2023-06-29 10:27
The biggest challenge in my life right now is Long COVID. The post exertion malaise leaves me depleted with no extra energy for blogging. All that energy is directed towards my Daddy Duty (I… Read More
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A Splintered Mind Blog
TheSplinteredMind.blogspot.com
Overcoming Neurological Disabilities With Lots Of Humor And Attitude
2022-11-11 12:16
Ever find yourself missing important messages because your voicemail box is filled with half a decade of unlistened to calls? There might be a solution for that. Adult ADHD is almost like th… Read More
2022-11-04 01:25
I’ll write a bit vaguely today because I want to touch upon some things that are family matters and how they impact me. Recently, I have noticed longtime readers of my blog have leapfr… Read More
2022-10-27 13:00
A month has passed since I last updated my journal. I'm afraid progress has been in short supply, but understanding my obstacles and deciding how to surmount them has made this writing proce… Read More
2022-10-22 01:22
Let’s celebrate my one year anniversary since getting COVID–19! 🎉 I know people who felt that COVID was a pernicious plot by politicians to put down the populace. I know… Read More
2022-10-07 00:44
Come explore with me the strange intersection of pants and ADHD. Last July, I lost three pairs of pants. As usual, I posted to social media to make light of it, but just between you and me… Read More
2022-09-26 13:42
A lot is said about adults with ADHD and their inability to focus, but not enough is said when they're focused on the wrong thing. Here I became fixated on adding a certain project to my lis… Read More
2022-09-25 02:00
Long before “Shiny Object Syndrome” was coined as a term, an insignificant blogger from Utah referred to a similar condition and called it Multi-Irons Syndrome. Are they the same… Read More
2022-09-24 09:55
After meeting with a care manager at the University of Utah's COVID Long Hauler clinic, I gained some new information that explained what I've been going through this year. I've been needles… Read More
2022-09-24 04:10
This process may seem dull, but it works extremely well for me, especially since I'm dealing with Post-COVID brain fog. Writing slowly by hand is helping me sort out my thoughts. In this ent… Read More
2022-09-23 11:29
Here's another thrilling tech-heavy entry as I battle the evil forces of drudgery, then I ask myself an important question: Why don't I make things easy for myself and just delete it all? It… Read More
2022-09-23 10:54
While I was sick from October 2021 to April 2022, I allowed myself to pile on new projects as a coping strategy. It worked. Having new plans helped keep me focused forward. Now that my healt… Read More
2022-09-23 10:53
These tech-heavy entries focus on the nuts & bolts of hosting a blog. It's not exciting reading, but I needed to resolve this problem if I wanted full focus moving forward. Sometimes our… Read More
2022-09-23 10:51
The technical hurdles have been overcome, and I come to a decision regarding blogging. This is a slow process, but I'm glad I'm going through it. Regardless of Multi-Irons Syndrome, I need t… Read More
2022-09-19 08:12
Earlier this year, I admitted to myself that my current coping strategies weren’t fighting off my depression as effectively as they were before. Had they simply stopped working, or had… Read More
2022-09-08 15:30
Call it brain fog, absentmindedness, or a senior moment, but sometimes when your ADHD brain goes on the fritz, you’ve just got to laugh. I am here today to tell you that playing Sudoku… Read More
2022-08-27 12:35
A lot is made of ADHD’s super power of hyperfocus. I’ve written about it on several occasions over the years as well. I’ve even created a ToDo List technique to simulate i… Read More
2022-07-11 11:59
The problem with chronic illness is that it's boring. I don't mean for the person stricken in bed and suffering. Who cares about them, right⸮ I am referring to everybody else who fin… Read More
2022-05-14 03:58
Can you be so forgetful that you’d forget that you were dating somebody? For a few groggy moments, I was convinced that I had. As I dealt with forgotten bills, paperwork unearthed from… Read More
2022-04-30 01:07
Ever been so ADHD that you can’t see what you’re looking for, even when it’s right in front of your face? Given that ADHD has as many flavors as a bag of jelly beans, you m… Read More
2022-04-23 20:13
A lack of focus is the one common trait that all adults with ADHD seem to have, but focus isn’t as elusive as you might fear. The other day, a friend texted me out of the blue. He want… Read More
2022-01-28 12:53
I pull back the curtain a bit today, revealing a deep, dark secret about myself—a secret so dank, surely I’ll lose the last three readers I have. I’ve been reading far too… Read More
2021-12-01 10:45
I’m run down and sick, so I’m posting something positive every day this week until I lift my spirits. There is a reason I’m depressed. It’s more than having major and… Read More
2021-11-29 16:13
Sometimes life gets me down. So what am I going to do about it? I’ve been way too sick to blog lately or post here. I mostly lay in bed and cough. It’s a party! But I did get… Read More
