Jane Pauley's Struggles with bipolar Disorder

The Journal Inquirer from North Central CT, reports that TV personality Jane Pauley was a keynote speaker for the Foundation for Mental Health's luncheon, and spoke of her own struggles with BiPolar Disorder. Pauley says her bipolar disorder, diagnosed 5 years ago, was made worse by a combination of steroids and anti-depressants she was taking.

Pauley says it is important not to be afraid of the term "mental illness" and likened today's fear of the term with past generations fear of the word "cancer".

In her book, Out of the Blue, Pauley says she was diagnosed with "hypomania", which she discovered meant "mild" and not "big-time mania" as she had first thought. The mania never blossomed into full-blown grandiosity, but manifested itself in a constant stream of "ideas" and shopping. Her husband said she seemed to be trying to buy happiness.

Her depression, too, seemed to be fairly mild. Pauley says she never had "morbid thoughts" or severe depression. But her doctor and her family were wise enough to notice that she needed help.

Pauley readily admits that because of her VIP status, she was afforded some "perks", such as her own pajamas, that other residents of Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic were not. As frustrating as it is to realize that television personalities are often given health care opportunities that the rest of us are not, it is a good thing when "stars" such as Jane Pauley feel free enough to come out with the stories of their struggles with mental illness. Increased education and awareness can only help the rest of us.

Jane Pauley's Struggles with bipolar Disorder

The Journal Inquirer from North Central CT, reports that TV personality Jane Pauley was a keynote speaker for the Foundation for Mental Health's luncheon, and spoke of her own struggles with BiPolar Disorder. Pauley says her bipolar disorder, diagnosed 5 years ago, was made worse by a combination of steroids and anti-depressants she was taking.

Pauley says it is important not to be afraid of the term "mental illness" and likened today's fear of the term with past generations fear of the word "cancer".

In her book, Out of the Blue, Pauley says she was diagnosed with "hypomania", which she discovered meant "mild" and not "big-time mania" as she had first thought. The mania never blossomed into full-blown grandiosity, but manifested itself in a constant stream of "ideas" and shopping. Her husband said she seemed to be trying to buy happiness.

Her depression, too, seemed to be fairly mild. Pauley says she never had "morbid thoughts" or severe depression. But her doctor and her family were wise enough to notice that she needed help.

Pauley readily admits that because of her VIP status, she was afforded some "perks", such as her own pajamas, that other residents of Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic were not. As frustrating as it is to realize that television personalities are often given health care opportunities that the rest of us are not, it is a good thing when "stars" such as Jane Pauley feel free enough to come out with the stories of their struggles with mental illness. Increased education and awareness can only help the rest of us.

Who has teaching authority?

Today's first reading is from Acts 8:26-40. The Holy Spirit inspires Phillip to stop a carriage and speak to a eunich who is reading from the Holy Scriptures. Phillip asks the man, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The man replies, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?”

And, how can someone instruct others in the meaning of Scripture without having an authority to back them up?

Jesus promised the first pope that, "Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
~Matthew 16:18

Who has teaching authority?

Today's first reading is from Acts 8:26-40. The Holy Spirit inspires Phillip to stop a carriage and speak to a eunich who is reading from the Holy Scriptures. Phillip asks the man, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The man replies, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?”

And, how can someone instruct others in the meaning of Scripture without having an authority to back them up?

Jesus promised the first pope that, "Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
~Matthew 16:18

St. John Houghton

St. John Houghton (1487-1535) was the first person to oppose King Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy. He was the first person martyred under the Tudor persections.

Let us pray that the Church may once again breathe, as Pope John Paul II said, "with both lungs" and function with all its varied members who seek to love Christ. Let's pray, especially for the churches whose members, however long ago, broke away directly from the Catholic Church.

Let us pray with Christ,

That they all may be one, Father, as you and I are one. John 17:21

St. John Houghton

St. John Houghton (1487-1535) was the first person to oppose King Henry VIII's Act of Supremacy. He was the first person martyred under the Tudor persections.

Let us pray that the Church may once again breathe, as Pope John Paul II said, "with both lungs" and function with all its varied members who seek to love Christ. Let's pray, especially for the churches whose members, however long ago, broke away directly from the Catholic Church.

Let us pray with Christ,

That they all may be one, Father, as you and I are one. John 17:21

May--the Month of Our Lady

Tomorrow is May 1st--the month of Our Lady. May is such a perfect month to remember our Heavenly Mother. It is blooming with life and God's loving touch.

This is my favorite picture of Mary. It is a painting of Our Lady of the Rosary that I have hanging in a gold oval frame in my living room. There is something so comforting about it. She is so beautiful and serene, in spite of all that she suffered.

I think that is one of the messages of Mary's life. She suffered so much (hence her titles such as Our Lady of Sorrows and Mother of Sorrows.) But her beauty is our human way of portraying her sinless nature. She keeps that inner beauty through all her sufferings, although she was completely human.