I am a fiction writer with schizophrenia. Today, I want to discuss the advantages of daily routines for writing and schizophrenia. The renowned fiction writer
Hello! If you’re new to this Blog, my name is Diana Dirkby. I live with paranoid schizophrenia, CPTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Syndrome), and PTSD (Post
Hello! Today, I want to talk about living with paranoid schizophrenia and CPTSD. Living with schizophrenia, as did my mother, inspired me to write my
Trigger Warning: this Blog post features the topic of sibling abuse. For an excellent source on the topic of child abuse, especially child sexual abuse
Today, we’ll explore ageism in mental health and challenge its stigma. Specifically, ageism means age-based discrimination in mental health. For example, it includes stigma against
This Blog Is In Two Parts: A chaotic poet and a wise writer. (i) I begin with a poem by the famous Australian poet Roland
I live with paranoid schizophrenia, so you may wonder how I earned a living doing research in and teaching mathematics in universities for many years
When The Police Came To My Home. I live with paranoid schizophrenia. You may ask, “What Is That?” There are as many answers as people
I am happy to announce that my new Podcast, whose full title is “Fractured Ink: Writing in Life’s Chaos,” is live. The Podcast will have
In this post, I want to share three extracts from each of my two published novels. You’ll recall that these novels are “The Overlife: A
Today, I want to announce that my Podcast, “Schizophrenia As I Live It,” will have two more episodes: today’s and a final one at a
April 1, 2025 (#WearTealDay) If you are following this Blog, you will know that I have published a book, “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,”
Blog 03/27/2025 “Tell me a story.” I, Diana Dirkby, have often said that a mental health consumer is not defined by their mental illness. The
Imagine that your child has been kidnapped. How far would you go to save your child? Would you follow the rules of the captor, even
One. two, three—three missing teenagers. Three grieving families. Three cryptic punishments. Diana Dirkby’s latest book, Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies, is set to transform
What if your hometown suddenly became the setting for an unthinkable horror? In the fall of 2010, Vrayboro, Texas, was just another small town. It
Imagine one morning you woke up to realize the peace has been shattered. What if you discover that your beloved teenager, who comes home every
While some books just provide a good reading experience and entertain, some books keep you on the edge. These are the books that consume you,
Throughout history, myths have served as cautionary tales, moral lessons, and explanations for the unexplained and the profound. But what happens when these ancient legends
The disappearances in Vrayboro in “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” are baffling, leaving residents and law enforcement searching for answers. In the midst of
The town of Vrayboro, nestled in the dense woodlands of “Texas in the novel, Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” was known for its tight-knit
Vrayboro might seem like a quaint town nestled in the Piney Woods of eastern Texas—a community with charm and tranquility. But that peace was soon
You are missing out big if you are not reading these two gems! Whether you prefer a thought-provoking book or an exciting, suspenseful story, the
Believe it or not, sibling relationships are often a sweet temptation and shaped with love and care. However, in some cases, it can be complicated
Honestly, very few of us know the reality of schizophrenia. And those who lived it, like Diana Dirkby, know the stigma and fear. Due to
Are you someone who is into books that have more to discover through every turning page of the book? If yes, then you need to
Diana Dirkby’s novel, “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” captures the tension of a small-town crisis, highlighting the interplay between law enforcement and the community
Imagine being eight years old and tasked with responsibilities far beyond your years. You are not just helping with homework or tidying up your room—you
On December 16, 2024, I received an email informing me that I had won a 2024 International Impact Book Award for my book “The Overlife,
Big News: My new book, “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby, is now published as a Kindle book. It’s a steal at
Today, I wanted to discuss the solitude many people living with schizophrenia feel tempted by. I am one such person. These days, solitude means just
With November approaching Thanksgiving, it is almost time for us to anticipate the best time of the year. Yes, you guessed it right. We are
Living with a mental condition is not that easy. From mental stigma to anxiety trauma and challenges—there is so much to ask for! Diana Dirkby’s
Have you ever heard of Vrayboro, a small town nestled in the dense woodlands of Piney Woods, Texas? Perhaps the town is not that peaceful
