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 the shadow of schizophrenia – not just one life, but two. We meet Sarah, a young woman thrust into the unexpected role of caregiver for her mother, Jodie, both diagnosed … Read more
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 character is a testament to the human spirit’s incredible resilience and the power of love in the face of adversity. Sarah, a young girl burdened with the weight of caring … Read more
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 be transported to a seemingly idyllic town where darkness lurks beneath the surface, threatening to consume everything in its path? Diana Dirkby, a master storyteller, invites readers on two extraordinary … Read more
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 Siblings, Three Furies” is unlike any other—a novel that will leave you breathless and shell-shocked! “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies” is more than a thriller. It is a descent … Read more
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 a harmful trigger for you. It’s quite OK to say a polite “No!” if someone pushes you beyond your boundaries. (The image for this blog post is a free download … Read more
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 Manual, by E. Fuller Torrey. It’s a non-fiction book available on amazon.com. The first chapter gives incredible insight into how mental health consumers with schizophrenia experience their symptoms.
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 live with it in good faith. Most people exercising stigma against the mentally ill know nothing about psychology and psychiatry. Furthermore, the stigma they exercise against you says a lot … Read more
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 those times, it’s as if a closed door separates me from where I can enjoy myself. It’s not always possible to snap out of such a feeling, but I have … Read more
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 can be involved and supported by them. For example, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness https://www.nami.org/Home) and the Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance (https://sczaction.org). World Schizophrenia Day is May 24. … Read more
Paranoia, a term misunderstood by and scary to many, is, for someone like me living with paranoid schizophrenia, a lot of hard work. What is it? The explanation takes more than a blog post, so let’s give only some examples. People with paranoia may erroneously believe other people are trying to harm them or are … Read more