Happiness ain’t all it’s cracked up to be

[...]Forgas’s explanation is that happy people focus more on their own desires. “Positive mood is in a sense an evolutionary signal, subconsciously informing people that the situation they face is safe and non-threatening,” he says. This encourages people to rely more on their own thoughts and preferences, with selfishness the result.

Grumpiness or sadness, on the other hand, produces more vigilant, outward-looking thinkers. “A negative mood produces a thinking style that is more detailed and attentive, and pays more attention to the demands of the external environment,” says Forgas.[...]

Link: Happiness ain’t all it’s cracked up to be
Sourced from New Scientist
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This post was submitted by a fan of Mandyleigh Storm

Many of my songs have their roots in my suffering from depression. I`m still trying hard to make every day a lovely one.

We’ve Got Issues… By Judith Warner

Posted by Andy Alt / http://mentaldimensions.wordpress.com

A review (by Andrea Sachs) of We’ve Got Issues : Children and Parents in the Age of Medication by Judith Warner in the March 1, 2010 issue of TIME magazine.

When author and journalist Judith Warner set out to write a book about children and psychiatric drugs, she too accepted the conventional wisdom that American children are being medicated into numbness. But after extensive interviews with parents, therapists and academics, she made a 180-degree turn. In this impassioned book, the author argues that childhood mental illness is real, widespread and painful to families caught in its grip[...]

TIME is recommending this book as a “read.” I’ve also found another favorable review — in the New York Times — by ABIGAIL ZUGER, M.D. at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23book.html

Addiction and SSRI Medications

Addiction and SSRI Medications
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

June 26, 2008 – TIME magazine’s June 16, 2008 cover story by Mark Thompson was a detailed article about US troops being given antidepressant drugs to deal with battlefield stress. A quote from the article (p 41) states “The newer drugs have fewer side effects and, unlike earlier drugs, are generally not addictive or toxic, even when taken in large quantities.” This is false, and easily disproved. Ask current and former patients if they’ve ever had physical withdrawal symptoms after stopping use of an SSRI, or search the Internet for posts and articles written by patients about addiction to SSRI medication.

Acceptance of Social Anxiety | Humor

Acceptance of Social Anxiety
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

May 03, 2006 – If you suffer from social anxiety, then you are among the millions who have been told by your doctor that you’re abnormal and need medication. If you prefer alternative treatment, then this article is recommended reading. If you get bored and fall asleep by the second paragraph, then it will just be light reading.

Avoidance of social situations can be a positive reaction to feelings of insecurity. It indicates some level of intelligence. You’ve probably learned from past experiences that you’ll be scorned or shunned from society for being different. Idiots, however, will keep talking to people, never learning that they are not wanted.

How to Properly Deactivate a Bomb | Humor

How to Properly Deactivate a Bomb
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

March 8, 2006 – Movies have been made for decades — many of them involve a bomb being deactivated. When I see a scene in which a bomb is deactivated 1-3 seconds before it’s about to explode, I’m not impressed by the script writing. If I ever write a screenplay that includes a scene in which a bomb has to be deactivated, creativity will be my primary objective. In my story, the bomb will have one wire. That wire will be cut and the timer will stop. The timer’s digital display will read no less than sixteen hundred seconds remaining.

My idea lacks suspense, but it contains originality. I’m confident I’ll be able to write some intensity into the remaining 118 minutes of the film. I have ideas for other methods of building an original sequence of events into a script. For your reading enjoyment, I present you with an excerpt of thoughts from my head.

“Major Davenport, permission to speak freely?”

“Can it wait Lieutenant Jefferson? I’m trying to deactivate this bomb.”

“No sir, I don’t believe it can wait, Sir.”

“Very well, Lieutenant, go ahead.”

“Major, Sir, that’s not a bomb. That’s a turkey, Sir.”

Irish Chemist Creates Four Leaf Clover-Marijuana Hybrid

Irish Chemist Creates Four Leaf Clover-Marijuana Hybrid
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

05 Mar 2006 – A scientific breakthrough just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day, the world’s first Four Leaf Clover-Marijuana hybrid has been approved for private consumption. The only condition is that a wet towel be placed under the door prior to its use. The creation of this marvelous plant is sure to spark attention across the globe, and ensure that Ireland will be a famous country once again.

The Future of Banking | Humor

The Future of Banking
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

Sep 7, 2003 – Are you tired of old-fashioned banks that keep your money in vaults that get eaten away by rust? Our name is Couch One Financial, and at COF, we employ the latest furniture technology to keep your money secure. We don’t believe in using outdated and antiquated methods of keeping your money safe. We don’t use silly things like vaults and silent alarms or laser beams aimed at a thief’s genitalia. In our back room we have a vast array of couches, which vary in size, color, and upholstery. After making your deposit the money is then immediately given to nine-year-old children.

Problematic 6000

Problematic 6000
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions, Co-Edited By Story Charms

08 Jan 2006

The Problematic 6000 is especially designed with innovation in mind. This device was created to help a person create problems, rather than solve them. Is there someone in your life who has betrayed you, or wronged you in any way imaginable? Once you turn this device on, it automatically reads your mind using advanced telepathic bio-circuitry, and immediately searches your conscious, unconscious, and subconscious mind for the person who most deserves to incur your wrath.