2021-11-09 10:46
My life was briefly put on hold, thanks to a certain virus, but now I’m back, more cheeky & cynical than ever! So much for new beginnings. A week after my knee surgery, just as I… Read More
2021-09-24 06:00
Sometimes external forces can induce depression. They can induce panic. They can control how you see the world if you let them. I’ve got surgery coming up this week, so I’m getti… Read More
2021-09-20 10:10
A new beginning that looks an awful lot like the old one. When I set out to explore fractal art, I face a confusing array of controls & parameters. It has taken me years to develop the e… Read More
2021-07-05 02:57
Feedburner is being put to pasture by Google, so I have moved my Feedblitz email subscribers over to follow.it. Thank you for understanding. My original RSS URL is sixteen years old, ba… Read More
2021-07-03 23:52
❝My son fricken tried to commit suicide, so I had to drive all the way over there to deal with it. A few months ago, I pulled up to the one remaining branch in my area that US Bank a… Read More
2021-05-08 04:47
Sometimes the best kind of journal is the one that you shred, light on fire, then cast its ashes to the wind. Last January, I woke up severely depressed one morning. At first, I didn’t… Read More
2021-04-30 05:45
Sometimes we can be so fixated upon the finish line that we miss how far we’ve already come. © Alan Watson Featherstone Ah, if I hear another commercial on the radio with a smooth… Read More
2020-12-19 07:29
As I wind up my latest book project, I thought it might be a good time to share an interview of sorts I did a few months ago. I was asked to answer the question “Is suicide preventable… Read More
2020-12-08 07:04
All was not terrible in 2020. The press will convince you otherwise, but their job is to panic you into thinking the world is ending any minute…again…so that you click on… Read More
2020-10-01 15:00
Sometimes I wonder if there’s a support group out there for adults with ADHD who have an open tabs addiction.¹ Hello, my name is Douglas Cootey, and I’m a hard core tabs jun… Read More
2020-09-24 15:00
I might get myself in a bit of trouble with my daughters with this post, but I recently sat in on the Brownie’s session with her therapist (she’s learning disabled). We were disc… Read More
2020-09-19 09:58
On this World Suicide Prevention Day, I wanted to write to people who hide behind the illusion of strength. They give the appearance of mental well-being by posting excellent advice, uplifti… Read More
2020-09-19 00:43
I picked up TIME Mental Health: A New Understanding a year ago in the grocery store and slowly worked my way through it. I assumed I would race through the magazine and produce a shining rev… Read More
2020-09-10 09:12
I came across this old blog post that I never shared here. It’s from March 2013. I updated it a bit. I hope you enjoy it. If I thought ADHD could throw monkey wrenches into my plans be… Read More
2020-08-26 09:20
22K Pageviews? Not bad! Have I mentioned I was sick for a long time at the beginning of the year? I may have mentioned it once or twice¹. Well, while I was down for the count, my editor… Read More
2020-07-17 14:58
I’ve been blogging about ADHD & Depression since 2005. In that time I have met many wonderful people. One of them was Elena Díaz de Guereñu. Elena would translate my… Read More
2020-07-17 01:30
I’ve been rethinking the purpose of my blog lately. Haven’t I written enough on ADHD & Depression? I don’t write exclusively about either subject, which turns some read… Read More
2020-05-26 12:18
If you struggle with suicide, depression or anxiety, the types of people you have in your support network can make the difference between them being a lifeline or a weight. It’s been… Read More
2020-03-27 12:04
If you’re feeling down from too much social distancing, how do you build a support network when you’re sheltering in place‽ Support networks are the sort of things you&rsqu&hell…Read More
2020-03-21 08:39
Yesterday I saw my immunologist. We discussed quite a few things, and she wants to see me continue social distancing, as I have been for six months, but also to try and get out more. That&rs&hell…Read More
2020-03-19 14:58
Sequestered away and worried about COVID–19? It’s good to take this crisis seriously, but social distancing doesn’t have to be as dire as people online make it seem. Here a… Read More
2020-02-01 15:07
Even despite the worst sickness in years, I’ve maintained an even keel. Come celebrate with me. Today is the 650th day since I was last suicidal. Keeping track of this stat is only so… Read More
2020-01-17 14:40
Sometimes the best goals are soft and squishy like an eggnog filled belly. It’s either very late or very early, depending on your point of view. Either way, I’m sitting here thin… Read More
2019-12-14 00:26
I picked up particular respirator masks so that I can go outdoors again. I’ve apparently developed asthma due to the pollution in Salt Lake Valley and the California forest fires. It&r&hell…Read More
2019-12-02 15:02
Do I still have a blog? You wouldn’t know it by how infrequently I’ve updated it lately. Sometimes life can overwhelm. When that happens, I like to believe that I will always be… Read More
2019-09-19 12:48
