The people who you spend most of your time with, and who know you best, can be your best allies as a big part of your support system. A strong support system- comprising of family, friends, spouse, and co-workers is essential when battling mental illness.
Professionals and Peer Support Groups are also very important. The individual with a mental illness must like, respect, trust, and feel comfortable talking with all these people.

Family

Family can be tricky. In many cases, family members love each other, and have great relationships. If a member of the family has a mental illness, this individual is more likely to be treated with compassion and respect from their parents and siblings. There is a good  support system in place.
On the other hand, far too many families are much different. These relationships are toxic. They are like poison. A person already suffering from a mental illness could easily get much worse when exposed to this kind of environment. Far from a support system. Try to separate yourself from toxic family members.

As for my own family, my dad died before I got mentally ill. My mom was a huge factor. She supported me in many ways throughout all the years I was battling mental illness.
I have 4 older brothers. Every time I was hospitalized for full blown manic episodes (10 times), my mom and brothers were always right there with me. They always had my back, without any hesitation. I was  hospitalized for an average of 6 weeks. If feasible, my family visited me every day.
While I was in these psychiatric wards, this wasn’t the case for several of my comrades. They had no visitors, and appeared to be fighting their battle alone. No support system. Sad, but true.

Friends

You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends. Choose your friends carefully. Only associate yourself with loving, positive people who your psyche will benefit from.
Most people I thought were good friends left me when I became mentally ill. Looking back with that 20/20 vision, I realize that most of these people were just drinking buddies. We had a lot of fun together over the years, but they obviously didn’t have any compassion regarding the state of my mental health, and certainly weren’t there for me as a support system.
I still have a few friends from close to 40 years ago who have been loyal to me this whole time, and some more recent friends who are much more understanding and compassionate. These people are a part of my support system.

Most Importantly, Who You Marry !

As important as family and friends are, I think who you are married to is the most crucial aspect of having a good support system. By far, I spend most of my time with my wife, and she knows me, and understands me way better than anyone else ! My wife  (Elli) has a lot of experience working in mental health, which helps a lot. She is a natural care giver. She works full time as a home support nurse. She is a LPN (licensed practical nurse). It’s a huge benefit for me to have my own “private nurse”.

We have lived in a common law relationship for 25 years, and have known each other for 28 years. We have a lot of respect for each other and get along remarkably well. We haven’t had one argument this whole time !  Elli has been great for me in many ways.
At the same time, she’s completely supportive towards me being a stay at home writer. She always tells me that writing is my job. This includes blogging.
The bottom line is that Elli is the most important support person in my life.

Co-Workers

We also spend a lot of our time with our co-workers. Most people with a mental illness (es) are very sensitive. These types of relationships are extremely important to the individual.
I learned this lesson the hard way. I had a few jobs that I knew nothing about the people I would be working for, and with. I thought I could get along with almost anyone. This ended up being a disaster. Most of these individuals were very arrogant, which contributed to a very stressful work environment for me. So stressful, that it actually played a big part of me getting mentally ill in the first place.
Do your due diligence, and learn about your co-workers before you accept a job. The right co-workers can be a great support system. The wrong ones can create the opposite effect.

Peer Support Groups

Spending time with others who have similar mental health issues, can be very helpful. The peers have been in your shoes, and you understand each other. Peer support groups can be a very good support system.

Professionals

Psychiatrists and Psychologists can also be a part of a good support system.

* True support is revealed through consistent actions and a faithful presence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to give a shout out to Robert Howell who lives in Pelham, Georgia.
Robert has worked as a mental health advocate in Georgia for 30 years. Fairly recently, he received an award for working for American Work, Inc. for 25 years. This is also connected with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer  Network- a nonprofit corporation founded by Ken Whiddon and other consumers of state services for mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities.

Robert’s title is state supported employment director. He supervises 28 staff, and his team serves 600 clients all across the state of Georgia. When he started working with this program, there was only 40 clients. Robert has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Valdosta State University. He is also a certified peer specialist in Georgia, and a certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner. The name of his program is American Work ips supported employment program. This serves the entire state of Georgia. Robert’s main job description is to help people living with mental illness find employment, even when they thought it was impossible. Practically no one is denied this opportunity. Robert is easy going, and has the perfect disposition and demeanour to be working with these people.

Employment Program

I think that the employment program Robert and his team are doing is awesome ! Being able to work (even part time) for someone with a mental illness will not only improve their financial situation, and quality of life, but just as important will increase their confidence, and overall morale. It can have a positive impact in their lives in many ways.

Robert and a few of his colleagues did an excellent video presentation about what they are doing for mental health in Georgia. Go to YouTube, and put in the search bar AOC presentation Robert Howell. You will see his vast knowledge, and passion to help those living with mental illness.  I watched the whole video. It’s about one hour long, and is highly educational. I think what these people are doing for mental health in Georgia, should be practiced right across the United States, and Canada.

Ken Whiddon-Sherry Tucker Memorial Golf Tournament

In addition to working as a full time mental health advocate, Robert organizes and runs a golf tournament for mental health by himself. This takes a lot of time and effort. On November 2/2025, Robert held his 10th annual Ken Whiddon -Sherry Tucker Memorial Golf Tournament at the Pinecrest Country Club in Pelham, Georgia. As Tournament Director, he raised close to $5,000 with this event. All of the proceeds of this golf tournament are used to assist people with behavioural health concerns to return to work by providing them training, resources, and supports. Go to Robert’s Facebook page, and look at “Whiddon Tucker Memorial Golf Tournament “. Robert also operates an annual golf clinic for people with mental illness, which lasts for several months.

Robert’s Own Challenges, And Positive Attitude

Overall, Robert has helped countless people. This hasn’t been easy for him, as he has his own challenges. He suffers a double whammy with his health. He has some major issues both mentally and physically. He has bipolar disorder 2. He has a state of mania once in a while, but battles severe chronic anxiety and depression on a regular basis. This is extremely difficult for him.
He also has a really bad back, and bad hips. He wears a back brace to play golf. Robert has had some major prostate issues, and other serious physical health issues. Just in the last few months, he has had 3 surgeries, one of them required hospitalization for a few days. Because of this, he is almost always in a great deal of pain.

Despite all of this, Robert has an incredibly positive attitude. It’s truly remarkable. When life gives him lemons, he makes lemonade ! No matter how tough things are, he never complains. The following is just one example of how positive he is:

One day, one of his staff was complaining about a person who had only worked for 2 hours, then quit. Robert asked his staff member how many hours did this person work the previous year. When the answer was “none”, Robert said “well, 2 hours for this person is a success, isn’t it “ ! Now, how positive is this !

Iron Man

Robert doesn’t let his physical or mental issues stop him. He still plays golf, or goes for long walks when he’s in a great deal of pain. Or, he still plays golf when the weather is bad. He’s incredibly persistent and determined. Because of these things, I have gave him the nickname of “Iron Man”.  It suits him perfectly !

Robert and I

Robert contacted me by email about 18 months ago, after he read my book. He asked me if I would send him a complimentary copy of my book, so he could raffle it off for his golf tournament. I emailed him back right away, telling him that I would love to do this, but couldn’t really afford the cost of a book, and an expensive cost to mail it to Georgia, as I’m on a really tight budget. He totally understood this. Shortly after, Robert bought 2 more copies of my book. One for the raffle, and one for his friend Ken Green, a former PGA Tour player.
Ever since his first email, we have stayed in touch with each other. We email each other once or twice a week, and talk on the telephone once a month or so. Our emails are often quite lengthy, and our phone calls are usually for an hour. By doing this, we have gotten to know each other quite well, and have developed a close friendship.

