Schizophrenia As I Live It (audio)

Send us Fan Mail #fiction #writers #fictionwriters #foster #fostercare #family A family mystery can do more than answer questions, it can hand you an entire novel. After a long break, I’m back to talk about why genealogy has become my most surprising tool for fiction writing, and how digging through records can turn half-remembered oral history into a living, research-backed story world. I share w...

Send us Fan Mail You can watch the video of this Podcast on YouTube at https://youtu.be/tfylGCBThWo Relevant Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 1) Neuhaus Posture Ergonomic PU leather office chair: https://amzn.to/3SkfMpS 2) Ergotron – WorkFit – TX – Standing Desk Converter: https://amzn.to/4dim8QC 3) ErGear Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk on...

Send us Fan Mail This audio episode is paired with a video episode on my YouTube channel. You can find the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/mHrK5GjH1BM Paid promotion with Amazon.com. The links to Amazon.com at the end of this episode description are my Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What happens when you annotate a PDF versus a plain text file on yo...

Send us Fan Mail Here are some of my Affiliate Links relevant to this Episode. As an Amazon Associate, I earn with qualifying purchases. This Episode is paired with the YouTube video https://youtu.be/JbLYMznoda0 Ian Allan's book "The new Kindle Scribe User Guide 2025:" visit https://amzn.to/3IXUBsn (#ad #commisionsearned) CoBak Premium PU Leather Case for Kindle Scribe 10.2": v...

Send us Fan Mail Ever stare at a blank page while your mind wanders everywhere except your story? You're not alone. The modern writer faces an unprecedented battle for attention – from buzzing phones to buzzing thoughts. Between environmental distractions, digital interruptions, and our own wandering minds, staying focused on creative writing has become increasingly challenging. This struggle...

Send us Fan Mail Finding stability in creative chaos has been my lifelong journey as a fiction writer living with schizophrenia. Drawing wisdom from master storyteller Walter Mosley's advice on daily writing routines, I've discovered powerful connections between maintaining creative discipline and managing mental health challenges. My mornings belong to fiction writing—after coffee, brea...

Send us Fan Mail Today marks a meaningful transition as I conclude "Schizophrenia As I Live It" and introduce my new creative journey, "Fractured Ink: Writing in Life's Chaos." While living with paranoid schizophrenia remains an essential part of my identity, my fiction writing is expanding to embrace the full spectrum of my experiences. "Fractured Ink: Writing In Lif...

Send us Fan Mail A significant transition is underway as I prepare to close "Schizophrenia as I Live it" and launch my new podcast "Fractured Ink." While schizophrenia has been central to my story, it's just one piece of a complex puzzle that includes complex PTSD, absence epilepsy, and my creative identity as a novelist and poet. These conditions, as I explain, "feed...

Send us Fan Mail Correction: In the podcast, I talk of Dina Martinelli as the author of "Everyone Was Silent." Diane Tarantini wrote this book. My apologies! Mental illness rarely exists in isolation. Living with paranoid schizophrenia presents daily challenges, but when childhood trauma enters the equation, the struggle intensifies in ways many don't understand. My personal journey...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explain why it has been so long since the previous episode. I then discuss the advantages I have found using the fiction genre in writing about mental illness and child abuse in my two novels, "The Overlife. A Tale of Schizophrenia" (www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X) and "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share my delight in winning an International Impact Book Award for my book "The Overlife, A Tale of Schizophrenia," under my pen name, Diana Dirkby. I talk about the organization that gives these awards and their crucial philanthropic work. The Founder of this organization is Nim Stant. #writing #goodstory #internationalimpactbookawards #schizophrenia...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how mythological Furies could captivate the imagination in a modern-day thriller? Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I unravel the exhilarating journey behind my newly published book, "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies." This gripping tale explores the mysterious disappearance of three teens from different families in the quaint town of Vraboro,...

