Gift from @TinyPearlCat. Thanks!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Anipal Photo Hunt #11 - Trick or Treat
Mom made Parker and I pose in the same picture for the blog challenge this week. Mom is really getting on my nerves. Without further ado, here are the Kruse Dogs, er, Kats!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Anipal Photo Hunt #10 - How Annoying!
When Mom told me there would a little red bundle of fur arriving to the house, my face plainly told what I was thinking. And, I can't put that into print, let me tell you!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Anipal Photo Hunt #9 - Compromising Positions
Oh, do I have a whopper for you! For all of you who think that Mr. Parker S. Kat is too cute to be bad, well this week's pic shows differently. This is Mr. Buster showing the Squirt a thing or 2 about cat fights. Look at Parker, on the floor in the submissive position. Ha! I saw it, Parker started the whole thing. Just look at Buster showing you what it means to be a proficient fighter. Yes, I (Maggie) enjoy seeing this picture way too much. A pox on little brothers!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Mental Illness Awareness Week - by Mom
"Across the country, NAMI advocates are gearing up for Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) 2010, which takes place October 3-9, to educate the public about serious mental illnesses like major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia."
One of the diseases that has impacted my family is "Dual Diagnosis of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorder". Dual diagnosis is when 2 things are occurring at the same time, a mental illness such as depression or bipolar disease along with substance abuse, either alcohol and/or drugs.
A surprising number of people are affected by this disorder. The numbers below were determined in the early 1990's, and further studies have not been published.
"According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA):
•Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse.
•Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
•Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs."
Due to these concurrent diseases, it is difficult to treat. Which do you treat first? Often only one of the diseases is detected, and the other ignored. A dual approach to treating these illnesses must be taken.For example, counseling and medication for the mental illness, and programs such as AA or NA for the substance abuse. It has been shown that if a patient successfully conquers the alcohol abuse, then the mental illness is exponentially easier to treat.
This brief synopsis of the dual-disorder is just meant to remind people of the many facets of mental illness and is not meant to be a complete description of the disease. All quotes are taken from the NAMI site.
Our Family's Story
Our cousins' family has been known to suffer depression and bipolar illness. The oldest son became addicted to cocaine and alcohol and was placed in a treatment facility. I am not familiar with this facility, but I could guess that either he wasn't given meds or was noncompliant with his meds. He called one night and talked for an hour nonstop - a sure symptom of hypomania. Folks with bipolar disease often are noncompliant since they miss the "highs" of their disease.
The cousin hooked up with a girl who was on her 3rd rehab. Shortly after release, he started drinking and drugging again. Within a year after getting out of rehab, he hung himself in his apartment closet. His whole family have become hard drinkers, and have moved to New Zealand to escape.
This is just an example of the devastating issues with a dual diagnosis disease, and I am sure most families have similar ones. I just want to remind all that treatment is easy, but denial can have devastating and far reaching effects.
One of the diseases that has impacted my family is "Dual Diagnosis of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorder". Dual diagnosis is when 2 things are occurring at the same time, a mental illness such as depression or bipolar disease along with substance abuse, either alcohol and/or drugs.
A surprising number of people are affected by this disorder. The numbers below were determined in the early 1990's, and further studies have not been published.
"According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA):
•Roughly 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse.
•Thirty-seven percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness.
•Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs."
Due to these concurrent diseases, it is difficult to treat. Which do you treat first? Often only one of the diseases is detected, and the other ignored. A dual approach to treating these illnesses must be taken.For example, counseling and medication for the mental illness, and programs such as AA or NA for the substance abuse. It has been shown that if a patient successfully conquers the alcohol abuse, then the mental illness is exponentially easier to treat.
This brief synopsis of the dual-disorder is just meant to remind people of the many facets of mental illness and is not meant to be a complete description of the disease. All quotes are taken from the NAMI site.
Our Family's Story
Our cousins' family has been known to suffer depression and bipolar illness. The oldest son became addicted to cocaine and alcohol and was placed in a treatment facility. I am not familiar with this facility, but I could guess that either he wasn't given meds or was noncompliant with his meds. He called one night and talked for an hour nonstop - a sure symptom of hypomania. Folks with bipolar disease often are noncompliant since they miss the "highs" of their disease.
The cousin hooked up with a girl who was on her 3rd rehab. Shortly after release, he started drinking and drugging again. Within a year after getting out of rehab, he hung himself in his apartment closet. His whole family have become hard drinkers, and have moved to New Zealand to escape.
This is just an example of the devastating issues with a dual diagnosis disease, and I am sure most families have similar ones. I just want to remind all that treatment is easy, but denial can have devastating and far reaching effects.
Anipal Photo Hunt #8 - I'm with the Band
This week we're featuring Mr. Rudy for the Anipal Photo Hunt #8 - "I'm with the Band". This was his 2009 Halloween costume designed by @GeorgetheDuck. Rudy is in his full wailing glory on the alto sax. And, here is another factoid: Parker is named for Charlie Yardbird Parker, a famous alto saxman from the BeBop era. Maybe Mom just has a thing for red cats and saxes.
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