Robert and I have a lot in common. In large part, we’re both mental health advocates. I have bipolar disorder one, and he has bipolar disorder two. We both suffer from anxiety and depression. We understand each other in many ways, most importantly regarding our mental health. Right from the beginning, we have always been on the same page. A large part of this is that Robert has a tremendous amount of compassion. This applies to myself, and others.
We both love golf. Robert is an avid golfer. This past year, he played close to 150 rounds. Even with all of his challenges, he still plays pretty good. He has a 14 handicap. I haven’t played golf for several years. I also have a really bad back. My nerves are bad, and my anxiety affected my game. I wouldn’t be able to afford the cost to play golf anyway. The two of us enjoy “talking golf” together. And, we both like watching golf and NFL football on T.V.

Robert is extremely intelligent, and has a great sense of humour. I love listening to him talk. Being from Georgia, he has a very distinct “southern drawl”. We both enjoy conversing with each other. It’s on my “bucket list” to meet Robert in person, and to play golf together. We live 2,800 miles apart. (I live in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada). Another thing we have in common is that we both have amazing wife’s who help us tremendously. Our wife’s are also our best friends. Robert and I have both quit drinking and smoking, but we’re not exactly “angels “.

A Great Guy

We’re both extremely honest, and are both open books. Because of this, we have gotten to know each other quite well, even though we haven’t met in person yet. Robert is the closest person to a mentor that I have ever known. He’s always encouraging me, and helps inspire me, especially with promoting my book, writing, and publishing my blogs.  Our relationship is an honour and pleasure for me.

To sum it up, Robert’s a great guy. In fact, he’s one of the nicest people I have ever gotten to know. (maybe the nicest). I hope our friendship continues to grow, and lasts for several more years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to all of my readers for your support and kind comments. I really appreciate everyone who has read my book, and my blogs. And, to those who have been kind enough to give me book reviews. My readers inspire me to keep writing !

Sincerely,

Don Walin

I would like to thank all of the people who were kind enough to give me a book review. I really appreciate getting this feedback from people who have read my book, and who have enjoyed it so much. The main reason I wrote this book is to educate, and to give hope and inspiration to as many people as possible.

Receiving these book reviews inspires me to keep writing and blogging. As long as I’m helping others, I will continue being a mental health advocate. The following are some sub-titles and comments from a few of my most recent book reviews.

1. Amir Farooq- “A must read” – 5 * -“Amazing journey, a life changing experience for me, glad to read about your journey. (Don Walin)”

Thank you Amir ! This is exactly why I wrote this book. I wish you all the best going forward from here.

2. Alex C.- “This is a success story”-5*-“His approach to writing is brave, courageous, and above all, honest”.

Thank you Alex !

3. Robert Howell- “Inspirational and motivating for all families touched with mental illness “- 5*- “If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, I would highly encourage you to purchasing this book” !

Thank you Robert !

 

 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder. It affects roughly 1% to 2% of the population worldwide. OCD is slightly more common in females than males. It causes unreasonable thoughts, fears, or worries. A person with OCD tries to manage these thoughts through rituals.
Frequent disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions. They are irrational and can cause great anxiety. Reasoning doesn’t help control the thoughts.

Experts aren’t sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood. It appears to run in families.  Other anxiety problems,depression, eating disorders, or substance use disorder may happen with OCD.

Common obsessions are:

• A strong fixation with dirt or germs.
• Repeated doubts (for example, about having turned off the stove).
• A need to have things in a very specific order.
• Counting a lot.
• Repeatedly checking things.

Compulsions are repetitive, ritualized acts.
Examples are:

• Repeated hand washing. ( Often 100+ times a day.)
• Checking and rechecking to make sure that a door is locked, or that the oven is turned off.
• Following rigid rules of order, such as putting on clothes in the same order each day.

Compulsive acts can become excessive, disruptive, and time consuming. They may interfere with daily life and relationships.
People may avoid situations in which they might have to face their obsessions. Some try alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.

My OCD is Checking and Counting

The three things I check the most are: making sure the stove is off, the doors are locked, and that the gate is locked, so our dog can’t get out of the yard. I check these things countless times a day. As I’m checking these things, I’m counting at the same time. This is usually in the three’s. For the stove, I’m saying, “Off, Off, Off”. For the doors and gate, I’m saying, “Lock, Lock, Lock”. I repeat these things several times, until I’m sure everything is okay.
There are many other things I check on a regular basis, such as:

• Make sure the remote controls are positioned in a certain way.
• Make sure the pillows on the couch are positioned “correctly”.
• Make sure our keys are in the right place.
  These are just a few examples.