You shouldn’t feel ashamed for feeling suicidal. Here’s how you can push back. I saw a news item a few months ago that troubled me.[1] At first, the item was in regard to a K-pop… Read More
2019-09-05 23:46
Managing your depression doesn’t mean it goes away. Sometimes life will come at you just fast enough to throw you off your game. Here are five tips that helped me get my depression bac… Read More
2019-08-01 23:50
You’ve heard that you are your best advocate, but are you giving yourself pep talks? Maybe you should be. For years, I have been an advocate for talking out loud to oneself as a way to… Read More
2019-06-01 07:24
You’ve heard the expression, “Less is more”? Too bad your bookmarks & tabs haven’t.[1] Sometimes I wonder if there’s a support group out there for adults wi… Read More
2019-05-02 22:55
Facebook isn’t always the best curator of excellent content. If you’re looking for people who write about depression, you are going to love Healthline’s new list. I am hon… Read More
2019-04-18 12:31
If You’re Depressed, Why Bother Getting Up & Ready for the Day? I was recently asked if I had a blog post about why I cared so much about my dress, hair, and appearance despite my… Read More
2019-03-29 03:49
Sometimes the simplest solutions can be forgotten[1] On those days when it feels as if you woke up late for the launch, you need to strap on a jetpack to get through the day. You don’t… Read More
2019-03-26 21:08
The simplest ToDo list is one item long and stays in your face.[1] There is one kind of reminder that I always fall back on when sticky notes, calendar apps, todo lists, and alarms fail. It… Read More
2019-03-01 22:50
When you’re in a hurry, photons are faster than pens[1] When I made the transition from paper to digital back in the 90s—you know…when Palm Pilots still roamed the earth a… Read More
2019-02-24 00:28
Just a quickie update for you this weekend. I recently received an award for depression blogging. I even had to send off a headshot. I’ll write more about it when their post goes live… Read More
2019-02-22 00:37
With Adult ADHD, when we are in a hurry, we blunder in glorious ways. If only there was a way to prevent that. I have a quickie tip for you today as I’m blazing around my life like som… Read More
2019-02-01 06:43
It’s hard to imagine, but your iPhone can be used for more than tweeting, texting, and playing games. Crazy, right⸮ How many times have you driven out to do errands and forgotte… Read More
2019-01-24 16:00
It’s a good thing my friend isn’t easily offended. Today my ADHD took our conversation on a colorful roadtrip.I will spare you the details, but I made a gaffe today that involved… Read More
2019-01-11 07:59
If you’re willing to do the work, your ADHD will come out of the oven like a batch of perfect cupcakes? I have to agree with you. Comparing ADHD to cupcakes isn’t the best simile… Read More
2019-01-11 07:59
2018 was a good year for me. Thank you all for reading my articles, sharing them with friends, and supporting me over the years. This blog, A Splintered Mind, has been tackling ADHD and depr… Read More
2018-12-25 09:30
Dancing like nobody’s watching is more than a cutesy saying on a dance studio’s wall. Read on to learn how it helped me fight off depression. I’ve been down in the dumps la… Read More
2018-12-07 03:31
Sometimes you can do everything right and still get it all wrong. It seems the only thing I can count on reliably is my ADHD tendency to embarrass myself. It’s even more reliable than… Read More
2018-11-10 21:10
For the past week, I’ve been stressing out over an upcoming event: my return to the dating pool. I can’t say that my swim went well. First, I paced back and forth on the pool dec… Read More
2018-11-10 00:20
This month, no, my life isn’t going as planned. It brings to mind a certain poem: ❝But, Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain; The best-laid schemes o&r&hell…Read More
2018-10-28 05:12
2018-10-27 06:25
I was recently contacted by a college student who requested an email interview. I share the answers below because the interviewer asked excellent questions. If you follow my blog, then you&r&hell…Read More
2018-10-21 18:23
Sometimes taking care of your own depression can be accomplished by taking care of somebody else. I’ve been incredibly stressed and depressed lately, so when my 2nd oldest daughter, Ca… Read More
2018-09-20 22:00
❝Nothing like ADHD and a good fight to the death to make time fly.” – Rick Riordan, The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1) Read More
2018-09-04 08:21
A few weeks ago, local Utah politicians (Rep. Chris Stewart and Sen. Orrin Hatch) helped get a suicide prevention bill onto President Trump's desk that he signed into law. It tasks the gover… Read More
2018-09-04 08:20
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This means that your social media timelines will suddenly be filled with celebrities sharing the national hotline. The cynic in you… Read More
2018-09-04 08:19
“But a sanguine temper, though forever expecting more good than occurs, does not always pay for its hopes by any proportionate depression. It soon flies over the present failure, and b… Read More
2018-08-31 22:58
