Have You Taken Your Meds? Multimedia ebook Part 1

By Dan Joyce

MULTIMEDIA WITH MUSIC VIDEOS

The first part of Dan Joyce’s Have You Taken Your Meds introduces a large and vibrant cast of characters, and takes you on an intense, fascinating journey through one man’s struggle to understand and heal his mental illness. The lively writing and provocative illustrations lead us through both a poignant family saga and the various perceptions and insights of a man trying valiantly to live and to thrive. In prose, poetry, song and artistic illustrations, Joyce explores the lure of addiction and the drama of recovery, and the challenges and joys of an artist’s life. The story is infused with surreal imagery and rowdy humor, but it is also a realistic portrait of coping with m mental illness, making peace with the past, and finding one’s place in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781458365637

Book preview

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Have You Taken Your Meds? Multimedia ebook Part 1

by

Dan Joyce

©2022

ISBN 9781458365637

Logline - In a desperate effort to heal

himself, a mentally ill man explores his life through art, music and poetry to find out how he went insane and what he can do about it.

The following story is for entertainment only

Although it is based on the truth of my life.

However, some changes have been made.

Remember, I am not a psychologist

And this is not a prescription for anything.

It is simply one case study.

But I fear there may be more!

I sat down to write a short list of things that bother me...

Have you taken your meds?

You’re lazy You don’t do enough for me.

We’re getting you the help you need.

You always come home from Catholic school crying. Toughen up!

You’re on the wrong meds or not taking them right.

How does that make you feel?

Bring in more body language and use feeling words.

You need more meds, therapy and treatment for your illness.

You’re taking in too much sugar, caffeine, red meat, Cheetos…

I will help you.

Don’t use your illness as an excuse.

God will cure you.

People are uncomfortable with you.

I don’t believe you’re mentally ill. I don’t see it.

Psychos kill people!

Get help!

It’s all in your head.

Don’t take the medicine it’s bad for you!

You don’t need that psychiatrist and therapist, just because they have a license or a degree doesn’t mean they’re helping you. Don’t trust them.

You’re perfectly fine.

You’re arguing and talking back is your illness.

Just get a job, a car, a house and a mortgage and you won’t have stress.

I’ve just got a few things I want you to change.

Don’t listen to your counselor, listen to me!

You are the problem with the family.

There’s one in every family.

You’re cheating the government for money. I work!

You’re smart enough to figure this out for yourself.

You’re a vegetable.

Why can’t you find the right woman? Or man? Or

anybody, anybody at all?

Your friends made you like this.

Child abuse has nothing to do with mental illness.

I don’t know if my brother hit me over the head with a brick when I was two. I just have a scar on my head, that’s the only evidence and I’ve heard stories. When you’re two you don’t remember anything. Especially after getting hit over the head with a brick.

There’s no such thing as normal, we’re all a little crazy.

This is because of the pot you smoked.

You need tough love! Go live on the streets!

Living here will help you and not just get you away from us.

I don’t have what you have, Danny. I have depression, thecommon cold of mental illness.

My psychiatrist says you have the problem, Danny!

You’re gonna love me whether you like it or not!

I’m gonna give you something cry about!

Let me convince you you’re dangerous.

You blame people all the time. That’s what causes all your problems.

Aren’t all families dysfunctional?

I can show you how to be normal!

Your diagnosis is just a label.

If you think you’re crazy you’ll be crazy.

Do you really think you’re a psycho?

That’s a good question. I’ve got a question for you. Do questions help you hear the answers you want?

This is an act or a game.

) Doctors are all drug dealers.

Just forget about your traumatic past.

I’m going to give therapy to your parents now.

Why is Social Security on your job application?

I wish I could go to college on government money.

They may seem slow but they’re part of our group.

If you went to the gym, you wouldn’t have

schizophrenia.