Many years ago, I developed a whole ritual of checking and counting things before I could leave the house. This became so bothersome (and stressful) that I began to avoid going out anywhere. It was taking me 15-20 minutes to do this. This has improved over time, but it’s still an issue for me. If I’m in the middle of my ritual, and I get distracted, I have to start over again.

All of this just started out with a few things, then I kept adding things. Now, there is a countless list of things this applies to. I even catch myself counting when I’m brushing my hair, or washing my hands. Almost every mundane task I do, I am counting at the same time. My counting is in different sequences, but often I count from 1-5, then backwards from 5-1.  I do this over and over again and again. It’s ridiculous ! I usually know when I’m doing it, but I can’t seem to stop it.

There are medications to help people with OCD, but I haven’t tried any yet. I probably should. My OCD has become quite a problem for me. I probably waste at least 2 hours a day doing it. As much as I check things, I count even more. It seems like I’m counting as I’m doing almost every task. Usually I count “123, 123, 123”. Often, I will count from 1-5, then go backwards from 5, down to 1. I repeat this several times. The more I try to stop this, the more it takes a grip on me. It’s stressful, and very annoying.

I read what I think is a really good description of OCD. It is referred to as “doubters disease”. That’s exactly what it’s like. For me, I will check something, then it’s like I doubt myself that I just did this, so I do it again. (and keep repeating this doubt) checking over and over and over.

Welcome to my little world of OCD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many myths and beliefs are associated with mental illness. One common misconception is that people suffering from mental illnesses are poor and/or less intelligent, or stupid.  The reality is that many studies have shown that most people with mental illness have average or above-average intelligence.

Studies have also found that higher IQ is associated with mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. I have a list of almost 300 names of well known people who have received a psychiatric diagnosis of mental illness. I have shortened this list of names significantly. This blog will focus on some famous people who have suffered from bipolar disorder (manic depression), and unipolar disorder (depression). Some of these people are deceased.

A lot of these people are/were artists, such as writers, musicians, painters, actors, actresses, and comedians. Creative geniuses. People with bipolar disorder are often considered as being “genius”. Most of these individuals have publicly stated that they have experienced these mental illnesses in their lives.

All of this information is public knowledge. If you have bipolar disorder and/or depression yourself, (like I do), think about the good company you’re in !

Famous People With Bipolar Disorder (formerly known as manic -depression)

1. Buzz Aldrin (astronaut) 2. Ludwig van Beethoven 3. Danny Bonaduce 4. Dick Cavett 5. Winston Churchill 6. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), writer 7. Kurt Cobain 8. Francis Ford Coppola (director) 9. John Daly (professional golfer) 10. Johnny Depp 11. Charles Dickens (writer) 12. Emily Dickinson (poet) 13. Robert Downey Jr. 14. Richard Dreyfuss 15. Patty Duke (Anna Duke Pearce) 16. Faye Dunaway 17. Ralph Waldo Emerson (writer) 18. David Feherty (the golf channel) 19. Carrie Fisher 20. Scott Fitzgerald (writer) 21. Connie Francis 22. Mel Gibson 23. Vincent Van Gogh 24. Linda Hamilton (actress) 25. Ernest Hemingway (writer) 26. Kay Redfield Jamison (psychologist, writer) 27. Patrick J. Kennedy 28. Margot Kidder 29. Michelangelo (artist) 30. Tony Orlando 31. Jaco Pastorius (musician) 32. Jane Pauley 33. Edgar Allan Poe (poet) 34. Jackson Pollock (artist) 35. Charley Pride 36. Axl Rose (musician) 37. Charlie Sheen 38. Frank Sinatra 39. Britney Spears 40. Ben Stiller 41, Darryl Strawberry ( Major League Baseball Player) 42. Gordon Summer (Sting),musician 43. Margaret Trudeau (Canadian celebrity) 44. Mike Tyson 45. Jean -Claude Van Damme 46. Sol Wachtler (judge, writer) 47. Kanye West 48. Walt Whitman (poet) 49. Robin Williams 50. Tennessee Williams (writer) 51. Brian Wilson (musician, Beach Boys) 52. Jonathan Winters (comedian) 53. Virginia Woolf (writer)

