
Saturday, January 27, 2007
My Ex = Nerd Nightmare
POSTED: 4:22 p.m. EST, January 26, 2007
Story Highlights
• 39 people have jumped from Seattle's Aurora Bridge in the past decade
• The gruesome deaths have traumatized office workers below
• Phone numbers of suicide hotlines have been posted in the area
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A bridge over Seattle is becoming hazardous to the mental health of the dot-com employees and other office workers below, who keep seeing people jump to their deaths from the span.
Thirty-nine people over the past decade have committed suicide off the 155-foot-high Aurora Bridge -- eight in 2006 alone -- and counselors are regularly brought in to help office workers deal with the shock of seeing the leap or the bloody aftermath.
At least one woman, Sarah Edwards, drives on the left side of the street near her office ever since a body landed on the hood of a co-worker's car.
City and state officials, meanwhile, are adding suicide-prevention signs and telephones in hopes of reducing the death toll.
The "suicide bridge," as the half-mile span has been occasionally called since it was built in 1931, carries as many as 45,000 vehicles a day on one of the main north-south highways through Seattle, passing over a narrow channel connecting Lake Washington and Lake Union.
Some jumpers hit the water; others land on the pavement or other solid ground. Either way, they almost always die.
The neighborhood beneath the bridge used to be docks and warehouses, and the suicides went largely unnoticed. But during the technology boom of the past two decades, it morphed into a trendy area full of office buildings, shops and restaurants, and the bodies began to fall where people could see them.
"They end up in our parking lot," said Katie Scharer, one of Edwards' co-workers at Cutter & Buck, a sportswear company based in the Adobe complex. "Nobody's ever totally used to it."
Grief counselors regularly go to Cutter & Buck, paying a visit as recently as a month ago.
A few weeks ago, officials installed six emergency phones and 18 signs that read, "Suicidal?" and give the number of a 24-hour crisis line in bold yellow type.
"Any time you can interrupt a suicide thought process, you have a good chance of success, at least temporarily," said L.J. Eddy, head of the police hostage negotiation team.
But as for other possible solutions, transportation officials said installing nets or raising the sides of the bridge could interfere with safety inspections -- which are made with a big bucket lowered over the railing -- and could catch the wind, making the span dangerously unstable.
Moreover, any plans would need to go through a special public approval process because the bridge is a national historic landmark.
Seattle's other major bridges -- the Ship Canal Bridge that carries Interstate 5 and the West Seattle Bridge -- see few suicides because they are closed to pedestrians.
The city does not even want to talk about preventing people from walking on the Aurora Bridge, which is a pedestrian link between two densely populated hilltops. But the state has considered moving the pedestrian walkway to an enclosed structure below the span.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
FIRE! FIRE BAD!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Crazy Movie Loving
Friday, January 19, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Long Day's Week of Emptiness
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
"Touched With Fire"
This is a list of people accompanied by verifiable source citations associating them with bipolar disorder. This list includes only: a) deceased persons; and b) living persons who have been frank about their condition. It does not include speculation about status of living people who have not publicly stated themselves to have bipolar disorder. In addition to the above criteria, please only list people here if they also meet the Wikipedia notability criteria for biographical articles.
Many of the older cases are speculations, based on their biographies rather than an actual medical diagnosis, and in many cases are not widely accepted by historians, biographers, or physicians.
Many famous people are believed to have been affected by bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression), based on evidence in their own writings and contemporaneous accounts by those who knew them. It is often suggested that genius (or, at least, creative talent) and mental disorder are linked, as discussed by Kay Redfield Jamison in Touched with Fire, though many of the diagnoses in that book are made by Jamison herself.
[edit] List
- All entries succeeded by TWF are taken from Touched with Fire (See list)
- All entries succeeded by NAMI are on the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill list of famous persons with Mental Illnesses
Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
[edit] A
- Rigoberto Alpizar, shooting victim. [1]
- Hans Christian Andersen, writer. TWF p. 268
- Sophie Anderton, model [1]
- Adam Ant, musician. He is open about having bipolar disorder: see Adam and the fall, an art.telegraph profile which describes a 2003 Channel 4 television program, "The Madness of Prince Charming."
[edit] B
- Charles Baudelaire, poet
- Thomas Lovell Beddoes, poet and dramatist. TWF p.267
- Ludwig van Beethoven, composer. NAMI See this article for a review of Beethoven's mental state. Scientific analysis of Beethoven's hair has given rise to speculation that lead poisoning may have been a cause of his depression.
