Latest Video: Going Off Seroquel

The great irony of this video? Shortly after filming it, I had to resume my 100 mg dose again, which is what I’m taking now. Things got really frayed after this, but not in a depressed way, exactly — more like a psychotic way. I’m lucky in that I get to experience both and sometimes separately. Delightful! So now I’m sleeping a lot, which is good to recharge the batteries, come off the mild psychosis and deal with a pesky cold that has me producing mucus at an alarming rate. Strangely, my chihuahua is afraid of the tissue box, so every time I go for a tissue — every 3 seconds — she recoils as though I’ve just picked up a dog-beating bat (in her mind, I guess that exists).

Still, I realize that when I start working again, I’ll be able to reduce the Seroquel again to 25 mg or maybe 0 mg without much of a problem. Once I’m in a routine, I tend to do quite well. So, as those of us in recovery say every day with increasing confidence: This. Too. Shall. Pass.

liz | 2:58 PM | meds

Last-Name Conventions

Sometimes I don’t know if what I’m obsessing over is a result of the mild OCD I have or just JNS (Jewish Neurotic Syndrome) or maybe OPPPS (Overthinking to the Point of Physical Pain Syndrome). But I can’t stop mulling over the way people clarify their last-name spellings on the phone. It’s been preoccupying me for about a year now, and it shows no sign of abating.

For instance, when I was growing up and my dad needed to spell our name to someone over the phone, he’d say, “S-as-in-Sam, P-as-in-Peter, I, K, O, L.” Thus when I grew up, and to the present day, I also say that, although it’s not like Peter is a super popular name anymore. My friend Laura, whose last name begins with P, says “P as in Paul,” which is also Biblical but more au courant, and it makes more personal sense for her because her father’s name is Paul. We don’t have any Peters in my family; pishers, yes.

I’m sitting in a cafe right now, and the guy next to me just said into the phone, “No, no, the name is Rigel — like Nigel with an R.” How many times has he said that? I really want to lean over and ask how his family developed that strategy. Is he the first-generation Nigel-referencer? Or did he get it from a parent? And wouldn’t Nigel work better in England? Maybe, but then again, what are his options?

Every time I meet someone or hear their name on the radio, I think: I wonder how they handle their last name? Especially if it’s a hyphenated mess coming from someone with an accent, as you often hear on NPR.

Why can’t I stop thinking about this????

liz | 4:12 PM | random

Memorializing Larry Frankel

Larry Frankel fought the good fight for his entire professional life, and his death — a couple weeks ago at the age of 54 — is a huge loss for America. Does that sound overstated? Probably, but I really believe that. Larry was as much a crusader as Ted Kennedy, who was lionized in the wake of his recent death. Frankel didn’t get quite as much attention (understandably), but if you want to know more about him, read his obit here. That just skims the surface of his service. Honor his memory by donating to the ACLU, or by attending his memorial service this weekend. Details:

liz | 2:29 PM | celebrities

“An army of mentally ill … “

No, that’s not our merry little band, my friends. That’s a reference to the homeless population that’s apparently growing on K Street in Washington, D.C.:

“We’re seeing a lot more people now,” said Colleen McCarthy, a volunteer with Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, a nonprofit group that provides hot meals in McPherson Square every Thursday. “Many of them are the most mentally ill.”

The rise in the population may be due to the mayor’s reform agenda, which was supposed to help the homeless. In fact, he was planning to institute a Housing First program, but was unable to due to budget issues.

“If you come through here on Saturday or Sunday, it’s wall-to-wall homeless people,” said Marquietta Henley, an officer with the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District, who was herself homeless until a few months ago.

… Councilman Jack Evans, D-Ward 2, who represents downtown Washington, defended the mayor’s approach.

“The program that the mayor has used is absolutely the right one — we should not be warehousing these people in these decrepit shelters. I’ve seen a real decrease of people out in the streets in the last two years,” he said. No matter what, Evans said, “you’re still going to have people out on the streets because they’re resistant to outside help.”

Many Washingtonians have become numb to homelessness and think little of picking their way through public parks over and around the homeless. That’s part of the problem, experts say.

“Really, homelessness has become part of the public and retail space environment, much like parking meters and vending boxes and alleyways,” Lynch said. “It’s just part of the landscape.”

Yeesh. People who are like parking meters? I’d say that’s a problem.

K Street corridor: Where homeless, business meet

liz | 3:36 PM | Uncategorized

The Big Depression Headline of the Day

Today (this evening, really), the news is about the way that depression affects cancer mortality. As you might imagine, it’s not good:

Depression was associated with risk for mortality but not progression in patients with cancer, according to data from a meta-analysis. Mortality rates were up to 25% higher among patients demonstrating depressive symptoms and 39% higher in those diagnosed with major depression.

It’s a review of the literature.

Meta-analysis: Depression independent risk factor for cancer mortality

liz | 7:41 PM | Uncategorized

You Owe Me An Explanation!

That is, I owe you an explanation. I’ve been an absentee landlord of this blog, but I can explain myself. First I was out of the country for a bit, and when I returned, a few days ago, I sank into jet lag. Now I’m over the jet lag but feeling depressed and out of it. And the worst part? I don’t have any Internet access! I broke up with Comcast, and my Verizon device isn’t working, and I can’t get online. I feel so paralyzed. But I’m always thinking of you, loving you, wondering how you are, and what we’re going to talk about when we’re together again. I briefly have a connection (pilfered) at the moment, but it’s about to go away again. Tomorrow I promise to resolve things. As soon as I get out of bed.

liz | 7:49 PM | Uncategorized