Send us Fan Mail The struggle between solitude and connection can be a profound one, especially when navigating life with paranoid schizophrenia. Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I share the allure of solitude before finding the love and support of my caregiver spouse, and how it continues to shape my journey through the challenges of absence epilepsy and a recent compression fracture. This episode, &apo...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could find hope and resilience in the midst of living with paranoid schizophrenia? Join Diana Dirkby as she explores her personal journey in navigating life with this challenging brain disorder. As the host of "Schizophrenia as I Live it," Diana shares how she has built a fulfilling life by setting realistic daily goals and finding support through mental heal...

Send us Fan Mail Can the right attitude, therapy, and medication truly allow someone with a mental illness to achieve anything, even their wildest dreams? Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I challenge this widespread notion on "Schizophrenia as I Live It." Through my personal journey living with paranoid schizophrenia, I'll reveal the compromises I've had to make and the reality of man...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling to find the perfect way to consume books while managing the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia? Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I unravel the complexities of reading with visual and auditory hallucinations and why audiobooks have become my sanctuary. Discover my personal journey from battling the chaos of jumbled words on a page to finding comfort in the soothing cadence of a...

Send us Fan Mail Can you imagine navigating the complexities of paranoid schizophrenia while managing a busy online presence? Diana Dirkby takes us through her personal journey, filled with both challenges and triumphs, as she shares the latest updates in her life and work. From launching a new website to revamping her social media profiles, Diana’s story is both inspiring and insightful. She cand...

Send us Fan Mail What if a person’s greatest insights came during their darkest hours? Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I celebrate a major milestone—my book "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" has become a bestseller on Amazon Kindle! I'll share exclusive details on where you can purchase this powerful story and highlight the unique experience offered by the audiobook version, narrate...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it's like to navigate the complex world of paranoid schizophrenia while trying to hold on to your true self?  My debut novel, "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia," provides insights into this dilemma. In this heartfelt episode, I open up about my experiences with multiple relapses and psychotic breaks, highlighting the daily challenges...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine discovering your friend has a mental health diagnosis like schizophrenia. Would you know how to respond, or would fear and hesitation cloud your judgment? This episode promises to smash through societal misconceptions and shed light on the harsh realities many face due to the stigma perpetuated by media misrepresentations. Join me, Diana Dirkby, as I unpack the damaging st...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like the universe was conspiring against you through an eerie sequence of events? That's what we're unpacking today, as I, Diana Dirkby, share my personal confrontations with coincidence and its particularly intense effects on those of us with paranoid schizophrenia. The ever-present challenge of discerning reality from paranoia becomes even more compl...

Send us Fan Mail When I, Diana Dirkby, began my journey with paranoid schizophrenia, the path was fraught with misconceptions and isolation. Today, I share not only my story but also engage with the difficult realities of stigma in mental health. Our latest episode ventures into the heart of these challenges, revealing the intricate dance between misunderstanding and awareness. We traverse the lan...

Send us Fan Mail As Diana Dirkby, I've walked through the shadowed valleys of paranoid schizophrenia and emerged into the light of understanding and advocacy. May, as Mental Health Awareness Month, offers a poignant backdrop to my candid narrative, where I peel back the layers of stigma and reveal the daily triumphs over the unseen battles within. Join me for a deeply personal journey that ho...

Send us Fan Mail When my mother's schizophrenia cast a shadow over her physical health, the consequences were heartbreakingly irreversible. Her story, interwoven with my own, underscores the often overlooked but critical importance of holistic well-being. On today's podcast, I, Diana Dirkby, delve into the complex dance of managing both mental and physical health when living with a condi...

Send us Fan Mail On those days when the sky seems to press down with a weight that's almost tangible, I, Diana Dirkby, understand the unique struggle of navigating life's lows with schizophrenia. Our latest heartfelt conversation delves into the complexities of managing such days, offering personal anecdotes and strategies that have proven invaluable in maintaining equilibrium amidst the...