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Mental health discrimination takes many forms, but one of the most insidious is how we systematically devalue older adults struggling with psychological conditions. Drawing from my lived experience with paranoid schizophrenia and as the daughter of a mother with the same condition, I've witnessed the painful intersection of ageism and mental health stigma up close.

When I turned 50 and attended my first mental health advocacy support group, I immediately felt the chill of age discrimination. Despite the wonderful work these organizations do, their focus skewed dramatically toward younger people. The unspoken message was clear: mental health resources are prioritized for those with more life ahead of them. This utilitarian approach ignores the profound truth that an older person's remaining years are arguably more precious precisely because they are fewer.

My mother's journey with schizophrenia in her later years revealed how quickly society abandons aging individuals with mental illness. As her condition worsened, complicated by anosognosia (lack of insight into her own illness), friends and family gradually disappeared. The healthcare system offered minimal support, repeatedly telling me she couldn't receive intervention unless she posed an immediate danger. Despite these challenges, her brilliant mind continued to shine. Our intellectual connection remained vibrant, providing meaningful interactions that others missed by dismissing her as merely "old and mentally ill."

Older adults navigating mental health challenges bring wisdom accumulated through decades of experience—insights into what treatments work, what coping strategies help, and how to maintain dignity through difficult times. By marginalizing these voices, we lose invaluable knowledge that could benefit mental health care for everyone. We must recognize that growth, recovery, and meaningful connection remain possible at any age.

Subscribe to my channel on YouTube (see below) and visit my website to learn more about my novel "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and join me in advocating for mental health care that values every person, regardless of age.

#ageism #seniorhealth #mentalillness #bekind

My websites and social media:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

https://aussiemathematician.io/

 My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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This description contains a paid promotion in that I use Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What happens when wild, chaotic living meets disciplined, daily creativity? This episode examines two contrasting yet complementary paths to meaningful artistic expression.

We begin with Roland Robinson, the Australian poet who lived from 1912 to 1992—a chaotic, wild-haired figure who hiked with my parents and whose intellectual fire never dimmed in my mother's memory. Robinson's life was a beautiful chaos of divorces, affairs, and cross-country journeys, yet this apparent disorder fueled his mission to document Aboriginal stories and myths. His poem "The Sermon of the Birds" exemplifies his dedication to preserving First Nations voices, showing how he channeled personal turmoil into cultural preservation and activism.

The second half shifts focus to Walter Mosley's structured approach to writing. The acclaimed crime fiction author behind the Easy Rawlins mysteries offers transformative advice: make writing your first daily activity. Even changing a single word counts. This simple practice creates an anchor amid life's storms, helping writers overcome the "not creative today" or "too busy" excuses that leave projects forever unfinished. My own journey with schizophrenia illustrates this perfectly—detailed notes initially kept for doctors gradually expanded into material for multiple books, including "The Overlife, a Tale of Schizophrenia."

Both Robinson and Mosley reveal essential truths about creativity: it thrives in both freedom and structure. Whether your path resembles Robinson's chaotic energy or Mosley's disciplined consistency, the key lies in commitment to your unique voice and story. What daily practice might anchor your creative life? What chaos might you transform through your words? Subscribe now and join our exploration of writing's power to capture life's complexity.

References:

(i) Roland Robinson (1912-1992) by Peter Kirkpatrick, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 19, 2021.

(ii) https://allpoetry.com/The-Sermon-of-the-Birds

(iii) "Devil In A Blue Dress," by Walter Mosley (visit https://amzn.to/4jTMJWB) The link is an Amazon Associate Link/ As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

(iv) “The Overlife: A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/454WgW6. #ad #commissionsearned The link is an Amazon Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

(v) “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/42Z81KY. #ad #commissionsearned The link is an Amazon Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My Website and Social Media:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com (fiction writing)

https://aussiemathematician.io/ (mathematics)

 My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#australianpoetry #aboriginalmyths #waltermosley #fictionwriting #keepingadiary #rolandrobinson #firstnationspe

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What does it mean to pursue a career in advanced mathematics while experiencing the profound challenges of paranoid schizophrenia? Drawing from her extraordinary personal journey, Diana Dirkby takes us behind the curtain of her dual life as an internationally recognized mathematician and a person navigating the complex reality of serious mental illness.

This raw, enlightening conversation explores the fascinating parallels between Diana's experience and that of mathematical genius John Nash, immortalized in "A Beautiful Mind." Diana describes her unique cognitive challenges—particularly the "word soup" that floods her mind during episodes—and reveals the ingenious strategies she developed to sustain her academic career despite these obstacles. From writing lectures verbatim in blue ink (never black) to maximizing productive work during periods of mental clarity, her practical approaches offer valuable insights for anyone facing similar challenges.

Beyond her personal story, Diana tackles misconceptions about both mathematics and schizophrenia. She eloquently explains how mathematics continues to evolve through human inquiry and research, using Fermat's Last Theorem as a compelling example. With compassion born from experience, she offers guidance to parents whose bright children receive schizophrenia diagnoses, emphasizing that while compromise is necessary, fulfilling lives and meaningful achievements remain possible with proper support and treatment.

Diana's message resonates with hope and pragmatism: success with schizophrenia requires acceptance, management, and support—but it is absolutely possible. Whether you're personally affected by mental illness, love someone who is, or simply seek to understand the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, this episode offers profound wisdom about finding clarity amidst chaos and pursuing intellectual passion despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Subscribe now to join this important conversation about triumph over adversity and the power of compromise in achieving meaningful success.

You can check out a basic, minimal website I made about my mathematics at https://aussiemathematician.io/. 

Here are my other website and social media credentials: 

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

 My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#schizophrenia #college #university #mathematics #mentalhealth #family #relationships #SameHere #girlsdomath

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In this episode, I will describe several incidents where I got into trouble with law enforcement for totally harmless behavior because I have always been open about living with schizophrenia. This fact is a reason to be open about living with schizophrenia, not to hide it. I passed with flying colors, and that helps reduce the stigma.

#schizophrenia #police #lawenforcement #mentalillness #family #relationships #challenges #fiction #novel

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In this episode, I will introduce you to my two novels: "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia"  (https://www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X), whose title I abbreviate to "The Overlife," and "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9K6YMG), whose title I abbreviate to "Three Siblings." The first novel is about a mother and daughter both living with paranoid schizophrenia. The second novel is about sibling abuse. I will also talk about myself and the goals of this Podcast. This Podcast has a serious tone, but, don't worry, we will also have fun and humor in many of the episodes.

A video version of this episode is on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

My website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/
My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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In this short episode, I will introduce my new Podcast, "Fractured Ink: Writing in Life's Chaos." The podcast discusses fiction novels about families faced with a severe challenge. I have published two novels on such a theme. The first novel is "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" ("The Overlife" for short (https://www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X). The second novel is "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" ("Three Siblings for short) (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9K6YMG). Though fiction, the novels are based on real events in my life and the lives of close family and friends. I live with schizophrenia, as did my mother, which inspired "The Overlife." I suffer from complex PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which inspired "Three Siblings."

I reassure my audience that, though some of the issues I discuss are severe, my podcast will also include humor, my hobbies, my loves, and an explanation of how I succeeded in research mathematics and as a university professor.

The video version of this podcast is available on my YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

My website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/
My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)