I'm continuing my examination of Robin Williams mental state for two reasons. First, I admired his wide ranging talent and have had nothing but good feelings for him over the decades. Second, I've spent much of my life thinking about depression and related diseases since people close to me have suffered from such afflictions. I've chronicled some of this in Cleft Heart: Chasing Normal. Funnyman-in-Chief had bipolar disorder? Our nation has lost its Funnyman-in-Chief, and this is doubly … [Read more...]
If Williams was bipolar, he wasn’t alone.
Robin Williams I knew Robin Williams' death by hanging would be as hard for me to process as Philip Seymour Hoffman's recent tragic death at age 46. That's because a central character in my memoir, Cleft Heart, may've battled the black dog of depression as some allege Williams did. My family—and my study of psychology in college and med school—have sensitized me over the years to the complexities of mood disorders, esp depression and manic-depression (called bipolar disorder today). My guess … [Read more...]
A kid without facial symmetry——II
The amazing young boy in Palacio's 2012 youth novel, Wonder, is named Auggie, and he's a hit across America in schools where books about tolerance and the impact of bullying are assigned and discussed. Recognizing this, the author and Random House just released a novella, but 88 pages, entitled The Julian Chapter: a Wonder Story. It rectifies a concern many readers had that Wonder didn't have a chapter from the main antagonist's point of view. They also released a companion volume to Wonder … [Read more...]
“Wonder:” about a kid with an anomaly, without facial symmetry.
R.J. Palacio’s youth novel, Wonder, burst upon the school book scene a couple of years ago, leaving middle grade kids to ponder such statements as— "You can't blend in when you were born to stand out." "Choose to be kind, not right." (a phrase the author borrowed from Wayne Dyer and altered a bit.) "Everyone deserves a standing ovation, at least once in their lives." (Channeling Warhol and :15 of fame?) Craniofacial anomalies, no facial … [Read more...]
Angelina’s only an 8. Take the beauty, symmetry test.
Do you distrust your cellphone 'cuz it takes endless selfies to get just the right shot? Do you wonder about your boyfriend or husband who say you're gorgeous? (What's he up to, anyway?) Does your mother say, "you're beautiful, but a little more effort or makeup might help?" No more questions about beauty, symmetry. Don't sweat the conflicting, subjective assessments any longer. This website will give you the straight scoop, and all it takes is downloading a picture of yourself. … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius——not mentally disabled, but a psychopath?
No mental disability when fired shots. It's been a month since various media shouted the news that Oscar Pistorius didn't have a mental disability when he killed his girlfriend. So technically, he has only one disability, his amputated legs. However, it's been over a year (Feb 2013) when I speculated that Pistorius might be a psychopath along the lines of fallen and disgraced sports heroes like Lance Armstrong and OJ. Simpson. I'd have to say the "jury is still out" regarding whether … [Read more...]
Lookism runs wild —-celeb cosmetic dentistry
After some serious blogs about caregiving, these before and after celeb photos bring smiles to our faces. What is it about Before and Afters anyway? Still, facial differentness affects celebs as well as you and me. This website has "facial difference" as one of its subthemes, though the phrase is usually used with regard to oralfacial deformities. I've excerpted a few "examples" from a recent article written in a jaunty, but somewhat passive-aggressive style. If you need a stronger fix, … [Read more...]