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.

Top Ten Ways I've Survived Social Distancing
Sequestered away and worried about COVID–19? It ’s good to take this crisis seriously, but social distancing doesn’t have to be as dire as people online make it seem. Here are the top ten ways I’ve kept my attitude upbeat while isolated from others.As I’ve written before, I’ve been sick and social distancing since September 2019. I have asthmatic bronchitis, rhinitis, and chronic respiratory inflammation. Consequently, my body has been so busy struggling to breathe, it hasn’t had much oomph left to fight off every cold& virus in Utah. At first, I just thought I was getting a lot of colds f...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - March 19, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Family Goodreads Journaling Source Type: blogs

A Sneak-Peek of Spring
Yesterday I saw my immunologist. We discussed quite a few things, and she wants to see me continue social distancing, as I have been for six months, but also to try and get out more. That ’ll be hard to do with this coronavirus pandemic we’re dealing with, but yesterday was just too good to not take her advice. I just went around the neighborhood. I was so weak —so little stamina after a long, hard winter of sickness. I had to take several breaks. Even with the two ventilator valves on my mask, carbon monoxide builds up when I’m breathing hard. I lasted about 30 minutes total. It was a good effort.Today, I str...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - March 18, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Goodreads Journaling Visualizing Source Type: blogs

Sickness, then Celebration – Putting Suicide Behind Me
Even despite the worst sickness in years, I’ve maintained an even keel. Come celebrate with me. Today is the 650th day since I was last suicidal. Keeping track of this stat is only something I began six hundred and fifty days ago. Before that was a hard spell in 2013, and before that was the two year rollercoaster at the end of my marriage. I thought about ending things quite a bit back then. I ’m grateful that I was able to ignore those urges, but as I marvel at the number of days free from suicidal ideation, I am more grateful that I have retained my positivity through almost five months of being housebound with ...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - February 1, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Family Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs

Easy Goals Even Old Coots Can Achieve
Sometimes the best goals are soft and squishy like an eggnog filled belly.It’s either very late or very early, depending on your point of view. Either way, I’m sitting here thinking deep, New Year’s-like thoughts. In the other room sleeps a friend who almost wasn’t my friend anymore until we patched things last week. Upstairs sleeps my third daughter whose heart is in need of mending as her marriage comes to an end. Hanging out with dad and his friend on New Year’s Eve was either a low point for her or just exactly what she needed.My thoughts are a warm blend of nostalgia and regret with a sub...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - January 17, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Family Goodreads Journaling Source Type: blogs

Sickness, then Celebration – Putting Suicide Behind Me
Even despite the worst sickness in years, I’ve maintained an even keel. Come celebrate with me. Today is the 650th day since I was last suicidal. Keeping track of this stat is only something I began six hundred and fifty days ago. Before that was a hard spell in 2013, and before that was the two year rollercoaster at the end of my marriage. I thought about ending things quite a bit back then. I ’m grateful that I was able to ignore those urges, but as I marvel at the number of days free from suicidal ideation, I am more grateful that I have retained my positivity through almost five months of being housebound with ...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - January 10, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Family Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs

Easy Goals Even Old Coots Can Achieve
Sometimes the best goals are soft and squishy like an eggnog filled belly.It’s either very late or very early, depending on your point of view. Either way, I’m sitting here thinking deep, New Year’s-like thoughts. In the other room sleeps a friend who almost wasn’t my friend anymore until we patched things last week. Upstairs sleeps my third daughter whose heart is in need of mending as her marriage comes to an end. Hanging out with dad and his friend on New Year’s Eve was either a low point for her or just exactly what she needed.My thoughts are a warm blend of nostalgia and regret with a sub...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - January 1, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Family Goodreads Journaling Source Type: blogs

One Step Forward …
I picked up particular respirator masks so that I can go outdoors again. I ’ve apparently developed asthma due to the pollution in Salt Lake Valley and the California forest fires. It’s why I’ve been so horribly sick since September. I’ve been a near complete shut-in. Alas, I overdid things yesterday. I looked like a dork in my mask, but I happily ran errands all over town. I also worked out on my treadmill, exercise bike, and did twenty minutes of aerobic activity. Unfortunately, I forgot to use both my inhaler& nebulizer. My lungs are burning again, and the cough has returned. 🙄 I feel so feeble. I ki...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - December 14, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Journaling Writing Source Type: blogs