 

Famous People With Unipolar Disorder (Depression)

1. Marvin Lee Aday (Meat Loaf ), musician 2. Louie Anderson (comedian) 3. Halle Berry (actress) 4. Terry Bradshaw 5. Marlon Brando 6. Barbara Bush (former First Lady -U.S.)  7. Drew Carey 8. Jim Carrey 9. Ray Charles 10. Eric Clapton 11. Dick Clark 12. Leonard Cohen 13. Sheryl Crow  14. Rodney Dangerfield 15. Ellen DeGeneres 16. Queen Elizabeth 17. Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) 18. Harrison Ford 19. Sigmund Freud 20. Lady Gaga 21. Tipper Gore (former vice president) 22. Stephen Hawking (physicist) 23. Anthony Hopkins 24. Janet Jackson 25. Billy Joel 26. Elton John 27. Naomi Judd 28. Abraham Lincoln 29. Greg Louganis (Olympic athlete), diving 30. Courtney Love 31. Dave Matthews (musician) 32. Sarah McLachlan (musician) 33. Alanis Morissette (musician) 34. Stevie Nicks 35. Marie Osmond 36. Gwyneth Paltrow 37. Dolly Parton 38. Katy Perry 39. Michael Phelps (Olympic athlete), swimmer 40. Bonnie Raitt 41. Joan Rivers 42. Roseanne (comedian) 43. Paul Simon 44. Rick Springfield 45. Bruce Springsteen 46. Mike Wallace (journalist), TV news

 

I would love to hear from you. If you have read my book, any of my blogs,  checked out my website, my reviews, etc. Perhaps you have a comment, or a question you would like to ask me. I’m also open for suggestions for blog topics. I’m not an “expert “, but I do have  a lot of experience. I have lived with bipolar disorder since 1989, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) since 1996, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) since 2007.
I am also a retired Canadian PGA golf professional. I don’t play golf any more (partly because of a bad back), but I still think golf is the greatest sport in the world. Now, I’m more of a mental health advocate.

This is the first time I’ve reached out like this, and I have no idea what kind of response I will get. If I get a large number of emails, I may not be able to respond to all of them, but I will try my best. (my depression and anxiety are also factors)

Depression and Anxiety

I wrote 2 blogs to describe my depression, and anxiety. The first one’s title is “Depression-Stigma, And Thoughts Of Suicide”. This was posted on my website on January 16, 2025. The second one’s title is “Celebrate Small Victories In Your Journey With Mental Illness “. This was posted on my website on March 6, 2025.  These blogs describe depression and anxiety, and how these things affect me personally. For example, even a small thing like emailing can be a challenge.

Despite this, regarding this email proposal, once again, I will try my best. My main goal is to use my experience in order to help others. I will respond to the emails I get as soon as I can, but due to some of my challenges,  it could take me up to 2-3 days at times. Please be patient with me !

Thank You !

Sincerely,

Don Walin

email –  donwalin@telus.net

I have mixed feelings about psychiatrists. On the positive side, I think they play a crucial role when it comes to mental health. Countless people need them. They have been highly trained, and have the necessary credentials for their profession. In both Canada and the USA, it takes a minimum of 12 years for their training. This costs an individual approximately $ 330,000 in both countries. They work extremely hard, and most of them take on a lot of debt. In Canada, the average salary for a psychiatrist is about $ 320,000. In the United States, their average salary is about $ 265,000. They have a very difficult job, and save lives, so I think they should be paid a lot of money.

