Regular & Decaf Blog - Andrew D. Gadtke - 1.800.707.4756: Recent Comments

Comment on Contentment is Short-lived

2009-10-31T23:15:53Z

god bless you. iagree as a conservative Christian that few people will listen and they dismiss us because we are mentally but we would say the same things even if we were not mentally ill.

Comment on Andrew_Gadtke_200881392554.flv

2009-08-24T03:41:59Z

Andrew, I'm on chpt 9! My favorite part so far is on pages 30 and 31! I really love how you put "Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that a dream I felt entitled to has been deferred." Love it! I'll let you know what I think when I'm through! So far great job!

Comment on Laughing, Joking, Making Fun . . . Is High School Not Already Done?

2009-08-06T16:10:00Z

i always feel like this, that i have been through too much at such a young age and that no one will ever understand. also i find it quite strange to watch people my age or a little younger talking and laughing... i always wonder "do they know how easy their life is?" even when my life is going ok like it is right now, i can never forget certain things...

unlike you, i purposely chose my path, because i was curious about drugs, and because i wanted to see what life was like "on the other side." well, i saw it. and it is not pretty. and once you're there, it's very, very hard to leave. i feel like it has made me a stronger, fuller person, but it has also stolen part of my youth and my soul. still not sure i'll make it out alive, but we'll see...

Comment on Schizophrenia is . . .

2009-08-06T16:02:44Z

hey, that was really great. i have actually known several people with the same disorder -- a friend's brother, another friend's girlfriend, and a girl i used to do drugs with, and some others -- it's weird how everyone has basically the same delusions, about the CIA and stuff. mental illness fascinates me, actually. i've never considered myself particularly in touch with reality...

also, one of the things you said was that you can never have a family... i don't think that's true... i know of several people with your illness who have gotten married and had kids (it runs in my friend joanie's family, so both her parents and 2 of her siblings have schizophrenia, and one of them got married). her brother actually lives in a group home near lake of the isles. he has a girlfriend and a job. once we went out for coffee with him and he told the barista that jesus is 10 feet tall! they all knew him, though.

anyway this is totally random. just wanted to say i loved this podcast.

Comment on Still Alive

2009-03-29T22:24:44Z

Hi Andrew, Finished your book over the weekend.It was a great book for me to read! I have paranoid schizophrenia, was diagnosed in 2002. I developed symptoms in my early 30's. I am high functioning, I am a nurse who is working but I do have stories. I'm a home owner and a single parent. I'm from the Twin Cities and live in the North Metro area. Send me an email, I have stories and it would be nice to talk to someone who is high functioning also. Thanx, Charlene

Comment on Still Alive

2009-03-25T17:14:21Z

Hi andrew, the austrailian open was great.. And i hope you are gonna deliver something good next time ;)

Comment on Still Alive

2009-02-03T03:14:47Z

I can really idetify with both paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. my cousin ric had schizophrenia and he was very high functioning and could not drive. i have been diagnossed with bipolarity and i have never been hospitalized.

Comment on Completely Open For Business--Phone and Online Working

2009-01-29T15:02:42Z

Ya, i am with you.. mental illness is only a test by GOD. he created this illness and he can remove it too.. take care of yourself

Comment on Completely Open For Business--Phone and Online Working

2008-11-08T17:30:07Z

Hi Andrew: I just finished reading your book and found it very interesting. It was full of great information and left me with a better understanding of how difficult it is to live with a mental illness. Both you and Benji were very brave to put in print very private aspects of your lives. I will probably never truly understand the day to day difficulties you encounter, but I can see where there is hope for your future. You write very well and should pursue your goal. You are fortunate to have people around you that love and care for you. And, I feel that your faith in God will ultimately carry you through the hard times. Good luck in the future and God bless you. Mary Hackner

Comment on Today's Musings

2008-10-17T18:19:39Z

Andrew, I agree completely with your three answers.
I am a medical student that heard your story just this Thursday (10/16) as you told it to us in class, and I was profoundly moved by your experiences.
Please email me if you can, I would like to share thoughts with you.

Have a great day!