- Maurice Benard, actor. (General Hospital) He has discussed his diagnosis with Oprah Winfrey, and has since become active in promoting bipolar awareness. [2]
- Andy Behrman, author of the book Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania [3] [4]
- Ludwig Boltzmann, physicist and mathematician. "suffered from an alternation of depressed moods with elevated, expansive or irritable moods". John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson. Ludwig Boltzmann at the MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
- Habib Bourguiba, ex-president of Tunisia
- Russ "Dutch" Boyd, American professional poker player confirmed his diagnosis on his official website.
- Jeremy Brett, actor (See [5])
- Frank Bruno, boxer; was hospitalized for a short period and is currently on lithium. (See [6], [7], [8])
- Lord Byron, poet. TWF p.267 (Touched with fire profiles Lord Byron's illness in detail)
- Charles Pierre Baudelaire, author. TWF p.267
- Jeff Buckley American Musician, who, before his death, revealed to his friends he suffered from Bipolar Disorder.
[edit] C
- Dick Cavett, television journalist. Quote from CNN transcript from Larry King Live, broadcast June 12, 2005: "CAVETT: Both in hypomanic, which I have had, and incidentally, one has to admit many patients say I am cured now, I am fine. But I must say I miss those hypomanic states. They are better off where they are."
- Winston Churchill, politician and British Prime Minister. NAMI Churchill often referred to depression as his "black dog". He is also recorded to have undergone manic phases of intense productivity. None of Churchill's numerous biographers, however, have claimed that he was actually bipolar. In 2006 a controversial statue of Churchill wearing a straitjacket was unveiled in Norwich in an attempt to highlight the stigma of mental health problems. Three days later it was taken down due to public outcry. [9] The series Altered Statesmen suggests that Churchill had Cyclothymia.
- Kurt Cobain, musician. His cousin, Beverly Cobain, a "registered nurse (…) [with] experience as a mental health professional" and author of a book, When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens ISBN 1-57542-036-8, stated in an interview: "Kurt was diagnosed at a young age with Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], then later with bipolar disorder; (…) As Kurt undoubtedly knew, bipolar illness can be very difficult to manage, and the correct diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately for Kurt, compliance with the appropriate treatment is also a critical factor." [10]
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet. TWF pp.219–224, 267. His condition is more commonly directly attributed to drug use. "Around 1796, Coleridge started using opium as a pain reliever"
[edit] D
- Ray Davies, musician: is openly bipolar; also see his autobiography, X-Ray
- Charles Dickens, author. TWF p.267
- DMX, rapper [11]
- Richard Dreyfuss, actor, BBC Documentary [12]
- Gaetano Donizetti, composer. NAMI
- Patty Duke, actress. NAMI, also wrote about her own illness in Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness
- Shalini Datta, the famous Indian dancer confessed in an interview that she was suffering from BPD The Telegraph 24th May 1989
[edit] E
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, author, poet, and philosopher. TWF p. 268
[edit] F
- Carrie Fisher, actress and writer. "'I ended up being diagnosed as a bipolar II,' says Fisher." [13] BBC Documentary [14]
- Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, writer. TWF p.269
- William Faulkner, writer. TWF p.269
- Stephen Foster, songwriter. TWF p.269
- Stephen Fry, actor, comedian and writer. "As a sufferer of the disorder, Stephen Fry is speaking to other sufferers to find out about their experiences and visiting leading experts in the UK and US to examine the current state of understanding and research." [15], also [16]. BBC documentary [17]
[edit] G
- Alan Garner, novelist. According to the Guardian, "In The Voice that Thunders (Harvill), a collection of critical and autobiographical essays, Garner casts light on his writing and thinking, and the role that manic depression plays in his creativity" see [18], and also [19]
- Philip Graham, publisher and businessman. "It had finally penetrated to me that Phil's diagnosis was manic-depression…" Katherine Graham (1997), Personal History, p.328; Knopf, 1997, ISBN 0-394-58585-2 (book has numerous other references).
[edit] H
- Alexander Hamilton, politician. "Danger, Hypomanic on Board," could well be the other title of "Washington Crossing the Delaware." John Gartner in The Hypomanic Edge makes a strong case that America owes its greatness to a liberal supply of "manic lite" genes. See Hypomanic Nation.
- Linda Hamilton, actress. Star of the Terminator movies. Was diagnosed at the age of 40[20]
- Mariette Hartley, American actress, has publicly spoken about her bipolar disorder. [21]
- Jonathan Hay, Australian rules footballer [2]
- Ernest Hemingway, writer. TWF p.269
- Kristin Hersh, musician, formerly of rock band Throwing Muses, is occasionally mentioned as having bipolar disorder, one example being a Muses biography. She has also mentioned the disorder in several interviews.
- Hermann Hesse, writer. TWF p.269
- Jimi Hendrix, pioneering rock guitarist
- Abbie Hoffman, political activist: "Abbie was diagnosed in 1980 as having bipolar disorder, more commonly known as manic depression." Jezer, Marty (1993). Abbie Hoffman. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-2017-7. p. xvii
[edit] J
- Kay Redfield Jamison, psychologist, who profiled her own bipolar disorder in her 1995 memoir An Unquiet Mind and argued for a connection between bipolar disorder and artistic creativity in her 1993 book, Touched with Fire.
- Daniel Johnston, musician: "Johnston's output in his late teens and early 20s proved to be a symptom of his worsening manic depression." The Guardian Unlimited, Saturday August 20, 2005: "Personal demons," review of film, The Devil and Daniel Johnston:[22]
[edit] K
- Chris Kanyon, wrestler — self-described, diagnosed, see [23]: "I have gone thru (sic) some rough times, which ultimately led to me being diagnosed with clinical Bipolar Depression (also known as Manic Depression). I have spent the last year learning about and understanding my condition and we have finally got my medications balanced to the point where I feel I am in the best mental state of my life."
- John Keats, poet - TWF p.268; NAMI
- Otto Klemperer, conductor — see Norman Lebrecht's article at [24].
- Margot Kidder, actress — self-described, see [25]: "I have been well and free of the symptoms that are called manic-depression for almost five years, and have been working steadily and leading a happy and productive life since then."
- Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, 38, [26] spent time at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to Providence College. He has been open about mental health issues, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
[edit] L
- Larry Lea, former televangelist
- Bill Lichtenstein, print and broadcast journalist and filmmaker. See October 10, 1994 "Time Magazine" article on Bill Lichtenstein.
- Vivien Leigh, actress, cited in Holden, Anthony, Olivier, Sphere Books Limited, 1989, ISBN 13579108642; pp 221-222
- Courtney Love ,Musician,Actress,Author. Best known as the singer/songwriter for Hole (band), and as the widow of singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain. Quoted saying "Ive been known to be a bit mad" "I have manic episodes" on a documentary.
- Neil Lennon Footballer with Celtic FC open about his battles with depression [27]
- Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, who was on suicide watch at least twice before assuming the presidency in 1861
[edit] M
- Kristy McNichol, actress. The former child star and teen idol left the show Empty Nest due to her battle with the depression. McNichol later returned to the show for a few episodes during the series' last season. [28]
- Kate Millett, author, The Loony-Bin Trip (1990) discusses her diagnosis of bipolar disorder, describing experiences with hospitalization and her decision to discontinue lithium therapy.
- Spike Milligan, comedian and writer. "I had to write a new show every week for six months. If Hitler had done that to someone it would be called torture. I was in such a state of hypertension that I was unapproachable by human beings. I became a manic depressive." See Guardian obituary and Comedy's Fab Five
- Charles Mingus bass player
- Marilyn Monroe, actress. See article
- Ben Moody, musician. The former guitarist from Evanescence and future solo artist. See MTV News article
- Edvard Munch, artist. Rothenberg A. Bipolar illness, creativity, and treatment. Psychiatr Q. 2001 Summer;72(2):131–47.
[edit] N
- Isaac Newton, pioneering scientist and mathematician. NAMI
- Florence Nightingale, nurse and health campaigner. BPW "Florence heard voices and experienced a number of severe depressive episodes in her teens and early 20s - symptoms consistent with the onset of bipolar disorder," Dr. Kathy Wisner, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. See this article.
[edit] O
- Ozzy Osbourne, singer. Lead singer of Black Sabbath and his self-titled band. Cited in VH1's "Heavy: The History of Metal" in 2006.
[edit] P
- Steven Page, Singer of Barenaked Ladies Talks about his illness in the song "This is Where it Ends"
- Jane Pauley, TV presenter and journalist. The former Today and Dateline host describes being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her autobiography "Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue", which she wrote in 2004, as well as on her short-lived talk show. [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34]
- Jimmy Piersall, baseball player. NAMI
- Sylvia Plath, poet. "It is as if my life were magically run by two electric currents: joyous and positive and despairing negative … " See Sylvia Plath - In Her Own Words
- Jaco Pastorius, musician. "Jaco was diagnosed with this clinical bipolar condition in the fall of 1982. The events which led up to it were considered "uncontrolled and reckless" incidences." Ingrid Pastorius - http://www.jacop.net/mind.html
- Edgar Allan Poe, writer. TWF p.269.