I have seen about 20 different psychiatrists in my life. I have liked a few of them, but, overall, I’ve had negative experiences with many of them. Many were very arrogant, and I hate arrogance ! These people also lacked compassion. This led to some serious problems when I was under their care. I wouldn’t put up with being treated this way, and always stood up for myself. As a result, these clashes didn’t end up in my favour, especially when I was a patient in a psychiatric ward. These people had all the power. Their main weapon was heavy duty anti-psychotic psych meds. Some of these drugs were incredibly powerful, and had terrible side effects. ( Thorazine, Haldol, and Risperdal ). I was over medicated, and couldn’t even talk. I felt like a zombie. It would bring me out of my mania, but it was a terrible feeling. Because of this, there were times when I refused to take these meds. I would be forced to take them anyway. Sometimes these altercations ended up with me being strapped down to a stretcher, and isolated in a small room. Each time this happened, was a horrific experience.

The few psychiatrists I did like, treated me well, whether I was in a state of mania, and a patient in a psych ward, or if I was in a “normal” mood state, while in their private office. None of these people were arrogant. They treated me with kindness, compassion, and respect.
Because they have such an important job, I understand why psychiatrists get paid so much. However, I don’t like the fact that at the same time, people with a mental illness (es) living on a lifetime disability pension ( like myself ), are only getting paid between $ 9,600- $ 17, 000/ year. ( I only get $ 9,600/year from my Canada Pension Plan disability). This is well below the poverty level for Canada. Psychiatrists are getting rich because of my comrades and I.

Psychiatrists and Spirituality ( re: mania )

I’m not religious, but I’ve had many “ spiritual experiences “, both in a state of mania, and when in a “ normal “ mood state. Several times, while being treated by psychiatrists in psychiatric wards during manic episodes, I was diagnosed as being “ delusional “ ( having false beliefs) , and “ psychotic “ ( out of touch with reality) because of these spiritual experiences. ( Also why I was put on these “ anti-psychotic medications). Many times I sensed the presence of God coming from within, or through people. Some psychiatrists don’t even believe God exists. If God really does exist, and a psychiatrist doesn’t think so, is this not a “ false belief “,  making that psychiatrist “delusional “ ?

The brain is incredibly complex. It has over a hundred billion neurons. Doctors and scientists still only know how 10%-15% of the brain works. Psychiatrists are much too hasty to diagnose their patients spiritual experiences as delusional and psychotic. I think they need to learn a lot more about the “ spiritual realm “.

Psychiatrists have put me in ICU wards several times. Obviously, they had their reasons for this, and I will be the first one to admit that I was very mentally ill each time this happened. However, I was never violent. I never hit anyone, and wasn’t physically aggressive. Other patients were though. Many times I was scared, and felt threatened. And, I was struck by other patients. It was awful. Psychiatrists should never had put me in the same ward as these violent people.

In a state of mania, but when still doing quite well, I could talk circles around these psychiatrists. I wouldn’t hesitate to challenge them verbally. One time, my psychiatrist, Dr. Loewen  ( who I liked ), didn’t know what to do with me, so she had the director of psychiatry, Dr. Latimer ( who I didn’t like) , take over my case. When I told him that I was a golf professional, he thought I was delusional. He didn’t believe me. Again, the psychiatrist is the delusional one here !

Some Psychiatrists I Liked

On a more positive note, there were some psychiatrists who I liked. I already said I liked Dr. Loewen. I had Dr. Diaz for 20 years, before he retired. We had a great relationship. We only spoke twice a year, for at least an hour each time. I never needed Dr.Diaz for any “ talk therapy “, but we always had great conversations. He was a very good psychiatrist. At the end of our last session, he shook my hand, and said “ It’s been an honour and a pleasure “.  I expressed to him that I felt the same way towards him. I loved Dr. Phil Severy from the infamous Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.
A good friend of mine has 2 friends that are psychiatrists. They play golf together on a regular basis. My friend is a good judge of character. They must be good people.

I’m certain that most people entering this profession do so knowing they will be making the big bucks, and look forward to the prestige that comes with the title. However, I also think that most people are decent human beings, and that the majority who are working as a psychiatrist truly do so with the intent of helping those of us living with a mental illness (es ). So, like I said in the beginning, I have mixed feelings about psychiatrists.

 

 

 

 

Things the average person without a mental illness take for granted, and don’t give much thought to, can be a challenge for someone with  a mental illness (es).

The following are some examples that can help improve your mood, and your mental health :

*making your bed *having a shower *shave*eating properly *making a “to do” list *finishing your “to do” list ( it feels good to get things accomplished) *go for a walk, or do some other kind of exercise *play a sport *meditate *talking/socializing with others (on the phone, or in person) *reading *google, or do some work on your computer *get enough sleep and rest *helping someone else, or volunteering your time *hobbies like arts and crafts *live in the moment, and take one day at a time.

The main aspect to consider is acknowledging these as victories, no matter how small they may seem in the moment. The small victories are what keep us motivated to tackle the larger ones.

What I do every day to get through the day (despite struggling with mental illness)

I struggle with depression and anxiety on a daily basis. I seem to be really good at “making a mountain, out of a mole hill”. The smallest things can be overwhelming for me. Because of this, I procrastinate a lot. With my depression, I lose my inspiration, motivation, and confidence. This can apply to many things. Being excited and inspired by something is a great feeling, but this is the opposite. Depression  affects me mentally, physically, and emotionally. Mainly I have no energy a lot of the time. Having anxiety is no picnic either. Depression affects me the most. The best way for me to combat this, is to try and keep my mind busy with other things, so I don’t dwell on how bad I’m feeling.

Keep moving, Keep going !

In the past, when I was really depressed, I spent a great deal of my time in bed, or laying on the couch. Now, I won’t allow myself to do this. I literally force myself to stay on my feet. Often, it takes all I have to just have a shower, or to stand at the kitchen sink to do the dishes. I have to push myself to do these things, but I do it. I always feel better while doing even a small amount of exercise, including having a shower. I have my own calendar. I write down whatever I need to do, for almost every day. I get a small victory every time I put a check mark beside these tasks.

My daily routine

I’ve had the same daily routine for the last 20 years. It’s a little mundane, but it works for me. I go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time every morning. I always get at least 8 hours of sleep. I eat my meals at the same time, which is especially important because I have type 2 diabetes. And, I eat healthy food. Our dog is getting old, and can’t go for walks anymore, but we used to go for walks every morning after breakfast. Just getting outside, and getting some sun in my eyes helps a lot. I do quite a bit of yard work in the spring, summer, and fall.

I try to do some writing (work on a blog, etc.) almost every afternoon. This is another victory every time I do this. After this, I have a nap before supper. My wife joins me for this on her days off. When she’s working in the evening, I usually work on my writing. On her days off, we watch T.V. at night. We end our nights by reading in bed for about 30 minutes, before going to sleep.
Taking all of my daily medication (including psych meds) is also very important. For the most part, I stay in the moment, and take one day at a time. Keeping my stress as low as possible is extremely important to me.
For really important things, like going out to get my bloodwork done, I may not feel like doing it, but I always manage to push myself to get it done. It will feel good to take credit for these “wins”, even if they are small ones.

Because I’m on a lifetime disability pension, and only get $800.00/month, I spend 95% of my time at home. My wife and I only have one vehicle. This restricts my lifestyle a lot. Writing has become the only job I can do, without becoming mentally ill. I’m extremely fortunate that I have an amazing wife who works, and supports both of us. Any work someone with a mental illness can do, will make them feel better about themselves.
Don’t be hard on yourself. If you don’t get something done today, you can try again tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

I was diagnosed with “manic depression” (bipolar disorder) in 1989. Between 1989-1995, I had 4 full blown manic episodes, and ended up in psychiatric wards every time. Each one was for about 6 weeks. I also lost my job every time this happened. When well enough, I returned to work immediately. Being employed was always my number one goal. Because of stress, most of my jobs didn’t last very long. The longest was for 18 months. For a couple of jobs, it was 2 months or less. I loved my occupation. I was a Canadian PGA golf professional. I worked at golf courses, helping run golf operations, and teaching golf. A dream job for me. Losing these jobs was devastating for me.

In 1996, I was put on a Federal CPP (Canada Pension Plan) Lifetime Disability, and the CPGA (Canadian Professional Golfer’s Association) put me in the “retired” category. I have been on lifetime disability since then. Also in 1996, I was diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in 2007. These 2 additional mental illnesses made things even more difficult.

I kept paying my CPGA  annual dues for 10 years, (at least $600.00/year), hoping that some day I would be able to come out of retirement, and work as a golf pro again. In 2006, I made the extremely difficult decision that this wasn’t going to happen. I stopped paying my annual dues , and stopped receiving my “pro card”. This was a very sad time for me.

In 1993 & 1994, I was employed as a Class “A” CPGA Head Golf Professional. My monthly salary was only $2,000.00. But, on my own time, I gave lessons. For group lessons, I was paid $100.00/hour. I was a good teacher, and loved doing it. My plans were to decrease my Pro Shop hours, and to increase my lesson hours.

When I started on CPP lifetime disability in 1996, I was getting paid $520.00/month. I was also getting B.C. (British Columbia) benefits, which was $250.00/month, from the Provincial Government. The B.C. benefits also covered the cost of my medications, including my psych meds. This was at least $1,000.00/month. I was living with my mom at this time.

In 2000, I moved in with Elli. My social worker said we were living in a “common law” relationship, and that our combined income was too high. She immediately cut me off from my B.C. benefits. All of a sudden, my $770.00/month income went down to $520.00/month. And, my medications were no longer covered. I would have to pay for this myself. How was I supposed to do this? Elli makes average money. Our combined income was way below average for B.C. I told my social worker that the government needs to look at the expenses, along with the income. The fact was that my expenses were higher living with Elli, than with my mom.

My mom’s home was paid off. I gave her some money for groceries, and she looked after everything else. Elli and I live in a mobile home. At the time, Elli was paying a mortgage, and monthly pad fee. Then, there was all the other cost of living expenses. My social worker agreed with me, but said that’s the way it was, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

$800.00/month is ridiculous

Fast forward to today. Elli’s been working, and supporting me for the last 25 years. I have mixed feelings. I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to have such an amazing wife, but I wish I was the one working, and supporting her. I’m still on CPP lifetime disability, and currently (2025), I am getting a ridiculous low amount of $800.00/month. This is very close to the same amount that I was getting 30 years ago. Luckily, Elli has a great health care plan with her work, and is able to pay for my medications. Also, Canada has an excellent health care system. I’ve never had to pay anything for all of my hospital stays (psychiatric wards), or for all of my psychiatric appointments.

While I only get $800.00/month, psychiatrists in Canada are being paid an average of about $250,000/year. The CEO of CMHA (Canadian Mental Health Association) is paid over $200,000/year. There are many other people working in the mental health industry, who are making a lot of money. These people are getting wealthy, while my comrades and I are forced to live a life of poverty. This simply isn’t fair at all.

Minimum wage in B.C. is $17.60. My CPP lifetime disability payment of $800.00/month, based on a 40 hour work week equals $5.00/hour. When I told a judge I know how much I was getting, she said “how can anyone live on that?” I said “you can’t”. My $800.00 goes straight toward paying for groceries and household expenses. In Canada, the average annual salary is $55,000. $23,000 or less is the poverty level (I get $9,600/year). The majority of people with mental illness on CPP lifetime disability in British Columbia also get  B.C. benefits. This totals $1,400/month. ($16,800/year). This is almost twice as much as I’m getting, but still way below the poverty level.

I would like to advocate for my comrades and myself. Why should we have to live on such a small amount of money, while others working in the industry are making huge profits from us ?

P.S.

I would like to make a point by saying although everything I’ve stated is true, there are countless people all over the world, who are living a life of poverty that is much worse .

 

 

 

 

 

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