The only way to make sense of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. Alan Watts, philosopher, writer The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus famously observed that the only constant is change and that life is a rapid river, perpetually flowing, churning and transforming. When challenged by change in…
As a long-time fan of comic art and graphic novels I am always awed by their power to entertain, heal and teach through visual storytelling. The concept of art as a therapeutic and educational tool finds poignant expression in the remarkable and courageous Diary Drawings: Mental Illness and Me, by Bobby Baker. Bobby Baker is in…
Could we all be mentally ill? This may be the diagnosis when the American Psychiatric Association (APA) officially publishes the DSM-5 in May 2013. What is the DSM? DSM stands for “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” and is essentially the “bible of psychiatry.” The manual contains a listing of psychiatric disorders, corresponding to…
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive Dalai Lama May is International Mental Health Month and I’m blogging for mental health. Not long ago I witnessed an incident that left me feeling both shocked and dismayed. I was on a crowded streetcar when loud singing broke out. I turned and…