The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

ADDitude Magazine: Taming Your Inner Hulk & Other Stuff
As an extension of my first blog about ADHD anger issues at ADDitude Magazine I took a slightly more humorous approach to the subject and wrote about my coping strategy for managing anger. It's the "closing the gap" technique I've written about here numerous times before. You can read Taming Your Inner Hulk over at the Family Guy. If you want me to go more into the "closing the gap" technique here, leave a comment. Thanks for reading!Other Stuff:I came across some iOS apps that are free today that might interest you. Even if the sale is over by the time you read this, I still feel the apps might be of value.The first ...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 23, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Writing Source Type: blogs

Writing: New Experiences Create Romance; Routine Kills It
I never believed this type of thinking. Now I know why.As many of you know, I am working on a book based on blog articles I’ve written on the subject of overcoming suicide. The fourth draft was finished a couple of months ago, but the editor I chose for the project was out on maternity leave. We got together last Saturday and went over her notes and ideas. She liked what she saw, had some creative suggestions, and I am very excited to get busy with draft five. Too bad I have so much boring freelance work to do first. I’ve been so busy (and depressed) that I wasn’t able to work on this article until now. It isn’t so...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 23, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Depression Writing Source Type: blogs

ADDitude Magazine: Anger. Also, Blogging Advice.
Last year at ADDitude Magazine I wrote about how ADHD anger issues hurt relationships with my daughters and my ex-wife. It wasn't a funny article, but a serious one where I shared what I learned, and hoped others could learn from my mistakes. I titled it simply "Anger" and listed three tips that adults with ADHD needed to manage their anger before they drove away everyone that they loved. Read about it at the Family Guy. Other Stuff • A reader sent me the following. I didn't think it was good from my usual Mailbag segment since it wasn't about mental health, but thought I'd answer it here instead: Hello Doug, I rec...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 17, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Depression Family Writing Source Type: blogs

Kicking Suicide in the Teeth
I have to confess something. I don't like most online suicide prevention resources. It's not that I think they're wrong, but that they're too soft. I'm looking for Burgess Merideth in my corner shouting at me in a gravelly voice, “Keep hittin 'em in the ribs, ya see? Don't let that b— breathe!”, not “Someone need a hug?” like Will Farrel's character in Elf. Suicidal ideation needs to be fought tooth and nail; I need pep talks not greeting cards. When I was suicidal a few weeks ago I had nobody nearby to turn to. It was very late at night, and I didn't think to call a hotline or wake up a friend. I...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 14, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: Depression Suicide Source Type: blogs

ADDitude Magazine: Sprinkle a Li'l ADHD on Those Waffles
Last month I wrote about a breakfast fiasco over at Family Guy for ADDitude Magazine. In it I regaled my readers with a culinary horror story made all the more terrifying with ADHD lurking in the shadows. I may never look at maple syrup the same way again. I titled it “Sprinkle a Li’l ADHD on Those Waffles” and readers soon let me know that I was not alone in the dark on this one. One mother tortured her children with soy sauce on their waffles. Fortunately, I only tortured myself. I hope you enjoy the blog. Other Stuff • I wanted to let you know about an event that CHADD has coming up on May 18th. It&#...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 9, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Spinning Writing Source Type: blogs

Suicide: No One Cares? It Depends on Who You Listen To
Do you struggle with suicidal ideation and keep it to yourself because so many people let you down? Do you have a hard time opening up to people about these dark feelings because you’re afraid of being rejected? You might be surprised to learn you’re in good company. A lot of suicidal people receive a slap in the face instead of a hand of support, metaphorically speaking. I’ve told family members, ecclesiastical leaders, and friends only to be let down time after time. Some people simply can’t handle the subject of suicide. Their mind flees out their ear in search of sunshine the moment you bring th...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 6, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: Depression Suicide Source Type: blogs

ADDitude Magazine: Church Meetings Are
Hey! It's summer camp time! Well, not NOW, but when I wrote about it at ADDitude Magazine it was very timely. This time, however, I didn't embarrass myself. I know! That's amazing, right? I wrote about how hard it was to keep up with verbal conversations while filling out forms and dealing with an interruption. At least my editor didn't post the article as "Church Meetings Are" which is what I titled it. I am very sure there was more to that title, but I forgot to finish jotting it down. Fortunately, I finished the blog before sending it to the Family Guy. (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey)
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 2, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Writing Source Type: blogs

