Monday July 15, 2002
Praise for Small Words
http://small.blogspot.com/This darkly comedic piece seems at times macabre with it's ironic wit and anorexic toxicity. You will feel empathy at some times but want to laugh out loud at others. She uses humor to make her appearance seem less shocking though nonetheless vividly real. Here is the story of a unique talent with tendency towards exess, while still being socially skilled, brilliantly funny, and tragically intelligent. Her unwavering ability to keep us roaring with laughter while giving us a first hand account of her heroing experience as an anorexic and drug addict seem almost insurmountable. Without a doubt, this one will keep you asking for more.
Excerpts:
"in the time since then have had more foreign substances up the nose and down the gulliver than one would think humanly possible for someone roughly the size of a third grader. There is missing time. there was green bile in an unfamiliar bathroom basin. There was a point when the world around me was made of crinkling shiney clear plastic wrap. and there was a point when i was more than a little concerned my insides had liquified. Today brain not work so good."
"It features uber-dorky high school kids from all over canada, trapped behind the preschool-colored set along with now-defunct home-grown rapper michee-mee and a honkier than honkey white guy named landry as host. This is the future of canada."
Site Suggestions
This issue's suggested site: The Lost Soul Companion ProjectThis site is owned by the author of The Lost Soul Companion and The Not-So-Lost Soul Companion, Susan Brakney. Sharp and witty, this site has excerpts from the first book, a newsletter, support, merchandise, and more. For anyone looking for a little artistic inspiration, this site is for you.
When Your Sleep Suffers
Sleep disorders are a common problem among people of all ages. Reportedly, insomnia sufferers include 30% of the population and 90% of the elderly population suffers from some form of abnormal sleep pattern. Insomnia is by far the most common of all sleep disorders. Others include narcolepsy, circadian rhythm disorders, snoring, sleep apnea, and many others. Insomnia, nightmares, pregnancy, medications and depression will be addressed in the latter part of this article. Please be sure to consult your physician if you think you have one of these disorders.REM, or rapid eye movement, and NREM, non-rapid eye movement, are the two natural sleep cycles. If these cycles are constantly being disrupted, such disorders as insomnia can develop. "You may feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy and may have trouble concentrating or paying attention while awake." The easiest line of defense against sleep disorders is a constant sleep cycle. Taking naps during the day and sleeping late can add to sleep problems.
Insomnia is the leading cause of lost sleep. Symptoms include "an inability to fall asleep, remain asleep, or sleep restfully through the night, and includes early morning awakening." Length ranges from sporadic to chronic or long term and can be very difficult to treat. Sometimes the temporary use of medication prescribed by your doctor is necessary to get you started on a normal sleep cycle, but long term care requires healthy and persistent sleep habits or "good sleep hygiene." This includes, but is not limited to, exercising regularly, preferably in the afternoon, avoiding caffeine and excessive intake of other stimulants, and most importantly, keeping regular sleep hours.
Night mares or night terrors are common among trauma victims as well as the general population. "They can be caused by stress, anxiety, and some drugs." Nightmares are near impossible to control or anticipate because the cause is largely unknown. Because there is no clear cause, so is there no real antidote. To ease the effect of traumatic nightmares, talking about them is useful as well as comforting the person.
Fatigue from pregnancy during the first and third trimester may disrupt sleep. Postpartum depression is also a common cause of sleeplessness. Other causes include hormones, excitement about coming a mother, and sleep apnea. "Pregnant women who have insomnia may find relief by taking afternoon naps, drinking warm milk, taking a warm bath, and exercise during the day.
If you hare having problems with any of these sleep disorders, please consult your physician or psychiatrist for further information. Sleep problems can be a sign of greater health problems or psychological disorders.
The following sites were consulted for information on sleep disorders: Web MD, Article 1, Web MD, Article 2, Web MD, Article 3, Web MD, Article 4, Web MD, Article 5, Web MD, Article 6, Web MD, Article 7.
Artistically Speaking
