6/20/2013 6:00:00 AM
Scott is a 22 year old male who is very happy, has a great job, is financially well off, loves his job and gets along very well with others. The problem? When he has time off, he enjoys hiking, fishing, camping and other activities -- alone.
6/12/2013 6:00:00 AM
Almost two years ago Angie wrote to me, depressed and suffering from extremely low self esteem. She listened and heeded my advice, as well as the advice of other readers who left their comments and today she is happy, feeling loved and is a new grandmother.
5/19/2013 6:00:00 AM
Gloria is the proud grandmother of a 10 year old girl who is now an author. She wrote a book about her brother with Autism and Epilepsy, and how this affects her.
3/7/2013 6:00:00 AM
Jackie was diagnosed with schizophrenia years ago. Though the road was rough, but she now is in a much better place. She's in school, studying Early Childhood Education and is working part time
9/30/2012 6:00:00 AM
Melinda was 30 when diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Shamed by the stigma, she struggled through life. She now embraces her individuality, and is conscious of her strengths and weaknesses and working around that knowledge to make her life the best it can be. She says my book, 'Better Than Normal' has given her a new lease on life, and she's grateful for who she is and what she has accomplished
9/18/2012 6:00:00 AM
Gisele is a self proclaimed young 67 years old. Despite physical disabilities which slowed her learning and earned her the title of "stupid" in elementary school, she earned a B.S., Master's and Doctorate degrees. She is truly making the world a better place because of her contributions.
8/3/2012 6:00:00 AM
Linda has three children and four grandchildren. She quit work to help her mother, who has since died. Suffering from lupus, she's broke, in pain and tries not to burden anyone with her problems. She has self published four children's books to help maintain her sense of independence. Sound like a survivor to you?
7/15/2012 6:00:21 AM
M grew up depressed, anxious and painfully shy. Between doctors, therapists and medication, she struggled, until it dawned on her that she had personal strengths. Putting those strengths to work for her instead of fighting them, she's now happy, successful and medication free for eight years! Are you doing what makes YOU happy?
5/17/2012 6:00:56 AM
Jason is a very successful national hairstylist who has first hand knowledge of battling mental illness. A manic depressive himself, he wants to fight the stigma that's associated with mental illness, and show others that being different should not be considered a bad thing. He also realizes that sometimes medication and therapy are needed, and feels like he can be a force for the cause, since he's been there, done that. Thoughts?
5/12/2012 6:00:58 AM
Keith read an interview with me and shared some of his blogs with us. He writes about faith, and how it can carry us through the darkest of times, to emerge stronger and better than before. Have your trials in life made you stronger?
5/5/2012 10:00:40 AM
Linda has been a night nurse for 30 years. She likes it that way, and never knows what the next night will bring. After two marriages, she realizes she's better off single. Reading my book, she scored highly on the ADHD scale and she's thrilled that finally things make perfect sense. She knows she has money management issues and isn't the best housekeeper, but she's ADHD and ok with that. She is indeed, "Better Than Normal". Are you?
4/26/2012 6:00:44 AM
Lucy doesn't care much for people. She's happiest when she's alone, taking trips, gardening and reading. She has a couple of friends that she sees two or three times a year and that's just fine with her. The problem is her parents, those friends and her boss tend to think she's depressed and needs help. Does she need to change her life to make them feel better?
4/20/2012 2:00:15 PM
Kendall scored very high on the ADHD, Magical, OCD and Hyper Alert continuums, and had learned to not only use these traits to his advantage, but also with the help of a smart and understanding employer, 10 years ago he found the perfect job. Now, because of a new company contract, he is being forced to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and feels like a bird in a cage and he's freaking out. He's not sure what to do. What can he do? What would you do?
4/18/2012 2:00:29 PM
Kit realizes many people with bipolar disorder must rely on medication and therapies. He, however, finds humor to be the best medicine for him. He wrote a book called 'Dodging Suicide' to discuss.
3/30/2012 6:00:23 AM
Maud has written to me before. She was in an abusive marriage, but hoped her husband would change, though I told her he would not. Once she realized there was no such luck for that to happen, she found the courage to leave. Now she and her baby are happy, content and have found peace in their lives. A must read for anyone who is abused or if you know of someone being abused. Thoughts?
3/27/2012 10:00:04 PM
Susan, 60, was the product of a failed abortion. One of three babies, she was born with virtually no intestines and no bones in her ankle or heel. It took 22 surgeries before she could walk. She survived a very physically abusive husband, and being very over-weight and has lost all her teeth. Sometimes it gets to be too much and she can't cope and she asks if that's normal? She asks if her life will forever be dictated by her birth defects, or if her hardships can be overcome. What do you think?
3/25/2012 6:00:55 AM
Michael comments on Bill Cooper's letter regarding races working together to benefit all. As a white South African, he expands on tolerance, and on appreciating each other as children of God.
3/18/2012 6:00:31 AM
Kanyi, a very gentle person, grew up in a home with domestic violence. Later, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and experienced some of the horrific conditions in mental hospitals in Kenya. Do you think we still have a stigma attached to mental illness?
3/3/2012 10:00:45 PM
Oladipo has been diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, but he's not about to let that get the best of him. Persevering against all odds, he is now educated and has a good job. He has friends in both the US and Asia and considers himself successful. Have you ever had to overcome something like that in life? If so, how?
2/25/2012 2:00:52 PM
Lucian suffered terrible, unspeakable abuses at the hands of many when he was merely a child starting at 9 years of age. As an adult, he is in New York City, helping others with mental illness. He has authored poems to help survivors of abuse, victims of rape, self-cutters and more. He wants to continue to help others, although for him it feels like he will never get over his past. He wonders if this is all there is to life? Do you have words of encouragement for him?
2/18/2012 6:00:44 AM
Catherine was adopted when she was six months old by a couple who had their birth son six months earlier. Neglected by her mother but loved by her father, the family constantly moved because of her father's job. She suffered delusions, psychosis and nervous breakdowns. She found a convent in London where she learned English. After numerous psychotic episodes, she received her English Literature degree, had a son, and is now happy and secure in life. She tells everyone: Never give up! Do you agree?
2/15/2012 6:00:02 AM
Ginny's son suffered from epilepsy, schizophrenia and depression. He committed suicide in May 2011. Now he is gone, and she misses him so, but in his memory she started the non-profit organization, Preventing Teen Tragedy. Do you think you could be this brave after the loss of your child? What would you do?
2/13/2012 10:00:42 PM
When Lisa was young she wished someone else was her mother. Now her mom suffers from Alzheimer's, and she wouldn't trade her mom for anyone else in the world. She started a blog -- a love story of sorts -- dedicated to her mother. While she is touched by others, she wants to touch others' lives, as well, and make a difference. Do you know someone with dementia or Alzheimer's, and do you find it difficult to cope?
2/6/2012 2:00:16 PM
Observer sees herself as a very complex person, but in no way means that in a bad way. She used that complexity to help her become better than normal, and it's helped with a successful career as well. She looks forward to reading my upcoming book. Are YOU better than normal?
2/4/2012 10:00:59 PM
Alice lived 36 years of verbal abuse, and is now trying to get others to listen to her story. Verbal abuse is not mere words that just disappear once spoken. It can shred a person's self esteem, bringing feelings of worthlessness and depression. Are you one of the statistics -- on in three -- who have been repeatedly verbally abused by a loved one? How do you handle this?
