Canadian Mental Health Day Today, For Awareness And Fund Raising For Mental Health Organizations, As Wise Birds Of Mental Health Speak Out On Our Issues

Today is the day for mental health consumers and their chance to over come the stigma of mental health by public awareness and very special Canadians speaking out how mental health has afflicted their lives. We our our 6 gold medalist from summer and winter olympics touching all our hearts as she comes forth with Bell Canada promotion to raise money for mental health organizations across Canada. Margrette Trudeau, a past Prime Minister's wife has been in the media today speaking out on her bipolar disorder and of course I am making my blog posting for the occassion. I had so few people around me to help me deal with my schizophrenic issues, what really helped the most was reaching out to the world through my blog. It was and still is a way to show my art and tell my story what has transpired in my past, what is going on in my present life, and my dreams for the future. I two have cried a lot like our olympic champion speaks of and often sleep too much in my depression of isolation. My blog forfills me a great deal but it does not replace the human contact and touch. Being able to interact with my favorite radio station through email helps me roll with the punches as I get to feel part of the morning show trio with my comments on the show, along with Montreal's Queen of radio and interacting through corresponding with her show in the mid morning.

It has been a long hard road for me coming to terms with my visual apparitions/hallucination that I witnessed at different times in my life and still do. I am prone to seeing ghostly type imagines or having religious apparitions as I prefer to deem them. Yes when I was younger I had no medium to relate my experiences, but when I learned how to draw what I see and write about it, I found it a great help. I put my Mum and Dad, when he was alive through a great deal over the years learning how to cope with the wonderful images I can see that others do not, and what to do with it. Yes I had complications with taking medication over the years for the stituation, the long term use of antipsychotic medication led to extra paramidal side effects which made it more hazardous to go up a ladder as a tradesperson working for a boss. When I was up about a fifteen foot ladder plastering a ceiling and the EPSE struck, I figured it was time to pursue my desk job more as an artist and Internet writer to earn a living. I had made a couple of art sales and still dream of making more and doing more art as I establish my art career more and more with the mewdia attention I has achieved thanks to some very special people I have contacted in the Montreal media to promote my plight.

The extra paramidal side effects that I go through are involuntary muscle contractions from my stomach to my mouth, they are harmless when sitting over a computer key board or doing a piece of art, but when I get an attack up a ladder it really sucks and I try not to under take this task too much. Caffine in excessive amounts can induce the EPSE so I have to watch my caffine intake as well. Stress levels when they get excessive can also induce the EPSE on me so I try and not get too stressed out over things these days. I fought really hard at everything I touch upon myself and I am pround of my education level. I took medication and worked for while going to school at night for ten years to become a competant Engineering Technician after having graduated from the Canadian Coast Guard College in Marine Engineering and getting diagnosed with schizophrenia when working on the ships in engineering.

I have done some studies at Concordia University here in Montreal while diagnosed with schizophrenia, took creative writing courses and took a look at theology and religious studies to help me understand more of my schizophrenia through getting a more comprehensive understanding of my religious paritions/hallucinations that I witness. Even in my creative writing with my poetry and all, I have learned and come to a better understanding of some of the things I have written through studying some theology. It helps a bit with being an artist, as in being an iconist with my art or even given me a better understanding of some of things I have drawn through knowing something more indepth about various religious histories. My studies in these subject matters can also be a stimulus for my own writings and art ideas. When I come up with the money I still what to carry on going to school studying these subjects to keep my mind alert and experience my own personal growth with my religious values and artistic ways.

What ever one has for an mental health infliction, like our olympic champion Ms Huges who fought depression, to Margrette Trudeau as a successful public figure with bipolar disorder, to the likes of myself with schizophrenic issues, the three of us have accomplished things disbite our inflictions in mental health, and any body else in Canada or the World for that matter can do the same with sheer determination and a lot of hard work in schooling or physical training as an athlete, or being a successful public figure for different causes that one takes upon themselves. We all can be olympic type champions in mental heath if one puts their best foot forward as the three of us have done.

Mental Health System Is Over Worked Here In Montreal, Seems like More People Have Problems Than There Are Those To Help Solve Them

Well I got to see my Psychiatrist on March 24th past, it is like a joke how those that are fairing rather well get no attention. Like my Psychiatrist confessed to me, she is over booked and no time for anything. When it comes to me and my appointment it is in and out in a flash. Basic questions, still working self employed, still doing your art, ok here is a repeat prescription for next eleven months. At least I got a referral to see a Social Worker at the Quebec Government's medical clinic called a CLSC as well. After the rendez-vous with the Psychiatrist, I went to the CLSC to follow up on the referral for the Social Worker. I got interviewed by an admitting Social Worker who reviews the case and refers me to one of the Social Workers for follow up. I want to see a Social Worker for added assistance when dealing with the stigma of psychiatry. Knowing that the Psychiatric system is over burdened with people needing help, I just play the waiting game. Over all I am very content with my life. I could do with a bit more work on my plate ,which is coming with the opening up of the season for doing work on buildings with the arrival of the good spring weather. I am still active with Birks House Artists at the Montreal General Hospital's Mental Health Out Patient Clinic.We are having our opening for an art exhibition this April 19th 2006 at the Musee des Beaux Art de Montreal. All the Artist is the group have illustrated the desire to produce quality art at their different capacities. I really enjoyed the learning experience with working along side fellow Artists while being guided by an Animator at the Museum. I learned a far bit about art history and styles of art through the ages. I am very proud of the art pieces I produced through inspiration from works displayed in the Museum's permanent collection. Coming and going from the art group and the Museum with my portfolio and art supplies make me feel the power of being an artist. Walking down the main street in Montreal with my portfolio made me have such a great feeling of being able to express myself through the arts. Having my website for displaying my art and general writings, along with keeping up my blog on schizophrenic issues, leaves me with something to do at all times. That is half the battle with dealing with the schizophrenia diagnoses, keeping yourself busy as not to go into your head too much with creative ideas that can lead to delusional thinking, if not kept focused on concrete foundations. The logical engineering mind that I have, usually keeps me in a solid direction, even although I like to play around with being a bit of a mystical sort of guy. Sure I read my Bible looking for comparisons on life's struggles, from the past to what has become present day problems. I get my encouragement from words from old scriptures, I have an odd sort of nack for opening old books and lititure, at a place in the book that answers a question or emotional feelings that at the time are on my mind. In the same light ,during the last twenty years as the "Colours of Creation" as I call them, some of my spotted lights I see as apparitions/hallucinations (a/h) came forth to me, I would see them on a written text while reading. While studying Engineering Technology at night here in Montreal while working in the same field of expertise, when studying for exams I would feel compelled to make sure I re-read sections well of the text being studied, when small dots of a/h formed on the page being read. It proved beneficial on exams when the subject came up and a written explanation wanted on a certain subject. Just do not go crazy over the a/h or you will end up in Hospital. You can live an enjoyable balance of a/h and the reality of every day logic and science of survival. I like how I put that! For me it was a Metaphysical Science of a voyage toward self discovery exploring various aspects of a belief system pertaining to a God or Gods and Goddesses from my Scottish roots in ancient Druid/Pagan ancestry from the British Isles. I just formulated "Applied Schizophrenia" as a science in engineering, as in Metaphysical Engineering, having developed the ability to create a/h through focused meditation. It had brought me to a self awareness peak seven years ago as an Electromechanic, working under the supervision of a Mechanical Engineer. Now I am reaching a new peak with my creative arts and self expression of my story through the Internet. If I keep succeeding the way I am on minimal medication, while putting a belief system to work to control my a/h and get insight into them, what harm am I doing? If I can do it , others can too, be judged as normal while skilled enough to pay ample taxes back into the system. Lets create a snow ball effect of Psychiatrists working more closely with persons with schizophrenia to analysis the pattern of the visual a/p for the Godly creative art viewing for all to see. Like a Psychiatrist said to me in the parking lot at the Montreal General Hospital when discussing the matter, he responded with "There are many ways to approach schizophrenia".

Extra Pyramidal Side Effects Have Diminished To Practically None At All

Here I am making this posting and proud to say that I am not handicapped by Extra Pyramidal Side Effects (EPSE) any more. I am up early in the morning and I am more productive during the day while not fighting off EPSE in the morning. I just about, take my medication every night at the 2 mg level of Haloperidol. On the very scattered occasion, I will have a very small bout of EPSE, skipping the meds that night seem to elevate the modest discomfort when it occurs. Many aspects of my life have picked up in full steam like a lean mean fighting machine to succeed. My ex-spouse/roommate always liked controlling things, this character in her nature seemed to pick up more and more as those around her played the "schizophrenic card" instead of listening to the Engineering Technician that I am. Over a seven year period it was a constant battle getting Caroline to listen to my engineering and let me play with it to save money and build my company. Then again if I built my company and finances I would have made certain people close to her look like complete idiots. Now that they are out of the building I have got Caroline to listen to my engineering expertise, while making those that used my "schizophrenic issues" against me, look like idiots any way. Applying heat efficiency and thermodynamics around the home this second half of winter, I have kept the home comfortable around 20 degrees Celsius, 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while saving on Hydro electric consumption. I have being taking more interest at my building where I clean and do repairs for the building owner. Then again, when I am at work, I am not stricken with the EPSE any more. I am slowly getting the building fixed up with odd repairs thus making a little more extra money each month. My art has come a long way and my personal property is getting more and more organized to produce. I have my War Room as I call it or Study, which contains my company office with art supplies, computer and some tradesperson tools, along with my roll away bed and clothes. The back wood shed that my company got payed to winterize a couple of Landlords ago, holds the rest of my tools and wood stock etc. I have some basic furniture in our common area such as the kitchen and living room to make the apartment comfortable as I share the living space with my now roommate. During the evening after supper I am spending the time doing my art infront of the TV in the living room. At times I work on art for the Musee du Beaux Art du Montreal exhibition coming up this April of 2006. On other occasions I will do my own free style art to put up on my website for exchange either for money or service of some sort. The website keeps me occupied with planning and building it. My brother gave me his old digital camera at Christmas, so it will be easier to take pictures of my art and put them up on the Internet. I also have a 35mm camera that Dad gave me when he and Mom moved to the building they are in now. It took me a bit to figure out the operation of the camera to get good photographs. I play around with some photographs that I take, with my art, I would also like to get into taking some black and white photography to experiment. It feels good having all my creative toys and tools working effectively. This summer I will be working for the same gentleman that I was working for last year. I am really looking forward to the increase in work load this coming spring & summer. I have slowly reduced the the Extra Pyramidal Side Effects and increased the amount of my noticeable precision movement, while working with tools and paint brushes. It is hard to work without bumbling when on higher medication levels, the medication takes away motor movement with the onslaught of stiffness. I had developed a stiff hunch when I walked while on the Court Ordered injections at higher medication levels. Now I am walking tall and practice my precision movement type actions with body movement. I have fast reflexes, I have been known to be up a ladder and drop a srewdriver while working, with being able to re-act and catch it with one hand and carry on working. My ex-spouse/roommate Caroline used to love watching me working with my tools, when doing work around her apartment, it is just fortunate that I was here one time and stopped an electrical fire in a wall light switch box in the bathroom, while she was blow drying her hair. That started the battle royal to get me put in hospital all the time over seven years, now I am back to the capabilities I was at back when all the problems started , except the only idiots using my schizophrenia against me now is the owner of the building that we live in. This is no real problem to handle with a Judge at the Quebec Government's Rental Board, I fought for seven years to have this building comply to the Canadian National Building Code, now it is eventually going to get done with Caroline not trying to stop me from applying my engineering, to have a safe and healthy apartment as cost effective as possible. I will get to writing about the stupidity that went on surrounding this building and building practice by a unlicensed tradesman with a criminal record that manipulated people to destroy me through constantly making me look dillusional, through complete bullshit and lies to buy time to cover his crew's tracks. Until then good reading!!!