July 31, 2003
Being Insane

I'm fairly sure that this is a weblog unlike any other you're used to reading. It's by a college classmate of mine, Arthur Diggins, who is...well, I'll let him explain it:


OK, to be totally honest, I’m not technically Schizophrenic and I don’t live in a Mental Asylum. I am Schizoeffective, which is like being Schizophrenic – delusional, paranoid, subject to The Voices – but with the added bonus of making me vulnerable to the symptoms of any number of other mental illnesses: Manic-Depressive Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, etc.

As to the Mental Asylum part, my home is actually a half-way house for people recently discharged from a Psych Ward or from jail. As you may read about in the General category, it is filled with a constantly changing pirate’s crew of psychos; I am one of the longer term residents here, being possibly the most acute psycho of all the residents combined. I have frequent sobbing spells, fits of unprovoked rage … in general, I am totally unstable and can never count on going to bed in any place other than the Quiet Room of a Psych Ward on any given day. This last year has been good, though: I have been hospitalized only twice for two days each time. You can read about the residents of the house in the General category, and about the experience in being in a Psych Ward for a day separately.

[...]

It is my hope that this weblog will not only provide a few cheap thrills, but will also educate people on the experience of being mentally ill, and the treatment of the mentally ill. See the Insane Poetry category for my insider’s musings on these subjects.


Arthur's condition is the result of a meth addiction. He has a BA in English and an MA in Cinema and Television (Screenwriting) from USC, so his musings will surely be worth reading. Take a moment and check it out.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on July 31, 2003 to Websurfing | TrackBack
Comments

I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your article. I myself do not have schizzoeffective disorder, however my husband does. And as a matter of fact at this time he is in a state hospital. It is rough on all of us. Him, the kids, and I. I only wish that someone could come up with a medical miracle and save you all!

Good Luck,
Deb

Posted by: Deb on February 5, 2004 9:57 PM

Hi. I read you're article and I feel for you and others like you. However I am doing an acting course and am currently devising a piece on insanity and confusion, I was wondering if you could perhaps e-mail me some more information on your behaviour, what your day is like etc. I would be grateful for this as I have no experience of this disorder.
You sound like a very brave and wonderful person, good luck in life!!

Posted by: Tasha on March 10, 2004 6:05 AM

Can you please give me information on the half way house you are living in?

Posted by: Brinda on November 17, 2005 2:36 PM