Another One Gone

Another victim of bullying commits suicide. This was my response to the post.

I sympathize with bullying victims because I was bullied mercilessly throughout school. People need to wake up. We all need to realize that the people who are doing the bullying are doing it to make themselves big by making someone else feel small.
Interestingly, although there were tons of rumors about my sexual orientation when I was in school, being called a "lez" didn't bother me, and maybe it was because I was actually straight so it just made me laugh. Being called a slut bothered me a lot more because even though I lost my virginity when I was barely 16, I thought I was in love with the jackass. I wasn't promiscuous. I started self-injuring at that point in my life and ended up locked in a psych ward for a weekend when I gored the hell out of my wrist after taking a handful of diet pills. The wounds were actually superficial. This was back in the early 80's. I was treated like I was both stupid and crazy. I'm not saying that cutting oneself is normal behavior, but it's a sign that something is going on that needs to be looked into, and simply acting like a condescending ass isn't going to help anybody. One nurse even told me "you are a freak, you will always be a freak, people like you will never be normal." I said "better a freak than a bitch like you." She went out of her way to make my stay there hell.
It took until I was 38 years old to be properly diagnosed with Bipolar II, and longer than that to realize that I also have borderline personality disorder, OCD, and PTSD.
I certainly hope that the mental health system has improved since I was a troubled teenager, but the schools need to be on the lookout for kids like this young man and all adults are responsible for teaching kids that being different is not an open invitation to inflict misery on another.

B Vitamins and Mood Disorders

I'm going to have to look for an enteric coated or time-release B vitamin. I searched online and know such things exist and one is a brand that is carried by the local natural food store. It will be more expensive unfortunately, but I had to stop taking B vitamins because they were upsetting my stomach so badly. B vitamins are an important part of the self-care regimen for someone with a mood disorder. I don't know if we use them up more quickly, but supplementing them with a B-100 supplement helps to lower the suicide ideation thoughts.

Let's Go Crazy

No thanks--hate it when I do.
Things seem to be settling out, though I am in a fair bit of pain. I'm not sure how much the physical problem had to do with me snapping mentally. I think stress is behind both. If I still have any friends left among you, will you please let me know and perhaps ignore everything that came before this. I am standing before you with my head hung low, hat in hand, hoping for your forgiveness.

Charitable Contributions

I have decided to add the Hart Lipton scholarship fund and September School to my roster of charities to benefit from the sale of the forthcoming Cheesemeister Compendium. Hart was a friend of my son's who died at the beginning of February from an allergic reaction to peanuts. He was only 20 years old. He had bipolar disorder but was coming to terms with the self-destructive aspects of his personality through his art. September School is the school that my son attended. They have a great track record with helping at-risk youth achieve their potential. 

I really wish there was some way I could donate something to help Tom with a little money towards his wife's care and Weirdso towards her kids' college fund. Both of you have made a huge difference in the creation of the Netherworld stories. Without you, it really would never have transpired.