Childhood Bipolar Disorder tears families apart and is very hard to diagnose. Awareness of this debilitating disorder is needed. Kids are misunderstood by their peers, their schools, and communities. The general population has no idea of the internal demons these kids face. So many of these young souls end their lives in suicide. Lives are at stake.
"Helpless Tears" is a poem I wrote, and reflects my son's struggle with his bipolar disorder and my own personal struggle to see him through.
"Scars" was written by my son, during the darkest moments of his life. It was through poetry, and writing, that he overcame the need, and the urge to cut. This graphic illustration is his idea, my artwork; and is included in the book we are currently producing. Some of the pages will be graphic such as this... some inspiring.
We are currently seeking and welcome submissions of poetry, short stories, thoughts, inspirations, and artwork to our book - which will be offered for a very small donation at festivals and through our website at www.artrageousminds.net
This is another spread in the book, Artrageous Minds
Need to do some online shopping? Go through our marketplace, and a portion of the proceeds from your purchases will benefit bipolar research!
Currently I am selling some of my artwork and gourd art on etsy. A portion of all proceeds will be put into our ongoing efforts. Please visit my store!
Here is a wonderful site.... check them out - and give support to Autism Awareness
Music
"Mad World"
Gary Jules
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world ... mad world
Enlarging your world
Mad world
Movies
Watch this... it's really cool----
Television
Books
The Bipolar Child by Demitri Papolos, MD and Janice Papolos
Survival Stratgegies for Parenting Children with Bipolar Disorder
Heroes
My heroes include everyone that struggles with this disorder - and the people who care for them. YOU are saints!
Artrageous Minds's Details
Status:
Single
Here for:
Networking
Orientation:
Straight
Religion:
Christian - other
Zodiac Sign:
Aries
Children:
Proud parent
Artrageous Minds is preparing for the summer art market season. Posted at 1:38 PM May 6 view more
About me: I hope that if you stumble across my page... if you're an artist, musician, poet, writer... anybody in the arts who supports mental health please add me as your friend.
If you are bipolar, or suffer depression, or have been given a weird diagnosis that you don't understand - please add me. If your child has been given a label of ADHD, or told they are ODD, or maybe borderline personality disorder... add me. If you feel there is something wrong with you, or someone you love, but don't know what it is... please add me. If you've been given drugs to "make you better" but they don't seem to work, or... make things worse - please add me!!! If you're someone who understands anything about the stigma associated with bipolar and mental illness. ADD ME! And... if after reading this page, you support my cause, please comment me, and share my page with everyone you know!
I do want to make it really clear, that I am not a therapist, nor a counselor. I am simply a "mom with a mission".
ATTENTION MID MICHIGAN ARTISTS AND CRAFTSPEOPLE! ARTRAGEOUS MINDS NOW HAS A TENT AT THE FLINT FARMERS MARKET AND IS OPENING SPACE TO YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY YOUR ART OR CRAFT FOR SALE? PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH MY BLOG FOR DETAILS.
http://cathy-weaver.blogspot.com
Research Is Needed!
Artrageous Minds is a non-profit organization, founded in April of 2007, raising bipolar awareness through the arts. Currently we have non-profit status in the State of Michigan, and our federal 501(c) 3 is pending. Mental illness tears families apart, and there is very little REAL support for the family members who live with an afflicted individual. Our family camp is the vision of our future. A vacation destination, in an undertanding and nurturing environment; the camp will utilize art and nature to put a little glue back in the relationships torn by mental illness.
Artrageous Minds online gallery will be offering art, music and literary works created by people afflicted with mental illness, and those who support mental health.
Our web address is www.artrageousminds.net and although the site is not finished yet.. I assure you I am working on it! We're not going to lie to you. It takes support to get something like this going. No donation is too small. Donations can be monetary or a gift of your own artwork. We will also consider accepting art on consignment. We have tshirts and products for sale through cafepress - please take a look and see what we have to offer. I am also able to make a custom design for you, if you're looking for something special. There is also a marketplace to do all of your online shopping... even EBAY is a registered member. Please click on the links on our page, and help any way you can. We have just sold our first piece of donated art through ebay!! Support is also needed by existing 501(c)3 organizations, in the way of sponsoring Artrageous Minds in fundraising opportunities, until our federal status is approved. Email us at info@artrageousminds.net for information about direct donations, consignment opportunities, or to align your organization with ours.
Andy's story... (why this all began)
My son is bipolar. At the tender age of four, he was diagnosed with depression and medicated with Prozac. As the years went by - he was given many other labels...ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, etc. As each label came, so did another drug. When the drugs didn't work.. they added more. My son has seen the inside of a psychiatric hospital as well as the inside of jail cells. He has gone thru 12 years of therapy and counseling. One year ago, we changed doctors (again). Finally, he was diagnosed properly as being bipolar. The doctor told us, that he is NOT suffering depression, is not ADHD, nor does he have any of the other disorders previously diagnosed. The biggest thing he said to me... was that in addition.. he should NOT have been medicated for all of those disorders. Each one of those medications were counteracting his true disability, and in fact making him worse. He told me - that if my son were to stay on the current medications, he would remain a non-functioning psychiatric patient for life!
