Here, you will get a behind-the-scenes look about how the Funny Farm came into existence, etc.
* The airplane was invented...and they laughed!
* A computer in every home...and they laughed!
* The Funny Farm came into existence...and they laughed!
Welcome to the Funny Farm...glad you're here...we've been expecting you!
"Welcome...I'm Dr. Sigmund Fraud
Director of the Funny Farm"
The Funny Farm
An AmericanInstitution
You can always tell who
the new arrivals are!
Purpose
To raise awareness and to encourage American's to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness; discrimination against the mentally ill; name-calling; put-down of others and the negative humor that many times goes with it.
From May, 2004 to Thanksgiving week-end of 2006, I was dis-connected from the Internet and from my website because of health reasons and hard times. You can read all about it here. Suffering from depression for many years, I talk about it in a piece that's on the drawing board entitled, Life In a Psychiatric Ward.
Is there anything more frightening than the thought of growing old? The possibility of someday sitting in a wheel chair, slumped over...not recognizing anybody...not knowing where you are! A frightening thought for sure! Headline in the January 27, 2003 issue of the Albuquerque, New Mexico Journal reads:
I knew nothing about dementia until I was hospitized, and saw another patient with the disease named Manuel.
Is there anything else?.
UPDATE: May, 2013
Reminder about humor: Research has shown, that one of the most important things all of us can do, is to have the ability to laugh at ourselves, at all crazy and insane things we all say and do, which can lead to a healthier life! The healing and positive power, will always be included in my work. And my promise is that I will always try to do my humor in a respectful and dignified manner...Jer
Whether it be age discrimination, gender, color, disability or mental illness, everyone is going to have to deal with the bigots and racists of the world, etc.
This copyrighted article was written by Jennifer Warner of Web MD Medical News and came across on AOL on December 29, 2006; Drinking fruit and vegitable juices every other day, may keep Alzheimer's disease away.
Recently, I saw a short ad in the newspaper announcing a Father's Day Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the local chapter of the Alzherimer's Association. I wanted to take my father to the breakfast, but I couldn't remember where it was to be held.
The article was written by Susan Brine of the Los Angeles Times, and the copyrighted piece was published in the Albuquerque Journal on February 18, 2007
Mental Health and Stigma: Coping With Ridicule: Archaic stereotypes and discrimination are painful reminders that mental illnesses are still stigmatized, and it all begins with a label.
The following article, was written by Matt Krupnik of the McCatchy Newspapers, and was published in the Albuquerque Journal on April 22, 2007. (The aftermath of Virginia Tech)
"Berkeley, Calif...The numbers are startling! Four of every ten students have been so depressed at some point in the past year, they were not able to function!"
This is an article, written by the Associated Press, and the copyrighted article appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on June, 12, 2007. I think it's a reminder to all of us, young and old, to pay more attention to mental illness, and to do our part to eliminate the stigma assiciated with mental illness. None of us are getting any younger!
This piece was written by Barbara Basler, and published in the ARRP Bulletin in the June, 2007 issue. The country braces for a wave of new Alzheimer's cases, but science is on the brink of arresting the progress of this harrowing disease. Dozens of new drugs are in the pipeline.
There are hundreds of websites that make up the World Laughter Tour, and I invite you to visit to learn more about the positive and healing power of humor.
Gossip/Hate!
Anger!.
Anxious!
Jealousy/Hate!
Depression!
Unfocused!
Ever feel like you're going
bananas?
'Normal' Person!
It's a jungle out there!
Melt-down!
Of the hundreds of emails concerning my website and my work, the following email sits right at the top in importance to me. It's from a fellow named Wayne, who I have never met. Wayne writes:
" Greetings Jer; I wish to thank you for brightening my day a bit. Your site was just what I needed in this time in my life. You see, my mother passed away on July 2, and I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Being the 4th of July week-end, we all had gathered at her place for a big bang and celebration. Thanks for the laughs I had today...Wayne"
My Two Cents
Young and old alike, and after the unthinkable tradgedy at Virginia Tech, we should all think about the issue of mental health in our lives. Everyone has to work together, to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness. None of us are getting any younger!
This article was written by Bob Moos of the Dallas Morning News, and the copyrighted article was published in the Albuquerque Journal on June 15, 2007.
Those are the headlines, in the Albuquerque Journal on October 5, 2007, when New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici, announced that he will not run for another term in the U.S. Senate, because of a diagnosis of a rare neurological disease known as frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
"The best defense against Alzheimer's disease may come from your dietary habits."Article written by Richard Dargan for the Albuquerque Journal on January 27, 2008.
This piece is so short and so important, that I decided to place it on the front page of this Section. It was written by a staff member of the McClatchy Newspapers and published in the Albuquerque Journal. The piece reads as follows;
Exercise, dietary supplements and programs that claim to boost your brain power have all been marketed as ways to stave off Alzheimer's disease. But there's no evidence that any of them works, an independent panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health has concluded.
Studies havent't been able to prove if any of the strategies works to prevent cognitive decline, the panel said. The reality is so little is known about the illness and the aging process in general, experts said.
Researchers have identified certain risk factors such as age and the association of a genetic variant of a protein that plays a role in cholersterol...apolipoprotein E...that have shown links to developing Alzehimer's. And experts hope to soon understand what role genetics play in the disease. But more research is needed.
In addition, the panel found that diseases such as diabetes and depression, and risk factors such as smoking, are associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline. But it's unclear from studies if those factors cause Alzheimer's or are simply related.
'Alzheimer's disease is a feared and heart-breaking disease,' said Dr. Martha L. Daviglus, panel chairworman and professor at Northwestern University. 'We wish we could tell people that taking a pill or doing a puzzle every day would prevent this terrible disease, but current evidence doesn't support this.'"
SOS! My Serious and Silly Articles
Three of my most important articles are as follows;
