I read the post and answered it...they have no group leader. Any volunteers??? Maybe they need someone over there to help the group. It might do them a world of good to have some of you over there....

That woman is definitely whacked and desperately needs meds!!! (So did my mother.)

I think it is because of the openness he shows in his cartoons...it makes us want to share....that is just one of the benefits of humor...thanks, Chato...

How is that for a segue into the topic???

I have read alot about the correlation between mental disorders and creative talent, and from my observations there is a strong connection. Living in New Orleans, and being some what of a bohemian, I am blessed to be around alot of creative people(artists,musicians,photographers) and most have their "QUIRKS" as people would say. All the people I know on this site have exhibited creativity and the appericiation of others creativity in many forms. I think alot of us just can't focus our talent or can't remember the next day what the great idea was. I encourage all to explore their creative side, find what you love to do, or what your good at and pursue it. I know I'm happiest when I'm creating a piece of furniture, or next years Mardi Gras costume. Below is a link to a paper on The Contribution of Psychiatry to the Study of Creativity:

http://cogprints.org/2026/0/antonio.html

Enjoy

Dreux

Happy to say we weather the storm... but It gat really bad... the T.V. weather man said Oh, it nothing and you see pea size hail... I wish I too some pictures... The hail was big for our part of Florida. Jimmy, your not far from me, how are you weathering the storm?

So i'm sorry cause my message got deleted and It was really good too... so let me just summarize the answer to your questions from what I can remember from it.... Yes, yes , right on, and thanks, for sure and any time!

P.s.-- Yes i'm glad the thread is open again... and I too had the old soap in my mouth done... I started a blog about my life when I was younger but it just brought so many bad memories back that i had to put it on hold. If you want to check it out I.M. and I'll give you the URL... but it might be a bit disturbing and make your relive some of your own issues so it might not be so helpful.

Chato

Chato, My apologizes to you for getting off track here, I never did find out what brought you into using humor as a way of expression? What got you started in it? enquiring minds want to know, at least mine does.

Post edited by: carmen33, at: 06/09/2008 18:00

If I may, I'll answer that Carmen by cutting and pasting from my website... not my blog.

In short, I like to draw, since 1999 Ive been drawing cartoons for a part of the cleaning industry... This year, back in march after a stay at the CSU I got the idea to draw cartoons form our point of view, or at least try to. The website started with just 3 cartoons... I only started to promote it when a few bloger asked to use the cartoons and then a local mental health peer newsletter ask for one... now I have my own blog, i just had my very first art show, and I got one of my cartoons published in a daily paper... oh and I won the award... then i found you guys... So I feel so blessed and with every one coming by the blog and telling how much they like it i'm started to think i really might just have tapped into something good and now i want to run with it....

"READ THIS FIRST:

The Mental Health Humor website is not intended to stigmatize the serious disorders that affect an estimated 10% to 15% of the population. I'm traversing

the road to recovery my-self with Bipolar Disorder so I truly understand what many of our readers are dealing with. Yet, I truly believe that there is a real

healing power in laughter! They even have had studies done about it… Remember, while viewing the content of the website that it is meant to be positive,

yet we cannot please every one. If you find humor about mental illness offensive, then please do not view our site."

"Well, I guess you want to know a little some thing about me…. I mean why else

would you be at the About Me page right. Well, I'm Chato B. Stewart, you already

know I'm Bipolar so you know what my state of mind is…. Here is what you don't

know, I'm 37 and a father of four. Born and raised in a town just out side of Boston

Massachusetts. I went to the local school and got married in 1991. We will hit our

17th year together in October 2008. We now live in Florida.

Cartooning is a hobby of mine. I have yet to get any real training in this art as I'm

sure you can tell. I hope to one day learn to take the craft to the next level. I do run a

few other cartoons websites for my secular industry and I do get paid for it so I

guess you could say I'm a professional cartoonist in some sense of the word. I have

been published locally and I'm submitting my work to a few syndicates but I'm really

a long way from making it in to a career. I've written a few children's books and

illustrated them that I've been shopping around.

Warning:

The Mental Heath Humor website has been linked to uncontrolled laughter, giggles, milk coming out of your nose, and a few wet

pants. If you're have difficulties in any of these areas, please consult a friend or family member and enjoy the fun together.

The Subject of mental health and humor is almost a contradiction of terms. The subject matter is very touchy and

very subjective to the viewer. Yet, I have felt for a long time that humor can have some real healing value. I have lead

support groups and I am working on becoming a peer specialist. The one thing that made the group flow and allow

people to open up was humor. And in our groups we laughed our butts off!"