*Feeling like the daily grind is getting you down? I felt that way lately, and here’s how I turned things around. * One sign of depression is that you lose interest in things that you… Read More
2018-08-03 09:35
Too tight; too long. With added arch supports, they fit even worse. I bought these Rowley Slims Vans in the 00s because they looked cool, and I thought I’d get back into skateboarding… Read More
2018-07-17 04:35
Over the years I have received various awards for my efforts here, as well as interviews. Unfortunately, I've been blogging longer than some of the sites that featured me! I've updated this… Read More
2018-07-13 09:27
One of the nice upsides to fixing my insomnia is that I’m suddenly dreaming again. I had forgotten how weird they could get, so of course, I have to share one of them with you! Hang in… Read More
2018-07-12 02:58
During my whirlwind Spring, I noticed that I received another award from Healthline.com. That’s the third year in a row. I was, and still am, greatly honored. I posted about it on Twit… Read More
2018-07-11 19:39
I am still paying the price for pushing myself in June, and I thought it was time to share with you what I’ve been up to, how it went, what worked, and what I could have done better. T… Read More
2018-06-25 23:01
I’m sitting here typing deep in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, east of Spanish Fork, and cut off from the internet. I came along to be on hand for my daughter’s girls c… Read More
2018-06-11 21:11
Last week was a sad week for celebrity suicides. You may not have known much about those who took their own lives, but if your social media timeline was like mine, you were connected with ma… Read More
2018-04-21 15:00
Are you too proud for ToDo lists? Don't like to admit you have ADHD memory issues? You aren't alone. I have a family member who has ADHD. They never write anything down. They don’t mak… Read More
2018-04-12 21:19
I don’t shy away from mentioning my religion here. I’ve even discussed LDS doctrine and how it intersects with mental health, but today I just wanted to capture a moment and shar… Read More
2018-04-06 08:14
She was a total stranger. She was cute and posed with a kid in her profile pic. She had an aversion to punctuation. Suddenly, she said, “Hi Douglas”, and I was off. Today is tech… Read More
2018-03-23 11:34
A moment after the rain stopped and before the sun set. Sometimes all I need to feel right is a moment’s peace with a beautiful sunset. Anxieties fade, and my spirit is lifted. That ep… Read More
2018-03-19 13:38
When humor is a coping strategy for mental health, sometimes people miss the joke. Are some subjects simply not funny? Alright. I keep miscounting. Today is Day 22 of my dance with Adenoviru… Read More
2018-03-19 13:31
Just a few thoughts before my day takes me away. The other day, I thought I’d celebrate St. Patty’s Day with The Cranberries. Dolores O’Riordan has been on my mind lately… Read More
2018-02-21 21:24
Ever wonder what it was like to have ADHD? I can help you out with that. I’ve recently made a goal of tagging all my published blog articles so I can see which ones haven’t been… Read More
2018-02-16 23:40
This will be a phenomenally busy week with doctor visits, writing, and preparations for a symposium. Then punctuated by a presentation at BYU just when things get really crazy in the middle… Read More
2018-01-30 00:01
Comorbid is an icky word. Say it with me. “Ko-’Mor-Bid”. It means people with mental health issues usually have to carry more than one condition on their backs. I lug aroun… Read More
2018-01-17 21:08
I may need to change my name to Douglas Cootey, Pot Assasin. I’m not sure who drew first blood years ago, or why we battle in the kitchens of my life, but for decades we have v… Read More
2018-01-01 08:16
I posted something on Facebook this past weekend that didn’t have the effect I wanted. “My recent timeline is filled with baking cookies, reviewing children’s picture book… Read More
2017-12-12 01:18
By now, Fidget Spinners are collecting dust in bargain bins across America, marked down to $1.99 or 3 for $5. My local Walmart is selling them for $1 each! The fad hit America like a whirlin… Read More
2017-11-13 07:42
Sometimes Writer’s Block is due to Road Work Ahead. I wish the roadblocks of life would announce themselves better. Then I could chart my detours in time to avoid them. Maybe they coul… Read More
2017-11-06 21:55
Ever feel like you just can’t do anything right? Maybe it’s not just you. I’m sitting here in my car, stunned and quite embarrassed. I just showed up to yet another appoint… Read More
2017-10-21 03:34
I knew I was in trouble when I looked at the time. It was 12:30 already. Half past noon, and I was still in bed. I was just lying there feeling as if a giant weight was on top of me. I could… Read More
2017-10-14 04:08
Once upon a time, and long before the evil, fanged Facebook consumed the conversations of the internet, readers could leave comments on my blog. Most readers left intelligent and insightful… Read More
2017-09-17 01:51
As National Suicide Prevention Week comes to a close, I wanted to share a few words. I was once suicidal. I hated myself. I hated my life. I was blind to the love of people around me. I was… Read More
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