Chat With "Electroboy" - Andy Behrman
February 21, 2002We were delighted to welcome Andy Behrman, author of Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania, to our chat room for the first of what we hope will be many interesting and informative chats. As you will read, Andy proved to be a delightful guest. Be sure to read our review (opens in a new window) of Andy's outstanding story of a life lived on - and over - the edge.
| EchoHOST | We are chatting tonight with Andy Behrman, author of "Electroboy A Memoir of Mania," published by Random House. |
| ELECTROBOY | So has anyone ever had electroshock therapy ... or just manics ... I had shock treatments and lived to tell the story ... can you top that? |
| Peanut | They want me to have it |
| Sunny | No, unless putting finger in light socket counts for ECT |
| maddog | I almost did. I faked getting better, and missed it by about week. |
| babblecon | I had two treatments and couldn't tolerate any more |
| maddog | I am eager to get a copy of your book. I am wondering whether you've had severe experiences related to alcohol, and if you ever found it necessary to join AA or something like that. I am struggling mightily with booze. How'd you finally and ultimately (and permanently) stop the whole booze trip? |
| ELECTROBOY | I drank alcohol heavily and used cocaine. But I couldn't mix meds with alcohol |
| babblecon | How long have you been stable? |
| ELECTROBOY | I've been stable for about three and a half years - pretty even keeled ... do I like being stable - it's a little dull - but you replace the excitement and euphoria with other things... I haven't had shock in five years |
| EchoHOST | What medications do you take now? |
| ELECTROBOY | Everybody always asks what I take, and I always have the same answer. I've taken different meds, most haven't worked and they all do different things for different people. |
| maddog | Did you ever have to file bankruptcy? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, but I know what it's like to burn through money! I was a shopaholic - more of a spending addict - it wasn't really the act of shopping. There's a slight difference. I gave most of my money away - didn't matter where it went |
| babblecon | Andy, I'm very impressed with your ability to put the experience of mania into written word |
| ELECTROBOY | Thank you. ... the book is ready to go into it's fourth printing in one week ... it took two and a half years to write this book |
| nbritton | Electro, what do you think of rTMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) as an Alt. to ECT? |
| ELECTROBOY | I think there's some real hope for it as an alternative |
| EricaHOST | Electroboy, do you see your memoir in the tradition of St Augustine's Confessions or Kathryn Harrison's The Kiss? |
| ELECTROBOY | Actually I see it as a chronicle of my battle with manic depression - one that started at an early age ... I think manics can be diagnosed at very young ages |
| butterfly | Electroboy ... are you familiar with vagus nerve stimulation ... if so ... what do you think of it? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, I am not familiar with vagus nerve stimulation, although it sounds slightly erotic |
| Siszbox | What do you feel the signs are of early-aged mania? |
| ELECTROBOY | Racing thoughts, staying up late and not getting sleep, overenthusiasm I was going to say agitation. In my book I say I can't understand how people go to the beach and just lie there, waiting for the sun to hit them. I get so bored. |
| Peanut | Electroboy, if you had it to do over again, would you have ECT again? |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm asked that question a lot. I'm not pro-ECT or anti-ECT - it's a personal choice. I had no other route to take. it was either ECT or I was going to find some simple method of killing myself |
| nbritton | How has it affected your memory? |
| ELECTROBOY | Initially, my memory was shot - but it came back about six months after the last treatment ... but there are a couple of fuzzy months still. |
| POPEYE | My mother says it saved her life |
| ELECTROBOY | Well, it definitely saved my life ... |
| babblecon | What was it that finally forced the decision for you? |
| ELECTROBOY | I was hiding in the bathtub because I was so frightened my life was going to end, so I called my doctor and said, "you must to something." |
| Siszbox | Well, do you feel ECT can take away your "mental sharpness" |
| ELECTROBOY | I think it can, but I think it can also be restored |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm back to 100% |
| nbritton | What is your current diagnosis? Bipolar I? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yes |
| EricaHOST | We were wondering about stigma ... and if there's a message you'd like your book to send? |
| ELECTROBOY | The stigma of having manic depression for me is still a huge issue |
| EricaHOST | Is that part of why you wrote the book and you're promoting it? Is the stigma internalized or externalized? |
| ELECTROBOY | When I go into the pharmacy to pick up my meds, I see people staring at my nine prescriptions ... I'm not ashamed, after all, I've written a book where I've talked about my criminal behavior and entire sex life |
| maddog | I can imagine that writing your story is also in a way kind of an emotional exorcism. |
| EricaHOST | Is there one message you'd like your readers to take away from the book? What is that message? |
| ELECTROBOY | Without a doubt, had I had a person in my life who could have given me an ounce of hope, whether in a conversation or in the form of a book, I would be much better off today |
| EricaHOST | Hope, then, is your message? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yeah, it sounds corny, but one day you wake up and you're stable |
| babblecon | That's an important message, because there IS hope for beating this disorder |
| Capt | Would you say rather than hope inspiration EBOY? |
| ELECTROBOY | Hope and inspiration, I suppose |
| nbritton | What do you think of Jamison's books Eboy? |
| ELECTROBOY | I have a lot to say about Dr. Jamison - I hope you will all listen |
| maddog | Oooooh, don't get me started on the fabulous, world-famous, vainglorious Kay Jamison!!! |
| ELECTROBOY | I think Dr. Jamison is a great writer, but I don't feel like she is responsible when she tells the media that if she had the choice of being a manic depressive or not, she would choose being a manic depressive because it has given her a unique perspective ... those might not be her exact quotes. |
| POPEYE | Have many BP's in my family. how about you Electro |
| trying | That is what all the research I have conducted has indicated is that is genetic |
| ELECTROBOY | None in my immediate family |
| butterfly | Electroboy ... as I am slowly writing a book on the justice system and being bipolar ... how hard was it to get this book published? |
| ELECTROBOY | This one I think God took care of!!! |
| EricaHOST | How's that Electroboy? you started with an article? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yes, and then several agents approached me to write a book |
| EchoHOST | The same article we published here, Andy? |
| ELECTROBOY | They wanted a book about manic depression - but they wanted drugs, sex, crime, alcohol, spending, traveling, etc. I told them I would tell my story and if those elements were there, than they would be in the chronicle |
| ELECTROBOY | Yes, the same article |
| EchoHOST | No wonder I feel like a proud mother! |
| ELECTROBOY | Thank you very much, I appreciate it |
| butterfly | It was meant to be obviously |
| EchoHOST | But you are a gifted writer. |
| butterfly | And you did a super job |
| Peanut | How did you go about getting your article published? |
| ELECTROBOY | I had written for the editor of a local New York paper and he had climbed the ladder to be the editor of the New York times magazine |
| ELECTROBOY | My website shutdown today - I was very calm and just went for a walk until it went back up. I don't know if I'm allowed to do this, but a website called www.crime.com has written a feature on the mind of a manic depressive criminal which just went on line today - it's fantastic and the graphics are incredible ... let them know what you think of this "psychological" look into the mind of a manic criminal ... gosh, the time is going fast! |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm starting my tour in Seattle |
| ELECTROBOY | I'll be in Chicago, too |
| ELECTROBOY | I'll be in Austin and Dallas |
| POPEYE | Good luck to you Electro |
| ELECTROBOY | I'll be in Seattle march 11th |
| ELECTROBOY | IM GLAD PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT TO LISTEN ... sorry for the caps |
| Sunny | EB - do you have obsessive thoughts also and guilt related to manic episodes |
| ELECTROBOY | Sure, I definitely have guilt, but I'm working on it ... all of my neuroses, obsessions and little quirks have mellowed ... I felt guilt for being a manic depressive and putting this burden on my parents |
| EricaHOST | What helps "work on the guilt" Andy |
| maddog | How 'bout booze and cocaine? Did you try a step program, and if so, did you find it helpful, and if you didn't use one, can you comment on why not? |
| trying | EB, do you think the mellow comes with age over time |
| ELECTROBOY | The mellowing came with medication! |
| EricaHOST | Your parents are very supportive, Electroboy? |
| ELECTROBOY | Extremely supportive, but shocked by the book - absolutely shocked |
| EricaHOST | The sex stuff Electro? |
| ELECTROBOY | The sex, the drugs, the crime, the lifestyle they never knew I had ... but today they're proud and can deal with the reality of the illness and ordered 60 copies on amazon.com ... I thought that was a little excessive, but they said they have no shame and would give the book to their friends or people who had bipolar friends and kids |
| alyPink^ | Electro--may I ask ... how old you are now? how old you were when you started the book ... and how old when you finished? |
| ELECTROBOY | Exercise yes. used to be addicted to it. ... started the book at 37, now 40 |
| weez | Do you consider yourself leveled out ... or are you still going up and down |
| ELECTROBOY | I consider myself as having a chronic illness which I have to monitor every day and every day there are ups and downs - this is a not a disease with a cure |
| CatamiaHost | EB- how has Bipolar effected your relationships with a partner? |
| ELECTROBOY | Relationships with a partner - broke up one seven year relationship - horrible |
| EricaHOST | How long ago was that Electroboy? |
| ELECTROBOY | More than ten years ago |
| bluemoon | EB.. sorry if this was already covered ... how did you get a publisher interested in your story/mental health story? |
| ELECTROBOY | Sit down, and think of every episode and event that has ever occurred in your life and give it a title and then start sketching in and don't think about what it looks like |
| ELECTROBOY | Does anybody know any good books on manic depression |
| EricaHOST | My favorite is Styron "Darkness Visible" |
| ELECTROBOY | I liked it |
| weez | Um Danielle Steel - His Bright Light ... about her son |
| bluemoon | There's nonfiction by Kay Jamison ... An Unquiet Mind |
| ELECTROBOY | Great book, but not exactly beach reading ... joke |
| ELECTROBOY | ELECTROBOY is more of a frightening roller coaster ride ... it's fun, but you feel very close to death at time |
| POPEYE | Have you ever been psychotic |
| ELECTROBOY | Yes, I've hallucinated |
| ELECTROBOY | None of these authors talk about their blood and guts and their illness - it's raw and gritty - it's painful - Electroboy is not a pleasant book - although some people have called it "harrowing and hilarious" ... if you can handle some tough language and some nudity, it won't kill you, I promise ... it was my real life |
| butterfly | I appreciate you telling the real story EB |
| ELECTROBOY | Electroboy is the real story and I think a lot of psychiatrists will be shocked |
| ELECTROBOY | Especially those who administer ECT |
| bluemoon | I don't think psychiatrists really really know what is going on inside our heads ... |
| Peanut | EB, were or are you classified as refractory? |
| ELECTROBOY | Not classified as refractory |
| ELECTROBOY | Does this keep going if people want to keep going the room has members spread out all over the country - all with the same damn illness - incredible ... I'm willing to keep going |
| EricaHOST | How does it feel to talk to other BP folks about your experience EB? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yeah, I talked to a reporter today from CBS and she didn't really seem to understand my use of the word "impulsive" when it came to talking about bipolar |
| ELECTROBOY | HAS anyone who is bipolar ever been in trouble with the law? |
| EricaHOST | I plead the fifth |
| bohemianbluz | Lotsa trouble with the law |
| ELECTROBOY | I plead the fifth, too, and got five months in prison, five months house arrest |
| maddog | Oh, yes, Eboy!!! I um ... I am now!!! |
| ELECTROBOY | They offered me a deal - rat on your co-conspirators and we'll give you hours of community service. |
| EricaHOST | This wasn't the Limelight deal EB? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, this was forging counterfeit paintings ... I thought it was a good idea at the time ... who knew I would end up indicted ... a friend and I schemed it up together ... I was good at it, until I got caught |
| EchoHOST | Sounded to me like that so-called "artist" was the bigger fraud. |
| ELECTROBOY | But the best part of the book is that all of the bad guys, they get named. real names. they're scared to death. |
| EricaHOST | How can you forge a Kostabi????? |
| ELECTROBOY | You can't |
| maddog | Wow, you sound like you have some moral integrity, EBOY. |
| bluemoon | What's a Kostabi |
| ELECTROBOY | An artist named mark Kostabi - popular in 1990 |
| EricaHOST | Kostabi hired other people to execute his concepts |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm not on his top ten list of favorite people ... I think I'm still primary target # 1 |
| EricaHOST | EB, where do you go from here with your life? you've been stable for years, you said ... you've got a book out ... what's next? |
| ELECTROBOY | I try to somehow travel to about twenty cities to talk about manic depression and my version of it - my story ... I have a new book coming out that starts off almost exactly where this one ends, but it has much more to do with other people's lives ... still a memoir and the publisher is Random House. they took a big risk publishing this book |
| EricaHOST | Do you feel like a professional manic depressive? |
| ELECTROBOY | That's what I like about Kay Jamison, she calls it manic depression. |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm the poster boy for mental health for the year . I was the poster boy for excess in the year 1993. |
| EmprsStar | Is there a difference? BP and manic depression?? I never thought there was |
| ELECTROBOY | No real difference |
| ELECTROBOY | I guess it doesn't really matter what it's called - but it's a chronic illness that can't be cured |
| maddog | So, um, what about the whole booze/cocaine/addiction bit? Did you find a step program? helpful, and if so or not, why? |
| ELECTROBOY | I went to Alanon for years ... made a lot of good friends |
| EricaHOST | Has writing helped you accept having the disorder? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yeah, facing fifteen years of "craziness" and having to go back and relive those nightmarish years was horrible and finally convinced me that I was the one who was ill |
| ELECTROBOY | Shocking |
| EricaHOST | Even the Electro shock treatments didn't really do that acceptance? |
| ELECTROBOY | It's why I can't read the book today |
| EricaHOST | You can't read it? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, not really |
| butterfly | (((((((((((Electroboy))))))))))))) |
| EricaHOST | Still too raw? |
| ELECTROBOY | It's like some awful story that you don't want to listen to, but you know you have to |
| EricaHOST | The ultimate denial breaker? |
| nbritton | What's the time frame you think that it will take doctors to find a cure and/or a cause and a test for BP |
| BigAl | Sounds like you need to come here more often for support |
| ELECTROBOY | Absolutely ... probably ... I'm not cured |
| maddog | Addiction is the ultimate denial breaker |
| dreamfish | Addiction IS denial. |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm sure addiction will always be a problem even if it's diet coke caffeine free |
| maddog | It either breaks the person, or the person breaks it. |
|
theBat^ `fastard^` |
Do you think doing dumbarse things while you are drunk , that you may or may not do sober, count for anything towards being bipolar? |
| EricaHOST | Is that part of bipolar disorder for you or separate? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yeah, I self medicated a lot with alcohol the addictions go hand in hands with the mania |
| ELECTROBOY | Does anyone listening to National Public Radio's "All things considered?" I'm taping tomorrow - manic depression is the subject - I'll somehow have to post the airdate |
| EricaHOST | EB, had one last question, very important. Who do you want to play you in the movie? |
| ELECTROBOY | Well, the rights were sold to HBO, and then the option ran out, and they were considering Tobey Maguire. But now, the rights are for sale again, and they're looking for a 28 year old and almost every producer wants Ewan McGregor |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm just a guy with a computer who can bang out some sentences |
| EricaHOST | EB, I thought you had film training? |
| ELECTROBOY | Me, film training? I directed a short and produced a feature documentary. it's amazing what you can do when you're manic I had a low level job and worked my way up |
| SurrealArt | Then HOW did you get your story to the right people???? I have a story too ... . |
| bluemoon | Yes ... how did you get them interested in a mental health story?? |
| ELECTROBOY | Everybody likes mental health stories if they have something different to say. ELECTROBOY is not ... I don't want people to feel like they have to empathize. |
| Guest | Is the book available on cassette? |
| maddog | Are we talking about Ms. Jamison? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, not on cassette. [yet - Ed.] |
| ELECTROBOY | Anyone read anything by Susannah Kayzen |
| EricaHOST | "Girl Interrupted" |
| ELECTROBOY | I couldn't finish it. I felt like slitting my wrists and rolling around in the dirt. |
| ELECTROBOY | Mania is certainly more fun to discuss than depression - not that it's humorous -- but it lends itself to entertainment |
| EricaHOST | EB, so your book will make us run out and forge paintings? |
| ELECTROBOY | Don't forge paintings - because then you have to scrub toilets for three hours a day |
| EchoHOST | This is true - I have an awful time reading anything depressing and avoid depressing movies like the plague. |
| nbritton | You are welcome here anytime EB |
| ELECTROBOY | I did read Andrew Solomon's book, noonday demon and loved it. He's a smart guy. again, not beach reading |
| Guest | I'm sorry if I missed it, how young were you Andy when you began to display symptoms? |
| ELECTROBOY | My e-mail address is electroboy@electroboy.com |
| ELECTROBOY | Gotta be honest - bathroom break. I'm staying ... I'll be back in one minute |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm not couth, nor is "Electroboy" couth ... boy ... my mother asked me where I got such a foul mouth after she read the book and I said mom, may I remind you who gave birth to me |
|
theBat^ `fastard^` |
Think your book will one day outsell the Bible EB? |
| ELECTROBOY | I don't want to outsell the Bible, just Elizabeth Wurtzel! |
| weez | Working on it |
| EchoHOST | I have to go - have to work tomorrow and morning comes too early. Andy, THANK YOU for coming and don't let these marathon talkers keep you longer than you want to stay. But we hope you'll come again! |
| ELECTROBOY | Bye Marcia |
| busygirl | EB, you have a lot of courage baring your soul like you have. I applaud you, but I somehow suspect that you enjoy the attention -) |
| ELECTROBOY | Busygirl - of course I enjoy attention - I'm the youngest child and grew up with a lot of neglect ... I only have one sister ... just joking ... but can you imagine being one of and being the only manic depressive - what luck |
| mixedstates | EB does your web site have the cities you will be visiting |
| ELECTROBOY | So, should we all meet right now for a drink somewhere centrally located? |
| ELECTROBOY | I'll post on my website my city by city tour that starts on march |
| mixedstates | Thanks that way I can let the members of my local manic depressive association know. |
| ELECTROBOY | I don't know if anybody has seen Electroboy signs in New York city |
| EricaHOST | I think I saw a homeless guy with an Electroboy sandwich board on 51st Street ... just kidding |
| ELECTROBOY | That's my old street ... don't scare me ... I still owe rent ... .about a year's worth from ten years ago |
| EricaHOST | How many neighborhoods did you go through EB? I went through 11 or so |
| ELECTROBOY | How many apartments is the question. Maybe ten or eleven. |
| bohemianbluz | They are coming to get you for that rent now that you have a book!! |
| ELECTROBOY | Oh, everybody is coming after me now that I have a book. it's time to change the phone number and get the new lock installed - joking |
| EricaHOST | Anyway, was asking you how you've supported yourself the past few years since "stability" |
| ELECTROBOY | I was really fortunate that at the time I lost my job, I collected social security and had put away money for retirement, and then when I became ill, I had taken out a personal disability policy. And then, I signed a deal with my publisher and HBO. so at the end, it all worked out. |
|
theBat^ `fastard^` |
Hey EB ... .DO you think that my moving around so much has a lot to do with being manic ... I mean I just up and go sometimes real fast with little notice ... Move away ... I lived in Chicago, Washington, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado |
| ELECTROBOY | Jumping around like that sounds like an indicator - but I don't know what you do where you go |
| BigAl | Bat, I have done that with the planet |
| maddog | Holy Kee-rist, RatBastard ... you and I are BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| BigAl | Lived in the US Japan, UK, Africa, 6 countries in total |
| ELECTROBOY | Countries - are you mad! |
| BigAl | I am sure it is linked to BP |
| ELECTROBOY | Of course ... |
| BigAl | Just a wanderer ...get on planes when I get depressed or manic ... you end up where nobody knows you, so nobody to say you depressed or manic |
| ELECTROBOY | I did that too ... I find it's a common thing amongst manics |
| bohemianbluz | EB ... gonna be on any TV talk shows ? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yeah, I'm doing the circuit, |
| bohemianbluz | Do you know when you begin the circuit ?? |
| ELECTROBOY | Does anybody have a very good ear for foreign languages? |
| nbritton | Computer languages |
| ELECTROBOY | I meant French, Spanish, Japanese, etc. |
| EricaHOST | More evidence I'm not really bipolar, because I'm terrible at languages |
| ELECTROBOY | Does anyone have a Bookstar near them |
| BigAl | I have searched all our bookstores and no books on BP. The only way to get them is to order online |
| ELECTROBOY | Big Al - where are you |
| BigAl | Jerusalem |
| ELECTROBOY | Amazon.com they'll deliver to Jupiter! |
| ELECTROBOY | It's almost pill time here on the Upper West Side of Manhattan ... . |
| ELECTROBOY | Tegretol made the backs of my hands itch |
| ELECTROBOY | Are we still chatting with that God awful ELECTROBOY who promotes that insane book ? Why doesn't he just finish that second book? |
| CatamiaHost | EB- have you taken Topamax- if so what do you think about it? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yes, but it did nothing for me. It did prevent me from gaining weight. It worked like Meridia. |
| EricaHOST | Are you crafting your image for the media EB? you know, downtown NYC artist type |
| ELECTROBOY | Hardly. golden boy from the suburbs gone mad. |
| EricaHOST | Or brooding Upper West Side leather elbow pads type? |
| ELECTROBOY | No jackets with elbow pads - just ELECTROBOY T-shirts and long sleeve T-shirts |
| busygirl | EB, are all the pics at crime.com really of you??? |
| ELECTROBOY | Yeah, which ones are you doubting. |
| busygirl | None, I'm enjoying them ;-) especially the one of you in you blue undies |
| ELECTROBOY | It's kind of foolish. but send them a nice note telling them you love the website and picked up the website address from about.com |
| Guest | Oops forgot to say congrats EB ... very proud |
| EricaHOST | You wrote this book for all of us, I think |
| CatamiaHost | (Plays Sound applause.wav) applause |
| EricaHOST | If we may share that? |
| ELECTROBOY | I like applause |
| ELECTROBOY | I love that - can I do that, too? (Plays Sound explosion.wav) hello |
| ELECTROBOY | Plays Sound crash.wav) I think this is the best for promotion |
| ELECTROBOY | I SPILLED DIET COKE ALL OVER MY KEYBOARD TODAY, TOTALLY DESTROYED IT. ANY SUGGESTIONS. |
| EricaHOST | New keyboard |
| ELECTROBOY | I DID THAT. |
| Simon | Buy another one |
| ELECTROBOY | BUT IS THE OLD ONE DEAD |
| Simon | If it was on when you spilled the coke, it fried the circuits, if it was off, then just let it dry out |
| CatamiaHost | Andy can I just say I am proud to have someone out there in the world sharing and teaching the world what people fear, the stigma of bipolar disorder! |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm not ashamed anymore - well, sometimes when my hands shake |
| ELECTROBOY | I got thrown out of a Barnes & Noble store for suggesting my book to a customer standing near it. I felt like I had committed the worst crime ... I was merely suggesting a book in the psychology section and I thought since I was standing there, it might be kind of neat to steer her towards mine |
| Slon | Is there any truth to the idea that Lithium is more effective in preventing suicide than other mood stabilizers? (tell me if I shouldn't be asking general questions right now) |
| ELECTROBOY | I don't know that much about lithium except that it works for 70% of manic depressives and it's the other 30% who are at higher risk of suicide |
|
theBat^ `fastard^` |
Lithium tastes good on garlic toast |
| ELECTROBOY | Love it on rye |
| alyPink^ | Electro--what do you think of this chat room? |
| ELECTROBOY | I kind of like this chatroom - fast - not too fast |
| ELECTROBOY | Rook, do I know you? |
| Rook | Probably not. We have lead similar lives ... but you were more successful. |
| ELECTROBOY | Okay - let's play a game. Whoever can name the capital of United Arab Emirates wins an Electroboy T-shirt |
| Rook | Qatar |
| ELECTROBOY | Qatar is right. rook - e-mail me later your address and I'll send you one - they're pretty cool black with yellow writing and on the back it says somebody fixed my brain this morning |
| SurrealArt | You send them by E-mail???? Lol |
| ELECTROBOY | Tell me what size you are s, m, l, xl |
| Peanut | Will you fix my brain for me too, EB? |
| ELECTROBOY | Does everybody here know rook? |
| alyPink^ | Rook is a coooolllll dude ... my buddy |
| ELECTROBOY | ROOK, I GOT LOST I was lost in cyberspace for only five minutes, but it felt like an eternity ... I needed a computer genius today ... can you imagine this guy sent out more than 400,000 announcements that ELECTROBOY was now in the bookstores?, it was a spamming error - some people got it 30, 40, 50 times. and then he blamed me. I felt like a jerk. but I did get some very funny responses. one woman from England wrote, you have obviously found somebody more manic than yourself to handle your computer affairs. I e-mailed penguin, the publisher of ELECTROBOY in England and told them to send her a book. |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm just taping all things considered. I hope nobody stumps me. I hope there's no a surprise guest like Kay Jamison or Dr. Frederick Goodwin |
| arrow | Electroboy, do you get paid if one steals your book |
| ELECTROBOY | No, I only get paid if it goes through the cash register |
| Starflyr | Hey, when I'm done with school maybe I'll publish a book too |
| ELECTROBOY | Do it ... submit it ... circulate it ... make everybody read it ... mail it to everybody you know who knows somebody who makes decisions to publish -- send it blind with something original. |
| ELECTROBOY | How often do you guys see your psychopharmacologists? twice a month here. a lot of phone conversations, though. I do group, too. my group was concerned that I was going to write about them in my book. I used them as prototypes for characters, but I certainly don't give out physical descriptions, job titles or names |
| Starflyr | Question - (sorta random, if off topic please let me know) does anybody else ever feel like they're not "sick enough" to really be BP? |
| ELECTROBOY | Never. I'm sick when I'm well |
| ELECTROBOY | A memoir of mania was an accidental addition to the title. I really wanted to call it the adventures of Electroboy. but then the publisher said, "nobody will believe it's a serious book about manic depression" Electroboy is bad enough to be called since I've been called Andyboy my whole life |
| EricaHOST | Do you wear a little electric shock hat? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, but someone gave me a sterling steel lightning rod for my birthday. it's a pin. |
| Guest930 | EB, how old are you? |
| ELECTROBOY | I just turned 40, but since I've been extremely ill since I was 29, I say I'm about 32 |
| Guest930 | Have you ever had a problem with hearing voices? |
| ELECTROBOY | No, just visual hallucinations and tactile "attacks" |
| Siszbox | What does that mean? |
| ELECTROBOY | It means you sometimes, for example, feel a razor slitting your tongue. Or sometimes imagine the soles of your feet being destroyed by the concrete. and they are bloody and bruised. |
| Guest930 | Do you think depression from BP can cause the voices ... and do you think ECT would stop them? |
| ELECTROBOY | Do you think you can water an orchid with milk? what kind of voices? does it sound like it's coming from inside or outside. |
| Guest930 | He says they sound like him sometimes. Then he also says there are evil voices that scare him. Then other times he says "they're going to expose him". |
| ELECTROBOY | Schizophrenia? |
| EricaHOST | Does ECT help schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder? |
| ELECTROBOY | Absolutely! I knew more schizoaffective/schizophrenics in the hospital there for ECT than I did manic depressives or depressives |
| Guest930 | They had him on only Risperdal for two months with no relief. I think they couldn't convince themselves it wasn't drug abuse. Finally, they switched to Haldol and only last week added the Zyprexa. |
| ELECTROBOY | Zyprexa worked very well for me, then I tried Risperdal which was wonderful but now I'm on Seroquel, and I've had the best luck with it |
| Cahlan | I take Seroquel, too, along w/Depakote |
| ELECTROBOY | Cahlan - me too same combo |
| ELECTROBOY | Tonight I was asked to speak on camera about manic depression and addiction ... and the interviewer asked me this broad question: "do you feel like addiction, in any way, is connected to manic depression?" |
| Siszbox | EB what do you think of our chat? Will you come back again sometime? |
| ELECTROBOY | of course, I'll come back, when's the best and busiest time |
| EricaHOST | 9 pm - 1 am |
| ELECTROBOY | thank you ... I mean it ... I usually have weird experiences on line |
| Cahlan | It's a great place, Electroboy. I only discovered it a couple months ago and I try to check in at least 2 or 3 times a week |
| ELECTROBOY | most people don't like the fact that I have written about fifteen really rough years, and I don't know exactly why I get that message ... I don't think any of us here are asking to be pitied. |
| EricaHOST | sometimes I'm asking for pity though |
| ELECTROBOY | HELL I WISH I COULD MAKE THE FONT TEN THOUSAND FEET HIGH THAT'S HOW HIGH MY HELL WAS EVEN WHEN I WAS HIGH |
| Siszbox | {{{{{{{{{{{hug for Andy}}}}}}}}}}}}} |
| ELECTROBOY | IT CAME OUT IN HARDCOVER ON TUESDAY - SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND CHEAPEST WAY TO GET IT IS ON AMAZON.COM IT'S $17, WHICH STILL ISN'T CHEAP, BUT IT AIN'T $27 like it is in the bookstore |
| EricaHOST | oops caps locks EB |
| ELECTROBOY | So one more time, does anybody know Juli Lawrence at ect.org? |
| Peanut | Never talked to her EB, but I have read her posts ... I lurk on ect.org only because my pdoc wants me to have ECT |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm not pro-ECT and definitely not anti-ECT - just think it's a personal choice and one you have to make in a crisis mode and you need as much information as possible. It's really horrible to have to make it in a crisis and you find that your family makes it for you. Peanut...why does your doc want to give you ECT |
| Peanut | Because I'm refractory and I'm on my last possible med combo now |
| ELECTROBOY | Anyone have any weird marking on their skin from meds - like blotchiness or spotting I have what they call purpura-spotting on the top of my feet and my ankles and my two young nieces think it's funny would you believe they don't know where it comes from. |
| EricaHOST | I think it helps a lot to maintain regular habits in eating and sleeping tedious as THAT is |
| ELECTROBOY | I agree it's hard to do though, when you have one million things racing through your head |
| ELECTROBOY | The group is still holding steady at 21 I feel like this is a Jerry Lewis marathon. is this the longest chat in about.com history? This is my first one. |
| ScottS | EB are you coming to Cincinnati? |
| ELECTROBOY | I'm doing five cities in Ohio in April - Dayton, Akron, Toledo, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. of course. My publisher told me not to bother with Canada, and I laughed and said, what, don't you think there are any manic depressives in Canada? Random House Canada is publishing me so I'll do the big papers and a couple of radio shows and go out west, too |
| arrow | Is your schedule posted on you site EB |
| ELECTROBOY | Bring your friends, their friends, their enemies, anyone you can pull off the street I will post a schedule soon. But then people start asking you to come speak in weird places, like El Paso. Although there's a huge support group there, El Paso is kind of out of the way the answer is to go on "Oprah Winfrey" and hit 253 cities in one day |
| ELECTROBOY | HEY YOU GUYS, THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN, I'LL COME BACK, I'M NOT LEAVING FOR MY TOUR UNTIL MARCH 10TH. Any of you guys want to e-mail me, you can at electroboy@electroboy.com or go to my website at http://www.electroboy.com. |
| nbritton | it was nice of you to come |
| ELECTROBOY | YOU'RE WELCOME. I'M GOING TO ORDER ANOTHER COPY OF ELECTROBOY TO IMPROVE MY RANKING. ON AMAZON.COM I'M VERY COMPETITIVE!! |
More on Electroboy:
