Category Archives: psychology

Jan Wong & me and millions more….

Posted on June 12, 2014 by fearlessanalyst

Okay, what do you say we do our bit in the battle against stigma. What battle, you say? Well, the last time you were depressed (yes, that would be most of you at some point), did you admit it to … Continue reading →

Posted in consciousness, depression, Feelings, Jan Wong, psychology, stigma | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

World Hearing Voices Day

Posted on September 13, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

Tomorrow is September 14, “International World Hearing Voices Day”.  Who knew?  Talk about turning a ‘negative’ into a positive!  And in honour of the estimated 230 million folks in the world who hear voices, I am reflecting. I’m thinking about … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternatives, causes, Hearing Voices, injustice, mental illness, psychology, schizophrenia | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Listeners

Posted on August 6, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

The other day in my favourite café, I was listening to a friend who’s been dealing with mental illness all the decades of her adult life.  Diagnosed long ago with so-called ‘schizophrenia’, she clearly needs to talk about her feelings, … Continue reading →

Posted in active listening, baby boomers, depression, empathy, psychology | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s in a name?

Posted on May 4, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

People change their names for so many reasons.  I first became aware of this with women I knew who changed their names as a part of their working through experience of abuse. Then there are those who have felt oppressed … Continue reading →

Posted in beliefs, choices, heritage, identity, Insight, names, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Thinking about ‘critical-judgmental’…

Posted on March 18, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

I posted this on Facebook recently*: “Ploughing through the shock-value, mud and bugs in the swamp of this gentleman’s lifestyle/behaviour, I was rewarded by the Precious inside him…. Smells like integrity to me – a quality I profoundly respect and … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, beliefs, consciousness, criticism, judgment, personal growth, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Unlearning depression?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by fearlessanalyst

Would you, for a moment, entertain with me the possibility that depression is not “an illness”, so much as a perfectly natural response – or group of responses – to certain experiences or changes, or even to ‘good manners’?   What … Continue reading →

Posted in change, choices, conformity, consciousness, depression, Feelings, personal growth, personal power, psychology, reflections, repression | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The habit of despair

Posted on September 13, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

Last night I watched the very moving documentary Crooked Beauty* about Jacks McNamara’s  life, art, music, poetry, and activism – threaded through her experience of mental illness.  I’ll watch it again.  I was reminded of something I’ve been thinking about, … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, body, consciousness, Feelings, Insight, personal growth, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Blogging Woes

Posted on August 28, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

As they say, “some days are diamonds, some days are pearls” and some are akin to lumps of coal.   I spent yesterday doing research around a couple of pet subjects, instead of writing, and ended up frustrated.   That’s rare for … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, Internet, personal power, psychology, Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

‘Stigma-free’ and real education…

Posted on August 20, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

We hear a lot of talk these days about ‘stigma’ around mental health issues.   But what does this mean? It means you have to be awfully courageous to admit out loud – for example – that you are depressed (especially … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, education, fear, Feelings, ignorance, Inclusion, psychology, reflections, stigma, values, Wish List | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Here-and-now vs. There-and-then

Posted on August 17, 2012 by fearlessanalyst

So what exactly does it mean, and what was life like before I learned to stay in the here and now? Well, the opposite to staying in the here and now could be, for example, remembering, or imagining, or analyzing … Continue reading →

Posted in awareness, consciousness, Feelings, personal growth, psychology, Reflection, reflections | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments