When I was younger, I saw a poster of Tiger Woods. The caption read, “How do you go from the best to the worst overnight? Turn Pro.” I always kind of thought it was a bit stupid, frankly. Your abilities don’t change because of what pool you’re competing in. Tiger Woods’ golf skills were the [...]
In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales examine the case of William Morva, a man convicted of murder who was put to death in July 2017, despite having a diagnosis of severe mental illness. Facts of the case are addressed, and many questions raised. Additionally, our hosts share [...]
A few weeks ago, I gave a speech at a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) fundraising dinner. The event was designed to give different perspectives on the challenges our society faces related to mental illness and suicide. I was there to speak about living with bipolar disorder. Additionally, there were a couple family members, [...]
In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome guest Tanara Simpson, a young woman who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her 20s. In this interview, Tanara shares the story of her diagnosis, including the symptoms that led her from doctor to doctor, landed her in jail, and ultimately [...]
A Guest Article by Debra Wyatt My name is Debra Wyatt. I am a thirty-five year old mother to a toddler, wife to an amazing man, and I work full-time. I grew up with two older brothers, which made me the baby and little sister. My oldest brother and I are 6 years apart and [...]
In the U.S., there is a growing trend of using peer supporters to help people suffering from bipolar disorder, depression, and other mental health issues. There is a general misconception, however, about the role of peer support in recovery. In some people’s minds, peer support is a replacement for traditional medical treatments and therapies. Before [...]
Within the mental health community, most members will identify medication as an essential component in their process of recovery, or psychiatric treatment. Medication is the key enabler of recovery, providing those suffering from mental illness with a way for symptoms to subside, while paving the pathway towards creating a sustainable and satisfying life for the [...]
In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales welcome Katie Dale, a young woman with bipolar disorder who was convinced by a pastor to discontinue her medication and instead put her faith in God to heal her. Unsurprisingly, going off her meds plunged Katie into a serious bipolar episode. She [...]
In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe and Vincent address the frequently ignored and often misrepresented aspect of bipolar disorder – hypersexuality. Many seem to view this as a desirable state, believing it to be little more than having frequent sex. It is often treated as a punchline (when it is addressed at all). [...]
Let’s pretend for a moment that living with bipolar disorder isn’t life-sucking. Let’s pretend that having a chronic illness, going to medical appointments, and managing the day-to-day issues that bipolar disorder brings doesn’t take a daily toll. For the sake of argument, I’ll even remove fear, expenses, and emotional pain from the list of things [...]