Justice, punishment, and resilience. While all of these subjects are different, they deeply discuss fundamental human experiences. Diana Dirkby’s novels “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three
Do you crave for a unique and mind-boggling narrative? Perhaps a book that will keep you glued till the very end? A story that will
Because of its complex nature, only some books have targeted mental health issues like Schizophrenia! “The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia“ by Diana Dirkby, in
A Look Into “The Overlife” A fictitious yet realistic look into schizophrenia! Despite the abundance of books, articles, and publications on schizophrenia, many people continue
A Peek At “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” The best thriller in town! There are many mind-bending stories in town, but nothing makes a
What will happen when three teenagers—Sebastian Ward, Mary Bell, and Fred McCarthy go missing unexpectedly? Families are left in turmoil, authorities scramble for answers, and
If you think that it is easy to deal with schizophrenia, think again! Because Diana Dirkby’s poignant novel, “The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia,” explores
Paula Tretkoff is writing under the pseudonym Diana Dirkby, has crafted two riveting novels that bound by a profound and compelling theme: schizophrenia. In both
Why “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” Will Leave You Breathless There are a lot of stories that offer both entertainment and thrill—narratives that will
“Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” — A Trio Of Deception And Evil Have you ever read a story so chilling that it will chill
Diving Deeper into “The Over life” Diana Dirkby’s “The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia” is more than just a book. It is an intimate exploration
Two Novels—One Connection “The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia” and “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies.” In a world riddled with stigma, misunderstanding, and chaos,
Diana Dirkby takes us on a captivating journey through contrasting realities in her latest releases, “The Overlife” and “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies.” Both
To be honest, there’s something unsettling about idyllic towns. The picture-perfect facade often hides a dark undercurrent, a secret waiting to be unearthed. Diana Dirkby
Diana Dirkby’s “The Overlife” isn’t a book you simply read; it’s an experience you inhabit. It’s a raw and unflinching portrayal of life lived in
In Diana Dirkby’s poignant novel, “The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia,” Sarah emerges as a beacon of hope for countless individuals living with schizophrenia. Her
What if you could journey into the heart of a family grappling with mental illness, experiencing their triumphs and struggles firsthand? What if you could
You might have heard many chilling stories or seen many horror motives that will shock you to the core, but Diana Dirkby’s “Three Kidnapped, Three
Setting firm boundaries is essential when living with a mental illness or brain disorder. If by over-stepping them, you feel stress, then that can be
There are a lot of good books out there for people who want to understand schizophrenia. An example is Surviving Schizophrenia, 7th Edition: A Family
If someone has trouble understanding you because you live with a mental illness, that is not a stigma if they research what it means to
When struggling with a bad time for your mental health or your brain disorder, you can lose the desire to do what you enjoy. At
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the USA. It’s an excellent time to reach out to mental health advocacy groups to see how you
In an attempt to show that a mental illness or brain disorder need not stop you from doing anything you like, mental health advocacy groups
We all have goals for the day, week, or month ahead. Still, those with a brain disorder or a mental illness need to recognize that
I take medication to help control the symptoms of my schizophrenia, and it’s a suitable medication for me. However, it was a long road with
When a mental health consumer is in crisis, sometimes others cannot understand that they can’t simply “snap out of it” and jump from their world
There are mental advocacy organizations that provide online and in-person support groups. For example, NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) provides support groups across the
Most of you have probably been admonished for saying something politically incorrect without feeling it’s a big deal. There are so many ways to be
Unfortunately, some family members and close friends can abandon the mental health consumer during a mental health crisis. Such people may offer nothing more than
It’s often overlooked that the caregivers of mental health consumers also need support. They have to negotiate caring for someone who needs a lot of