ADDitude Magazine: A Day Early and a Holler Short
More bloggy goodness over at ADDitude Magazine. This one from last June.I'm sure you've never been in such a hurry that you misread important information and bolted out the door in the wrong direction. But have you done it with a room full of witnesses? You can read all about A Day Early and a Holler Short and how punctually challenged I am at the Family Guy. (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey)
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 25, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Writing Source Type: blogs

ADHD: Visual Reminders
There is one kind of reminder that I always fall back on when sticky notes, calendar apps, todo lists, and alarms fail. It is the visual reminder, and it can be as powerful as it is simple. One of the most notorious downsides of having adult ADHD is being forgetful. I can remind myself to do something every hour of every day of the week and forget to do it moments away from the deadline because something caught my eye. If I want to remember to bring something with me, sometimes there is nothing more helpful—short of stapling it to my forehead—than sticking it in front of the door. Is it time to return the library books...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 24, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Coping Family Source Type: blogs

ADDitude Magazine: Oversharing Time for Daddy
Parent/Teacher conferences and IEP meetings are the bane of my existence apparently. This blog from last May over at ADDitude Magazine is all about those ADHD moments when your mouth starts running and your brain can't catch up. I'm sure you can't relate. Well, you probably can't. I mean who talks about their daughters' bra sizes at a table filled with female educators? Oh, I do. Read Oversharing Time for Daddy at the Family Guy. (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey)
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 18, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Family Writing Source Type: blogs

What Willem Defoe Was Warning Me About
I am sick today and alone with my thoughts. It's probably a nice day outside, but my shades are drawn, and I am in the dark. I'm quite happy, however, so you needn't worry about me. I'm as happy as one can be with a stomach bug.I wish I could say that the most notable thing about today was my success in a new freelance job. However, I can't shake from my mind this morning's vivid dreams. I overslept for hours, obviously because I was ill, and I dreamed. I haven't done that in a very long time. It was at first a very bland dream. I was at a baseball game and we were trying to convince some people to leave our seats. I had t...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 12, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: Journaling Somnambulating Writing Source Type: blogs

ADDitude Magazine: Who Needs Sleep Anyway?
Almost exactly a year ago this little fiasco was posted to ADDitude Magazine. Who needs sleep when you can stay up all night filling out the paperwork you promised to finish and turn in? That reminds me, the Leprechaun is eagerly awaiting a packet of papers I was supposed to have finished and submitted the other day. Good thing she can't fire me. You can read all about Who Needs Sleep Anyway? over at the Family Guy. (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey)
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 11, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Family Writing Source Type: blogs

In the Aftermath of the Pittsburgh Mass-Stabbing, Where Do We Draw the Line To Feel Safe?
In Pittsburgh there was a mass-stabbing at a high school today. At least twenty victims, but no deaths. In a small way this is comforting. At least parents in Pittsburgh will not be grieving for the loss of their children tonight. Since anti-gun people jump on mass-shootings immediately, though, I’m wondering if it’s too soon to demand all kitchen knives be regulated. Perhaps Eric Holder’s gun bracelet idea can be modified so that only authorized, federally registered owners can use knives. Also, we need to do something about weaponized No. 2 pencils. Those things are sharp, ya know. I’m kidding, obviously, but I w...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 10, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: Depression Therapizing Source Type: blogs

59 Disability Bloggers You Probably Didn't Know About
I learned the other day that my blog, A Splintered Mind is one of the top 60 disability blogs according to Alexa and curated by Dr. Joe Reddington. He removed blogs from the list that were featured on heavy hitting sites like CNN.com (where Alexa doesn’t break down individual stats for the blogs versus their parent sites) to come up with a balanced, more grassroots list of disability bloggers. Now, these sort of things go up and down. I was #27 out of sixty when he compiled the list, but I could drop off the list entirely next month. Who knows? I’m just excited to be there. Assuming you aren’t as excited as I am abou...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 8, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Depression Spinning Source Type: blogs

Depression: Cloud Therapy
I've been moody lately, like a cold night thick with moisture but no rain. I can almost feel the sky within me building pressure and pushing against my restraints, threatening to bring on a depressive episode to flood over all that have come before. Certainly, I have been under a great deal of pressure from outside influences. Freelance work has been non-existant, bills have doubled, and complications from the car accident last year continue to affect my quality of living. I recently had my left elbow operated on because it developed a lump exactly where my elbow was injured in the collision. Turns out it was a benign fatt...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 6, 2014 Category: Mental Illness Tags: ADHD Depression Family Visualizing Writing Source Type: blogs