any apps to health their coping/recovery? Curious to know what's out there, but also what your'e doing.....

Faith and Recovery for Bipolar

2011-01-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

A number of bi-polar bloggers in the blogosphere have a very deep faith. Most for good, although the odd one has found more trouble than good with his/her faith journey.

I think that fundamentally the recovery, coping, living, is based on a support network. Sure, that sounds pretty self-explanatory and obvious, but here's my question: what about atheists?

I can't really speak for an atheist with bi-polar, and I could never put my shoes in that frame of mind (unless we had a parallel universe :P), but I want to know for atheists how do you cope?

Let me frame that question a bit better so it deosn't seem so patronizing.

Do you find adequate support networks? How do you balance questions (if you ever have them) that involve non-belief in a 'higher being' or a 'greater purpose'?

Does that make sense? Any thoughts?

A Parent’s BSD Challenge

2010-11-17T13:36:00.000-08:00

Raising children is a rewarding journey with a most steep learning curve. Any new parent’s notion that since they are older than their child means they are wiser soon learns that it is the child who teaches the parent many things.

Think of the journey of a parent of a child who for no apparent reason engages in aggressive anti social behavior, angry unending tantrums, or a child who is ultra sensitive to all stimuli and overreacts to ordinary things in life, or a child who acts out in school seeking to always be the center of attention.

This is the life of a parent whose child has possible BSD disorder. The word possible is included in the sentence because BSD in children and teens is very difficult to diagnose, and before the 1980s was rarely described in children. Symptoms include rage, hyperactivity, sleep disturbances/night terrors, risk taking and giftedness.

BSD is manifested differently in children and teens than adults. Diagnosis is based on behavioral observation over a period of time and family history. Very often children suffer several depressive episodes before a manic episode. Depressive symptoms are not typical and include increased appetite and carbohydrate cravings, and extreme fatigue despite excessive sleeping. BSD in children and teens is often accompanied by other behavioral issues, such as behaviors that are like ADHD. The manic phase is often overlooked and attributed to normal development stages. Cycling of episodes in children and teens is more rapid and less clearly defined as manic and depressive. 20-30% of adult patients report that they had their first episode before 20 years of age.

Yet correcting behavioral issues is crucial to the child’s social, academic, and emotional development. There are no FDA approved drugs for children and antidepressants are not recommended for them. Yet despite this they are in widespread use.

Lithium has been proven to be less effective in children. Even a widely prescribed drug such as Ritalin for ADHD slows production of the human growth hormone because of how it affects the pituitary gland. This has detrimental irreversible consequences for children.

Studies have shown that drugs do not work for 50% of patients who have a mental illness, and the remaining 50% discontinue use because of side effects.(2).For children this statistic is alarming because they have less choice as to whether they will or won’t take the medication and they are less able to articulate the impact of side effects.

Questions have been asked about the effects of decades of drug use on brain damage. This gives even more credible urgency to such alternative therapies such as psychoeducation, cognitive behavior therapy, family focused therapy, and diet. Psychosocial factors such as life events, cognitive style, family dynamics, and social support influence the extent of BSD. It is these factors that psychotherapy addresses in the hope that a patient will have a brighter future.

(2) Healing Depression and Bipolar Disorder Without Drugs. G. Guyol Walker Press 2006 p14

Bipolar 101 A Practical Guide to Identifying Triggers, Managing Medications, Coping with Symptoms and More. R. White J. Preston New Harbinger Publications Inc. 2009

New Hope for People with Bipolar Disorder. J. Fawcett, B. Golden, N. Rosenfeld. Three Rivers Press 2007

Consumer’s Guide to Psychiatric Drugs. J Preston J. O’Neal, M. Talaga Pocket Books 2009

Break the Bipolar Cycle E. Brondolo, X. Amador McGraw Hill 2008

http://publications.cpa-apc.org/media.php?mid=343

Healing Instead of Dealing With: Getting Back in the Driver’s seat With Mental Illness Part 2

2010-11-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

Part 1 of this intro article on bipolar disorder is here.

To carry on with the exploration of some treatments....

Lifestyle changes are more about addressing the root cause of BSD, which are chemical imbalances. The biochemistry of the brain is very complex and not well understood which is why drugs cause side effects.. Positive emission tomography is able to show images of the living brain. Glucose metabolic rates indicate brain activity. Images of a bipolar patient’s brain during manic and depressive stages show marked differences in brain activity with cooler colors showing less activity during depression and brighter colors during the manic stage.

Addressing the root cause will bring a permanent benefit that allows body to function at maximum potential. All changes are interrelated and influence each other that can produce an additive negative or positive change in the body. For instance, assisting and optimizing digestion is crucial to allow the brain to function at top capacity both in controlling emotions and cognitive reasoning. Improving thyroid function allows for better regulation of many body functions though its release of hormones. Many BSD patients have impaired thyroid function. Yet often these connections are ignored by both doctors and patients.

In the diet lack of certain minerals and nutrients impair brain abilities. Excess consumption of sugar, fat, caffeine, alcohol, and illegal drugs affects moods and the ability to control them. The role of supplements such as omega 3 fatty acids in offsetting depression are being examined and tested in more detail.

Exercise increases blood circulation which aids and creates hormones that assist moods and prevents depression. Exercise and weight loss also helps patients cope with medication side effects.

All of the above helps BSD patients recognize avoid or cope with stress and triggers that could set off an episode of mania or depression. It helps them regain control of their life and condition.

Healing Instead of Dealing With: Getting Back in the Driver’s seat With Mental Illness

2010-11-03T23:02:00.001-07:00

We get visitors who know very little about bipolar disorder and so why not educate and arm readers with some basic information?

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that affects both mood stability and cognitive functioning. The condition is characterized by extreme variations in mood from elation and high functioning to depression and withdrawal. Those extreme variations are cyclical in nature. Some doctors have named the condition bipolar spectrum disorder(BSD) because of the continuum of characteristics.

There is a genetic predisposition to BSD, it tends to run in families. Research has uncovered certain genes that may indicate BSD tendencies in the brain but there is no physical test for it. Diagnosis is by observation of behavior and self reporting of the manic depressive cycles. Often the depressive stage of BPS is identified and treated with medication but the manic stage is downplayed and attributed to the unique personality of the patient. As a result people suffer for years as episodes or cycles can last that long. BSD takes a toll on relationships and careers, because of the irrational and extreme behaviors that ignore consequences and boundaries.

Treatment of BSD produces less than optimal results, because is difficult to diagnose correctly, some drugs have the reverse of the desired effect, and patients are not compliant in their treatment. Treatment usually involves drug therapy. Psychotherapy with a drug regime has been proven to be more effective. Although drugs such as lithium are prescribed as a mood stabilizer, often patients are prescribed more than 1 drug. All drugs have side effects, some minor, but patients have reported major side effects such as rampant tumor growth which ended when they gradually came off the drug. Yet society today has been conditioned that treatment of symptoms must produce results quickly. Want proof this is true? The majority of prescriptions of these psychiatric drugs are written by family physicians.(1)

Drugs have an advantage over other lifestyle changes that could have a longer term benefit, because they act quickly. Yet in the last 2 decades more Americans have been consulting alternative medical practitioners such as naturopathic doctors than regular MDs for their ailments. There is a growing awareness of the influence of lifestyle and environment on chronic diseases and BSD is no exception. So how can lifestyle changes affect a patient with BSD? Those who have discovered the answer would like to pass on their life experience by publishing their findings in the hope that others will regain their quality of life with less suffering.

In part two we'll continue to explore treatments.

(1) Healing Depression and Bipolar Disorder Without Drugs. G. Guyol Walker Press 2006 p 16

New blogging management

2010-10-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

This blog has a new blogger! Posting this cause some people have mentioned someone else had this address before, that's not me!