One Step Forward …
I picked up particulate respirator masks so that I can go outdoors again. I ’ve apparently developed asthma due to the pollution in Salt Lake Valley and the California forest fires. It’s why I’ve been so horribly sick since September. I’ve been a near complete shut-in. Alas, I overdid things yesterday. I looked like a dork in my mask, but I happily ran errands all over town. I also worked out on my treadmill, exercise bike, and did twenty minutes of aerobic activity. Unfortunately, I forgot to use both my inhaler& nebulizer. My lungs are burning again, and the cough has returned. 🙄 I feel so feeble. I k...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - December 13, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Journaling Writing Source Type: blogs

Keeping Upbeat During Illness Is a Challenge
Do I still have a blog? You wouldn’t know it by how infrequently I’ve updated it lately. Sometimes life can overwhelm. When that happens, I like to believe that I will always be plucky enough to fend off the doldrums and shake my fist defiantly at the obstacles that beset me. However, when illness weakens your knees and keeps you motionless in bed, is there enough pluck to lift your fist, never mind keep your spirits up?I ’ve been incredibly sick this Fall. I started my journey on September 7th. I attended FanX in Salt Lake City, had a good time attending with my daughter, then came home and tried to fight of...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - December 2, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Journaling Somnambulating Source Type: blogs

Don't Apologize for Feeling Suicidal
You shouldn ’t feel ashamed for feeling suicidal. Here’s how you can push back.I saw a news item a few months ago that troubled me.[1] At first, the item was in regard to a K-pop idol (Goo Hara) who my third oldest daughter and I enjoyed watching and listening to in the group, KARA. During KARA’s heyday, my daughter and I followed all their videos and song releases. It was fun —at least until she discovered a guy who had his own rock band. Then dad and K-pop were replaced with an electric guitar and a husband. Poor Daddy.Reading about anybody’s suicide attempt is heartbreaking, but Goo’s suicide...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - September 19, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Family Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs

Don't Apologize for Feeling Suicidal
You shouldn ’t feel ashamed for feeling suicidal. Here’s how you can take a stand for yourself.I saw a news item a few months ago that troubled me.[1] At first, the item was in regard to a K-pop idol (Goo Hara) who my third oldest daughter and I enjoyed watching and listening to in the group, KARA. During KARA’s heyday, my daughter and I followed all their videos and song releases. It was fun —at least until she discovered a guy who had his own rock band. Then dad and K-pop were replaced with an electric guitar and a husband. Poor Daddy.Reading about anybody’s suicide attempt is heartbreaking, but Goo...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - September 19, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Family Goodreads Suicide Source Type: blogs

Five Frank Tips that Helped Me Manage My Depression
Managing your depression doesn’t mean it goes away. Sometimes life will come at you just fast enough to throw you off your game. Here are five tips that helped me get my depression back in control.As I write this, I am depressed. I shouldn ’t be. There’s so much going right in my life right now, but the feeling of thatbleak fist of hopelessness around my heart is fairly tight. I am finishing up what is arguably the most productive summer I ’ve had in years, yet I feel like an abysmal failure. This summer I have mountains of paperwork and completed applications to prove my productivity. Logic stammers in awe...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - September 5, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Depression Goodreads Source Type: blogs

You Can Do It! Defeating Mental Health Issues with Your Own Voice
You’ve heard thatyou are your best advocate, but are you giving yourself pep talks? Maybe you should be.For years, I have been an advocate for talking out loud to oneself as a way to organize one’s mind. I’ve casually blogged about it (as can be readhere), and there was one time I gave a tutorial of sorts on the subject over on healthyplace.com.[1] However, I have also been known to give myself advice as well as a pep talk, both here and in person, as a coping strategy for dealing withmy depression. I have found talking to myself to be an effective coping strategy forADHD&depression, despite people ar...
Source: The Splintered Mind by Douglas Cootey - August 1, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Tags: ADHD Depression Goodreads Source Type: blogs