Watching television excessively may damage social skills

By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

December 31, 2008

I enjoy watching television, but sometimes I must limit myself. Subtle changes in my behavior and social skills have appeared recently. To benefit mankind I’m issuing this document as a warning on how to detect potential negative changes in your personality and how you communicate with other humans.

Three days ago my friend Depressed Dave asked me what my plans were for the weekend. I slowly raised my head, looked him in the eye and in a deep, scratchy voice I replied, “Plans? My plans will be revealed in due course. For now, be assured that once executed my schemes will bring forth everything we have ever dreamed of; the fruit born will be sweeter than you could ever imagine; and the way we view a sunrise will be forever altered.”

April Fools Day Gifts

April Fools Day Gifts
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

March 19, 2009

Welcome to the Mental Dimensions gift shop. Here, you’ll find unique ways to entertain and delight yourself at the expense of other people and their sanity. These presents are sure to satisfy the most sadistic needs of April Fools Day gift-givers. Your purchase is guaranteed* or your money back**.

Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a very popular gift; the first of which was a present from France to the United States (the rumors that it was re-gifted and was originally a gift from Norway to France have never been proved). The original is not available through Mental Dimensions, but an actual-size, genuine replica[1] can be shipped directly to your victim. Placement of their new Statue of Liberty[2] will create a logistical nightmare which will cause them to wake up screaming for many years to come. They’ll tremble with fear as they realize they’ll be forced into giving up every spare piece of acreage on their property. If they still don’t have enough room, then that makes your gift even more delightful, putting your friends or relatives into the awkward position of risking insulting you by refusing your generous gift. You’ll find it hard to hold back your giggling as you watch them stutter, sweat, and squirm as they attempt to politely tell you, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Lyrics to “Grey” By Gary Storm, Performed by Mandyleigh Storm

Posted by Andy Alt / http://mentaldimensions.wordpress.com

Lyrics posted here with permission from Mandyleigh Storm
For copyright/licensing information or questions, visit her web site at http://www.mandyleigh.com.

This song is on her debut album, “Fire and Snow”, which she has generously made available for free and without registration on her web site.

The album booklet, cover, and lyrics can be downloaded at http://www.mandyleigh.com/_press

“Grey” was written by Mandyleigh’s husband, Gary Storm, about her.

A Monkey Walks into a Bar

Posted by Andy Alt / http://mentaldimensions.wordpress.com

I came up with this joke an hour ago when I was meditating. I don’t normally do these types of jokes, but because time’s passing slowly today decided to post it. I think time passes quickest when one is dead, thereby making all current events irrelevant to him. So I guess those with an appetite for weak jokes will be gratified I’m still alive.

A monkey walks into a bar, orders the bartender, “Give me a beer. Budweiser.” The bartender looks at the monkey a bit askew, but pours a cold Budweiser and sets it down in front of the monkey.

I Think I’ve Got That New Disease I’ve Seen Advertised

I Think I’ve Got That New Disease I’ve Seen Advertised
By Kieron Mcfadden

To: Lucifer Beelzebub, CEO, Grimm Reaper Pharmaceuticals.
From: Ruth Less, CEO. Ruth Less Disease Promotions Inc

Dear Mr. Beelzebub,

Are you looking for a way to monetize the green goo your research labs concocted last year but no-one has yet found a use for?

Well, have no fear because here at Disease Promotions Inc, we have the solution!!

If you have several tons of nondescript fluid taking up space in the warehouse, don’t rush to dump it because you may well be dumping a fortune in easy profits. The good news is, you can recycle your green goo into greenbacks! All you need is some intelligent marketing and single-minded dedication to the art of making money from old rope.

Let us package, promote and market your goo for you, using the latest breakthrough in pharmaceutical marketing: ADE, the Animal Disease Epidemic.

UPDATE ON the Mental Health Humor: Cartoon-a-thon

——– Original Message ——–

Subject: UPDATE ON the Mental Health Humor: Cartoon-a-thon
To: Andy Alt
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 12:50:36 -0400
From: Chato B. Stewart
Organization: Mental Health humor

Dear Peer, Provider or Caregiver,

Wow, what a great Mental Health Awareness month! This year so many
people are really putting in a lot of effort from the DBSA, NAMI and
many other organizations like Mental Health America and also not to for
get many of our peers and their individual efforts.

The Mental Health Humor Cartoon-A-Thon is a free and fun project to use
humor as a coping skill. Each day during the month I’ve volunteered to
draw one cartoon. Now we have 26 new cartoons for this month to use
humor to bring awareness to many different mental health issues. It’s
meant to use positive humor as a way to cope with our serious disorders.

Life and Death are Forever Nothing

Life and Death are Forever Nothing
By Andy Alt / Mental Dimensions

May 24, 2009

Death decaying in the smoldering, burning pit
Vile demons flying around a black, dusty corpse

Flesh ripped off by slimy filth-ridden vultures
Eternal torment a hair’s-breadth away

TIME: Why Antidepressants Don’t Live Up to the Hype

Philip Dawdy at Furious Seasons pointed out an article on TIME magazine’s web site and provided commentary.

I won’t be commenting on it, just providing publicity. Although the staff at TIME has expressly forbidden me to promote their magazine or be their spokesperson, they didn’t say anything about promoting their articles.