It took nearly a year to wean him off the high amounts of medications he was on. He endured withdrawals as each medication was adjusted. Now at age 17, and being on what appears to be the correct medication, my son's personality is emerging. He still has "episodes", but they are far less severe, and much more widely spread. Andy and I have hope, and with our faith in God, believe that he will succeed in life. Unfortunately, my son has very little memory of his childhood. The drugs took that away from him. My son's story is only one of many. I'd like to hear yours as well.
So what's the big deal, you ask? Can't you just "snap" out of it?
NO you can't snap out of it! Many individuals do not truly know what bipolar is. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain - a medical condition - a disease that is INCURABLE. Until only a few years ago, the National Institute of Mental Health did not recognize that children can be afflicted with what is now known as Early Onset Childhood Bipolar Disorder. It was their belief that it did not manifest itself until adult years. The big deal is this.. It is very apparent that there is a need for awareness, and a need for further research into cause and diagnosis, and most importantly in prescribing the correct medication.
It is my hope that new research will be done, and someday a cure will be found. My son is one that has survived so far. Statistics show that 30% end their lives in suicide. Imagine how many other individuals are undiagnosed and misdiagnosed - that do not make the statistics, and lose their lives. The numbers are staggering for those who attempt it.
A child should not suffer. Please help me help save the life of another. It is our hope that Artrageous Minds will raise awareness, stop stigma and provide much needed family support. Owning a piece of art from our gallery will not only be an investment, it very well could save the life of a child. When our federal status comes through, we intend to have our first music and art festival.. and then hope to have a gallery and studio space where one can go to explore the arts. I just want the kids to enjoy their youth... I want them to live.
Who I'd like to meet: Non-profit agencies and organizations affiliated with mental health or the arts.
People who suffer with mental illness, family members looking for some support. artists, musicians, writers who support mental health.
And someday - I'd like to meet each and every one of you - the survivors, the caregivers and all the rest who support mental health.
.. Get your own friendscroller
These famous people are all said to have been, or are bipolar...
happy SUN day Artrageous Minds ... oh deer, rapidly returning well we'll see, ... if i make up my mind, wednesday would be fine, ... we are, i see, to be ;)
happy SUN day Artrageous Minds ... to keep me a wake, to me me a live, vibrate the string, accardo dancing on a wing, there i am, therefore i ate, hiding in the elephant grass, i hereby do ... solemnly ... resonate. ;)
... is thinking same biology, different geology ... hope they love their kids, hope they learn not to so, wish they'd buy some whigs, where did all the good parties go ... ;););)
happy SUN day Artrageous Minds ... false logic ... "your enemy's enemy is your best friend" ... don't believe it or you could be dead ... beware of writers with bad logic, there are plenty of them out there ... somehow they equate turning a phrase with intelligence ... even i can turn a phrase ;););)
... violin concerto in d major by beethoven ... laugh about this attempt, for who, when and how, could paint such a delight ... ok i tried and lied ... who said art is about truth ...
30% Of The Profit From This CD Goes Directly To Children's Homes And Orphanages All Over The World!
The new CD "Dr.Jones, Songs 1987-2009” is available now! 16 songs taking you through the highlights of 22 years of Dr. Jones's recordings. Rock, blues, pop, unplugged and beautiful ballads, there's a song for everybody!
Price £4.99 / $7.11 / EUR 4.76 (plus P+P) You won't get a 16 track CD any cheaper and at the same time, YOU'LL BE DOING SOMETHING GOOD!!!
30% of the profit from this CD goes directly to "Wake Up - Stop Child Abuse"! And from there it will be donated to Children's Homes and Orphanages all over the world!
hello Artrageous Minds ... meet lizzy ... one upon some time, in a land very near, came a cry, for all to hear ... da!, da!, da!, da!, da!, da! ... la!,la!,la!,la!,la!,la! ... 1,2,3,4,5,6 ... ;););) ;)
... key to success, full of, ten glory us, exta seas, is mind travel ... and in this case accompanied by the brahms piano quartert number one in G minor, opus 25.
hello Artrageous Minds ... people often treat their present and future selves differently, thank goodness for a military symphony, or there would be no peace, and it would not matter ...
... what comes to me via perceptions directly reflect reality ... of course this is false and stravinsky was right ... ;)
hi Artrageous Minds ... ONE --> breathe in, breathe out, air on the bright side and shiver with delight ... TWO --> ... the elephants will forget to remember what you said, so fool them if you dare ... THREE --> i learned by ear, to hear, i learned by looking, to see, l learned by touching, to feel, but i still don't know all that i don't know, ladies and gentlemen ... father and son ;) ;)
happy SUN day Artrageous Minds ... the informavor ... wrecking the universe, constructing disaster, building up matter, NOT, the bandits ... in your eyes ;)
happy SUN day Artrageous Minds ... broken words into open fields, fielding sounds at low levels, faster and faster, sound, light and image all merging ... excuse me while i clean my brushes ;)
Great organization, thanks for the friendship and inspiration. You would enjoy what we are doing at the City Art Centre... drop by our page sometime! All the best, in healing & creativity.
happy SUN day Artrageous Minds ... my hero, he's not from here, watch him as he goes, a baby bursting on the scene, he's my higher self, yes it's me, watch him as he goes ... ;)
hi Artrageous Minds ... Sleeping in the Sun, loving on the moon, saving in the store, running out of more ...... Slippin Through the Night, painting the town light, watch what you say, delight ... excuse me while i switch the polarity on my brushes ;)
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