Today is Mother’s Day! Like me, my mother lived with schizophrenia. She was a wonderful mother despite this brain disorder, especially until we were pre-teens
To quote from the website https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia of the American Psychiatric Association, schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects less than one percent of the
I have found that a pet can be a tremendous support when I feel alone and stressed. Their love is unconditional; all they ask is
A trigger automatically upsets or traumatizes a mental health consumer due to past trauma or their current mental health symptoms. Rather than the word “trigger,”
It’s often challenging to fight the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia and find pleasure in engaging with others. That can drive you to remain in the
Today, I uploaded the first Chapter of my Podcast: “Schizophrenia As I Live It.” You can find it in the Podcast section of this website
The stigma of mental illnesses or brain disorders can make mental health consumers hard on themselves as they seek to incorporate the prejudice exercised against
On days when I struggle to free my mind from paranoid loops or obsessive thoughts going nowhere, I find that stopping to do a guided
As someone who has endured multiple psychotic breaks due to living with schizophrenia, I know that you cannot always “return to normal” if that means
May 24 is World Schizophrenia Day, also called World Schizophrenia Awareness Day. I display an image of a rhinoceros and her calf because animals are
I once confided in a friend about problems I was having with my family. They advised: “Think about a worse problem for a while, then
I live with paranoid schizophrenia, as did my mother. My mother’s condition worsened due to her inability to admit she had psychiatric problems and the
When describing schizophrenia, experts usually put “not knowing what is real” near the top of the significant symptoms. Undoubtedly, someone undergoing a relapse of schizophrenia
I am recording a Podcast entitled “Schizophrenia As I Live It” to accompany my forthcoming book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia.” So far, I
When living with a mental illness or brain disorder, you can be so relieved when you are doing better that you can forget, or prefer
Today’s blog gives tips on creating a schedule to suit your mental health. Everyone’s mental health needs are unique, so finding a program that prioritizes
In my book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” I write about the substantial benefits of the correct antipsychotic medication from a competent psychiatrist. We
Here are some tips on choosing a suitable psychiatrist for paranoid schizophrenia. Most of these tips can apply to other mental illnesses: Here are some
Here are some tips on how to find a good psychologist for paranoid schizophrenia. They apply equally well as tips for any mental health consumer:
Socializing when you are paranoid can be challenging, but it is possible. Here are some tips: Here are some additional tips that may be helpful:
The image above is an excellent summary of psychiatry versus psychology and where they meet. In mathematics, such diagrams are common in set theory and
Once someone knows you live with a mental illness or brain disorder, that person may put you permanently under their microscope. It happens too often.
In real life, in movies, and TV shows, you often hear people say, “The situation is so schizophrenic. I have several choices, all of which
It can be challenging to motivate yourself to exercise when you struggle with your mental health. On paper, the best thing to do would be
Some well-known insightful movies have been made about someone living with a mental illness. Examples are: “The Three Faces Of Eve (1957),” “A Beautiful Mind
What is Anosognosia? It is a Greek term meaning “to not know a disease.” NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) has some information on its
Several Blog posts ago, we talked about Anosognosia. Today, we’ll talk about the LEAP method and schizophrenia, a mainstream, proven approach to helping people overcome
In this blog post, we will compare the meaning of “Overlife” in my book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia” and the meaning of the
One of the often-quoted symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia is a loss of touch with reality. However, it is important to stress that the person living
There are various ways that stigma against someone living with paranoid schizophrenia can arise. Many people are scared of the diagnosis itself. The words “paranoid
A common symptom of schizophrenia is auditory hallucinations. Auditory hallucinations happen when you hear voices or noises that aren’t there. The sounds you hear may
A common symptom of schizophrenia is visual hallucinations. Visual hallucinations happen when you see people or objects that aren’t there or when your visual perception
Ageism, or agism, is discrimination against individuals or groups based on age. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination
In the first post for this blog, I encouraged mental health consumers to write about their psychological and psychiatric experiences. One application of this habit
I keep a mental health diary to help me navigate the symptoms of living with paranoid schizophrenia and as a tool to prevent me from
In this blog post, I will briefly discuss my approach to writing about schizophrenia and psychosis, mental health, and family and relationships that culminated in
The image is a free download by geralt on Pixabay; see this link. Today, October 10, 2023, is World Mental Health Day. World Mental Health
If you are listening to my Podcast: “Schizophrenia As I Live It, Part 1,” which accompanies my novel “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” then
Next week, I will be interviewed on a Podcast called “The Ikonic Podcast” put out by The Ikon Institute Of Australia. I will let you
One of the powerful tools I have developed to help me live with paranoid schizophrenia is establishing a routine. I have a daily routine, a
When struggling with severe mental illnesses or brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, there are times when our symptoms may not be under control and thereby
In the image, you will see a quotation from the Kindle version of my book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia” by Diana Dirkby. It
Last time, I talked about psychosis and the stigma attached to the word “psychosis.” I explained the devastating effect on the mental health consumer experiencing
The symptoms of schizophrenia can bring with them an overload of the senses and an inability to filter that overload. They can bring hallucinations in
If you are experiencing a psychotic episode due to paranoid schizophrenia, it is a busy time. The symptoms that cause you to lose touch with
This blog post introduces my forthcoming novel: “3 Kidnapped, 3 Siblings, 3 Furies,” to be published by amazon.com. I use the horror genre to tackle
Living with schizophrenia isn’t a journey walked alone, and the schizophrenia podcast recorded by Bek La, Star Royal, and Monika Caesar for the Ikon Institute
Living with a mental health condition like Paranoid Schizophrenia can feel like navigating through a relentless storm. Worry overload can be a schizophrenia stress trigger,
This Blog post accompanies my Podcast episode “A mental illness does not define you, a theme of my thriller horror novel,” of my Podcast “Schizophrenia
This Blog Post accompanies the Episode: “Unveiling Unexpected Allies in the Fight Against Schizophrenia Stigma” of my Podcast “Schizophrenia As I Live It,” available on
This Blog post accompanies the Episode: “Harnessing Harmony: Prioritizing at a Stressful Time” of my Podcast “Schizophrenia As I Live It.” Managing stress is a
This blog post accompanies the episode “A Voyage To Wellness” of my podcast, Schizophrenia As I Live It. The podcast is available on many platforms,
This Blog accompanies the episode “A Schizophrenic’s Guide To Rising Above The Blues” of my podcast “Schizophrenia As I Live It” by Dianan Dirkby. Navigating
This Blog Post is associated with the Episode “Navigating the Tightrope of Mental and Physical Health in Schizophrenia” of my podcast “Schizophrenia As I Live
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May in the United States since 1949. It is celebrated through media, local events, and film screenings.
The image is a free download by ha11ok and is featured on pixabay.com. The following blog post accompanies the episode “The Gray Area Of Stigma”
Today, I will discuss how I struggle with coincidence due to my paranoid schizophrenia. Often, as part of a paranoid episode, a train of thought
The image is a free download by johnhain on pixabay.com Today, I wanted to write again about the two-way street of stigma. The stigma of
The image is a free download by geralt on pixabay.com This Blog is about schizophrenia and identity, what could be called schizophrenia identity disorder. However,
The image is courtesy of amazon.com This week, my fiction novel The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia, achieved Best Seller status on Amazon.com. To celebrate
I am a fiction writer living with paranoid schizophrenia. There is a lack of written material, fiction and non-fiction, by mental health consumers and their
You are not alone as a mental health consumer living with schizophrenia! In the USA alone, about 2.8 million adults aged 18 or older live
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that is often shrouded in misunderstanding and fear. However, Diana Dirkby’s “The Overlife” cuts through this veil, offering a
Are you looking for a read that will blow your mind? Look no further because you are reading the right post! Diana Dirkby’s “Three Kidnapped,
Schizophrenia can be devastating, and who can interpret it better than Diana Dirkby? “The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia” by Diana Dirkby isn’t a book