- Emil Post, mathematician. Martin Davis, 1994, "Emil L. Post: His Life and Work" in Davis, M., ed., Solvability, Provability, Definability: The Collected Works of Emil L. Post. Birkhauser.[citation needed]
[edit] R
- Rene Rivkin, entrepreneur. Sydney Morning Herald 3 May 2005
- Marty Robbins, country artist and singer
- Axl Rose, musician. (Guns N' Roses) [35]
- Svend Robinson, former Member of Parliament (Canada)
[edit] S
- Tom Scholz, founder and guitarist of Boston
- Robert Schumann, composer. TWF p.269
- Tony Slattery, actor and comedian. [36] "I rented a huge warehouse by the river Thames. I just stayed in there on my own, didn't open the mail or answer the phone for months and months and months. I was just in a pool of despair and mania." BBC Documentary [37]
- Michael Spensieri, lawyer and politician. "This special gift, it enables me to live both ends of the bipolarity, to survive." Michelangelo Spensieri was called to the Bar of Ontario on March 22, 1974 and resigned October 26, 1989 pursuant to The Law Society of Upper Canada guidelines.
- Robert Louis Stevenson, author. TWF p.268
- Ben Stiller, actor and comedian. "I have not been an easygoing guy. I think it's called bipolar manic depression. I've got a rich history of that in my family." Quotation from Stiller himself, sourced from
- Sting, musician; The Police, solo career[38]
[edit] T
- Sara Teasdale, poet. TWF p.268
- Devin Townsend, musican. (Strapping Young Lad)
- Nick Traina, singer. Nick Traina Foundation, "in the last year of his life, he began telling people he was manic-depressive."
- Timothy Treadwell, American environmentalist and bear enthusiast, featured in the 2005 documentary film by Werner Herzog titled Grizzly Man. [39] [40]
- Margaret Trudeau, Canadian celebrity. [41]
- Mark Twain, author. TWF p.268 (as "Samuel Clemens")
[edit] U
[edit] V
- Jean Claude Van Damme, actor — Australian Woman's Day magazine — January 30, 2006
- Vincent Van Gogh, artist. See Vincent and Me
- Kurt Vonnegut, author [42]
[edit] W
- Scott Weiland, musician. (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver) "I suffer from manic-depressive disorder, and I've chosen not to take medication for it." Quotation from Weiland during an interview. Source: VH1.com
- Amy Winehouse, musician. "Amy, who this year admitted drinking too much, said she refuses to take medication, even though clinically diagnosed as a manic depressive." [43]
- Virginia Woolf, poet and novelist. TWF p.269; see also Virginia Woolf's psychiatric history and Virginia Woolf and Her Madness
[edit]
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Thursday, January 4, 2007
What you imagine you can accomplish.....!
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Please Start Fire In My Studio Apartment

The HUD Nazi stormtroopers of death did not choose my filth to inspect this year. I'm going to stack some plastic and paper in front of the heater and hope for a new start. Shit I forgot about not wanting to hurt others. "Head on- apply directly on your forehead" What if you applied it to your penis?
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
I don't want to hurt anyone
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Current mood: hopeful
"Symptoms
While a person with depression or bipolar disorder typically endures the same mood for weeks, a person with BPD may experience intense bouts of anger, depression, and anxiety that may last only hours, or at most a day. These may be associated with episodes of impulsive aggression, self-injury, and drug or alcohol abuse. Distortions in cognition and sense of self can lead to frequent changes in long-term goals, career plans, jobs, friendships, gender identity, and values. Sometimes people with BPD view themselves as fundamentally bad, or unworthy. They may feel unfairly misunderstood or mistreated, bored, empty, and have little idea who they are. Such symptoms are most acute when people with BPD feel isolated and lacking in social support, and may result in frantic efforts to avoid being alone.
People with BPD often have highly unstable patterns of social relationships. While they can develop intense but stormy attachments, their attitudes towards family, friends, and loved ones may suddenly shift from idealization (great admiration and love) to devaluation (intense anger and dislike). Thus, they may form an immediate attachment and idealize the other person, but when a slight separation or conflict occurs, they switch unexpectedly to the other extreme and angrily accuse the other person of not caring for them at all. Even with family members, individuals with BPD are highly sensitive to rejection, reacting with anger and distress to such mild separations as a vacation, a business trip, or a sudden change in plans. These fears of abandonment seem to be related to difficulties feeling emotionally connected to important persons when they are physically absent, leaving the individual with BPD feeling lost and perhaps worthless. Suicide threats and attempts may occur along with anger at perceived abandonment and disappointments.
People with BPD exhibit other impulsive behaviors, such as excessive spending, binge eating and risky sex. BPD often occurs together with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and other personality disorders."
I think it's time I get help. I have hurt people whom I really care about in life, when I don't really mean to hurt them.