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.

Depression: Five Throw-Away Journal Ideas You Write in Secret
Sometimes the best kind of journal is the one that you shred, light on fire, then cast its ashes to the wind.Last January, I woke up severely depressed one morning. At first, I didn ’t realize what was happening. I just knew that I had no will to move, no will to eat, no will to do anything.I felt interred with heavy, suffocating sadness.Mmm, that sounds rather dramatic, doesn ’t it?The moment I realized I was depressed, I grabbed my iPhone and began dictating a blog entry to Siri as a coping strategy. However, it was all in the same vein as that emo sentence above —nice and juicy with just the right amount of adverb...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - May 8, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Writing Source Type: blogs

Depression – Breaking Out of the Cocoon and Thinking You've Failed
Sometimes we can be so fixated upon the finish line that we miss how far we’ve already come.© Alan Watson Featherstone Ah, if I hear another commercial on the radio with a smooth-talking announcer earnestly pretending their company cares about me during these“unprecedented times”, I may puke. I’ve moved way beyond that acid reflux-ish moment where my stomach’s contents race to my mouth to voice their opinion. I may not be able to hold them back next time. Between you and me, I’m a little worried about it. I’m still making payments on my car.So I’m not going to talk ...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - April 30, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Journaling Writing Source Type: blogs

Is Suicide Preventable? (Short Answer: YES)
As I wind up my latest book project, I thought it might be a good time to share an interview of sorts I did a few months ago. I was asked to answer the question“Is suicide preventable?” in three sentences. Can such a question be answered in three sentences ‽ Actually, it can be answered with one word: Yes. I elaborated on that word with three sentences that I hope are helpful to somebody.Fortunately, the rest of the article was a bit longer, so there is plenty for you to read. Kate Haldeman tackled some of the typical stigmas of which depressives encounter. People mean well, but sometimes their advice does mo...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - December 19, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Source Type: blogs

Top Mental Health Blogs for 2020 —the Bestest Year EVER!
All was not terrible in 2020. The press will convince you otherwise, but their job is to panic you into thinking the world is ending any minute …again…so that you click on their news links to help them make money. I'm sure your personal life is filled with happy events that spit in the eye of Cynicism 2020. In fact, I'm positive I can rattle off dozens of such events in my own personal life. For example, my ex and I successfully gained guardianship over our learning disabled daughter. Pretty good, huh? I filed pro se, and the hearing went without a hitch. Take that,ADHD! I sold another article to ADDitude Magazine...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - December 8, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Goodreads Hobnobbing Source Type: blogs

Top Mental Health Blogs for 2020 —the Bestest Year EVER!
All was not terrible in 2020. The press will try to convince you otherwise, but their job is to panic you into thinking the world is ending any minute …again…so that you click on their news links to help them make money. I ' m sure your personal life is filled with happy events that spit in the eye of Cynicism 2020. In fact, I ' m positive I can rattle off dozens of such events in my own personal life. For example, my ex and I successfully gained guardianship over our learning disabled daughter. Pretty good, huh? I filed pro se, and the hearing went without a hitch. Take that,ADHD! I sold another article to ADDitu...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - December 8, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Goodreads Hobnobbing Source Type: blogs

ADHD: ToDo Tabs Done Right
This article was based on an older article originally published onMay 20, 2017. ↩ (Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey)
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - October 1, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Goodreads Writing Source Type: blogs

Play It Again, Seratonin
I might get myself in a bit of trouble with my daughters with this post, but I recently sat in on the Brownie’s session with her therapist (she’s learning disabled). We were discussing ways to regulate moods. She used to have anger issues, and although those days are behind us, she still doesn’t know what to do with strong, negative feelings like disappointment, irritation, and frustration. I can’t recall exactly how the topic came up, but I used my“Heartbroken” playlist as an example to make a point.This playlist used to be a point of contention for my older daughters. After the divorce...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - September 24, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Family Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs

Dealing with Suicidal Tendencies? Posting on Social Media Is Not Therapy
On thisWorld Suicide Prevention Day, I wanted to write to people who hide behind the illusion of strength. They give the appearance of mental well-being by posting excellent advice, uplifting memes, and beautiful quotes, but privately they struggle with the overpowering tidal forces of suicidal depression. When that tide sweeps them away, their friends are left surprised and stunned.As many of you know, Ronnie McNutt¹ took his own life while live streaming on Facebook last month. It was traumatic and devastating to those who witnessed it. According to his friend, Ronnie was severely drunk, so it’s easy to assume tha...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - September 19, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs

Reviewing TIME Mental Health: A New Understanding
I picked upTIME Mental Health: A New Understanding a year ago in the grocery store and slowly worked my way through it. I assumed I would race through the magazine and produce a shining review for my readers to enjoy. Then ADHD happened, which is like saying,“And then I breathed”. When I say“slowly”, I refer to the speed at which glaciers raced across the North American continent. Ultimately, I finished, which is the lesson I take away from my tortoise and hare situation. I wasn’t in competition with anybody, except, perhaps, Father Time, but I must admit that I had an assist from COVID–...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - September 19, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs