Here’s a contest I thought some of you may be interested in…a contest that sort of ties in with mental health, and sort of has nothing at all to do with mental health.

Well, OK, it kind of really has nothing at all to do with mental health. But the name of the company is Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, so, that counts for something, right?

Plus, this is a Brain Break, so it’s all gravy.

Anyway, David Klasfeld, a professional makeup artist, created Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) in 2004, and it’s quickly grown to offer over 150 makeup items. Because the company (and makeup) is both animal- and vegan-friendly, PETA is currently holding a contest to win a set of six lip balms from OCC. There will be 10 winners.

The contest is open until October 31, 2008, and you can enter at CaringConsumer.com’s Win a Vegan Lip Balm Pack From Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics!

Good luck, and if any Mental Health Notes reader(s) actually wins, I’d love to know about it.

Post from: Blisstree

Brain Break: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Balm Contest

I didn’t realize it at the time, but the day after I posted my review, PETA posted a video on their YouTube channel of Newkirk discussing One Can Make a Difference.

During the relatively quick video (it’s less than two minutes long, so, your lunch hour remains intact), Newkirk talks about how “everyone is very important” and “the world is waiting to hear from each and every one of them,” about how artists, poets, and comedians can help “change people’s moods and minds,” and about how the one that can make a difference “could be you.”

You can view the video below. I must warn you there are a couple of very quick, slightly graphic scenes, but aside from those the video is full of inspiration of the non-disturbing variety.

Remember to check out PETA’s official One Can Make a Difference page.

Video: officialpeta

Post from: Blisstree

Video: Ingrid Newkirk Discusses Her New Book One Can Make a Difference

When a representative from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. approached me about reviewing Ingrid E. Newkirk’s latest book, One Can Make a Difference: How Simple Actions Can Change the World, I didn’t hesitate to answer with an enthusiastic ‘yes!’.

Ingrid Newkirk, did you say? But isn’t she the founder of PETA? What’s PETA have to do with mental health?

Well, PETA really has nothing to do with mental health, directly (unless you count that whole thing with the letter to Britney Spears’s parents, the brain scan they offered Sharon Stone, the occasional mention of a pet’s mental health and the mental health-related horrors captive and lab animals go through, and their information about animal hoarders and the mental health of animal abusers), but the book – rather, the messages within the book – could have everything to do with your mental health.

Within One Can Make a Difference are over 50 essays written by celebrities, activists, leaders, doctors, and private citizens. Well-known figures like the Dalai Lama, Kevin Bacon, Sean Astin, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Russell Simmons all contributed personal essays about some event, person, or spark of genius that prompted them to take action and make a difference in the world. Lesser-known individuals who could be your next door neighbors, your grocery store clerks, or your postmen shared the stories of how they stood up and took action to make differences in their communities.

I was very interested in Brigitte Bardot’s story of depression and attempted suicide, and how she wholeheartedly believes throwing herself into animal activism saved her life. I felt like I knew things about The Beatles that my mom doesn’t when I read Paul McCartney’s essay about how his father introduced him to the bass, music was a journey of self-discovery for him, and how he and John often accidentally discover chords that led to some of the world’s favorite songs.

Moby’s advice to be who we are all made of stars and to avoid taking ourselves too seriously is advice I’ve been known to dole out myself, and good ol’ Willie Nelson’s tale of how he became interested in and started promoting bio-fuel pleased me almost as much as his cover of Dave Matthews Band’s “Gravedigger.”

It’s inspiring to read the personal stories of people – famous or not – who’ve been struck with inspiration and said, “You know what? This is what I want to do. This is the difference I want to make. So, watch out.”

The essays of the well-known people show us just how these people came to be where they are, as well as how they’ve used their fame and fortune to positively impact the world, and the essays of the private citizens remind us that we don’t have to be rich and famous to make concrete, important changes.

Advocating for what we believe in feels good. Making positive changes, whether they influence the street we live on or the entire world, feels good. Not for selfish reasons, but because we are taking action to change something with which we didn’t agree. We are taking action to make our environment a better place for everyone.

I’d recommend One Can Make a Difference to everyone. I am recommending it to everyone. It’s a ridiculously easy read, and because it’s a compilation of many short essays (just a few pages long), it’s something you can read at your own leisure without losing your place or forgetting the plot.

I have a feeling the “plot” isn’t something you’ll soon forget, anyway.

For more information about One Can Make a Difference, including how you can order the book and even nominate someone you think has made a difference, visit PETA’s official One Can Make a Difference page.

If you’ve already read the book, feel free to let me know what you think about it in the comments. Or, if you’re currently one who is making a difference, feel free to share that, too!

Image: Amazon

Post from: Blisstree

Book Review: One Can Make a Difference

Ingrid E. Newkirk, cofounder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), recently faxed Sharon Stone a letter offering to pay for a scan of the prefrontal region of her brain.

In the letter, Newkirk explains to Stone that her “cavalier attitude” toward the recent earthquake in China and “callous remarks” about wearing fur could actually be caused by an underdeveloped prefrontal region of her brain.

According to a recent FOXNews.com article, Stone’s rep has yet to respond.

My advice? Jump on it, girl! I know I would. Shoot, health care costs are ridiculous.

PETA Image: Newcom

Post from: Blisstree

PETA Offers Sharon Stone A Free Brain Scan

Stop wondering about that, and enjoy this week’s Saturday Sanity!

This week at Mental Health Notes, I provided a very brief overview of self-medication and dual diagnosis resources, updated you on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s brain surgery and future plans, shared a funny video on herd behavior and one on refocusing your mental energy, directed you to a PETA resource for grieving and feeling guilty over your pets, participated in the first ever Healthbolt Carnival, griped about one man’s predictions on how we’ll be learning in the future, and offered some encouraging words from Joel Osteen.

In the world of mental health advocacy and fellow mental health bloggers, Chato B. Stewart’s Mental Health Humor blog won Today.com’s Editor’s Choice Award for Enthusiasm and Effort, Jerry at ADHDFamilies gave the site a serious overhaul (and it looks great!), and Dr. Robin Altman’s new book, An Irreverent Take On Child Psychiatry, is available for sale. everyminute.org is increasing the number of signatures on its Online Declaration and offers a list of ways to help spread the word, the DBSA has made available an online transcript of the genetics and bipolar disorder chat with Dr. Melvin G. McInnis, and finally, Mental Health America has announced the winners of the Mental Health America 2008 Media Award and has honored Congressman Jim Ramstad with the Career Achievement Award.

Recent mental health news tells us that military records indicate post-traumatic stress disorder cases among Afghanistan- and Iraq-stationed soldiers has increased 46.4 percent from 2006 to 2007, while one new report suggests exposure-based therapy may help prevent cases of acute stress disorder from progressing to post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers are connecting asthma with suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, Harvard Medical School researchers report children who experience better foster care may be less likely to physical and mental illnesses as adults, and surveys show students who admitted to having eating problems were more likely to also admit to having psychological problems.

In the rest of b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel contests abound! Pink Ribbon Review’s Karen Lynch is holding a contest for a Fujifilm One-Time-Use Camera, Ruth at Eating Fabulous is holding a contest for a wet of Wish-Bone Bountifuls, Grace at Kids Health Notes is giving away three Scholastic books for children, Lively Women’s Kristen is offering a chance to win three copies of High Heels to Hormones: A Woman’s Guide to Spine Care, and Womb Within’s Marijke is holding a contest for a Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit.

Do you have something going on you’d like announced in Saturday Sanity? An accomplishment, a contest, or a news report, for example? Send it my way!

First 3 Images: Newscom

b5media Image: b5media

Do you want to tell the world why you ROCK? If you have a mental illness and are still living the life you love, head on over the the official announcement post and enter This Is Why I ROCK! today!

Post from: Blisstree

Saturday Sanity: When Your RSS Feed Just Isn’t Enough

I miss Gus.

Gus was my little gray and white long-haired kitten, best friend to both Chopper and Miss Penny Lane, and vanquisher of all silence.

He was needy, he liked to sleep on my chest, and had a strict “no closed doors” policy.

He ate a lot, he pooped a lot, and he was the criminal mastermind behind every “no-no” Chopper committed.

Honestly. I watched this cat bat pens, wallets, and candy into the floor for Chopper to carry off to her cage, a.k.a. The Chop Cave.

A little over a year ago, Gus died.

He wasn’t even a year old yet. It was during the whole horrible pet-food-from-China fiasco. I wasn’t feeding my cats any of the food that was on the list, nor was my other cat, Miss Penny Lane, affected, so I’m not inclined to think he ate poisoned food. But, he did fall ill and pass away during that time.

Gus couldn’t have gotten sick at a worse time. I was in between paychecks and had just paid all the bills. As I had no cash and I don’t have credit cards, I was soon on the phone with every veterinarian in the county asking about payment plans.

Needless to say, soon after that I was on the phone with my parents asking for money.

Unfortunately, nothing happened quick enough. Gus passed away the very same day I called my parents. Actually, he passed away minutes after I hung up with Mom.

The whole thing was a whirlwind. He was ill one night, and he passed away the next afternoon.

However, after I buried Gus, I realized he’d been showing signs of being ill for a couple of days prior to his death. He wasn’t eating much. He was lethargic. He didn’t roughhouse with Chopper. I’ve owned cats all my life (literally, not figuratively) and it just seemed like he was feeling a bit under the weather.

I was wrong, and my cat died.

I had no money, and my cat died.

I’ve carried this guilt and shame since the day Gus passed away. My animals are like my children. I would do anything for them. I would fight you over my pets (again, literally and not figuratively). How could I not have had the money to take him to the vet? How could I have mistaken his symptoms for something else?

Until that point, I’d never lost a pet to anything but old age. How could I be so ridiculously irresponsible?

I’ve talked about this miserable guilt to anyone who’d listen, but the other day I discovered PETA’s I Confess…Confessions From Animal Guardians, and I told my story again – anonymously, as that’s the deal. It’s cathartic to talk about and confess our guilt and shame. Sometimes, it’s even more cathartic to do it anonymously. People tend to be more frank when they’re anonymous.

Do I still feel guilty? Yes. Am I still ashamed? Hell yes. At this point I don’t know if I’m trying to cleanse myself or punish myself. However, sharing my story with so many other people who feel guilty or shameful regarding their pets was therapeutic.

If you’re feeling guilty about something you did – or didn’t do – regarding your pet, give it a try.

Gus (left) and Miss Penny Lane (right), wondering why I interrupted their naps.

Gus and Chopper, shortly after we adopted Chopper, in a basket I used to keep by my desk just for that purpose.

Gus and Chopper all grown up – well, Chopper growing seriously bigger than Gus! – in a chair I had to make soft and keep by my desk, just for that purpose.

PETA Image: Newcom

Pet Images: Me

Air is currently rockin’ out in the This Is Why I ROCK! series here at Mental Health Notes. If you have a mental illness and are still living the life you love, head on over the the official announcement post and enter!

Post from: Blisstree

Grieving Over A Lost Pet: PETA Offers The Chance To Confess