What Is Wrong (and Right) with Me?

Posted on 17 October 2012 by RobertLovesPi

Wrong (i.e., problems):

Panic disorder, which initially presented with agoraphobia
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
An absurd amount of work-related stress, aggravating both of these conditions

Right (I’m glad I have these going for me):

Asperger’s (similar to high-functioning autism)
Ongoing professional treatment for the three problems listed above

Without Asperger’s (we call ourselves “Aspies”), which can help me shut down emotions when I need to, and look at things from a logical, problem-solving perspective, thinking out ways to cope with the first three would be virtually impossible. Also, without the professional treatment mentioned above, I’d be in a rubber room, or worse, by now.

These lists are obviously not complete. I’m focusing on things related to mental health, because I want to do everything I can to de-stigmatize mental health problems, and getting diagnosis and treatment for them, for everyone. That’s the purpose of this blog-post.

My Newest Relaxation Method: Assembling Music Videos

Posted on 17 October 2012 by RobertLovesPi

I could type “making” music videos, but it isn’t my music. In one of these three examples, even the pictures were not created by me. So I’m assembling music videos — nothing more.

It’s relaxing, nonetheless.

Here are three such efforts:

1. Murder By Death covering “We Only Come Out at Night,” a song by by The Smashing Pumpkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8L8pBeI548&feature=plcp

2. “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXY3eC15U_Q&feature=plcp

3. Three different versions of “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate,” by The Flaming Lips, back-to-back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ7lQ-wRkqQ&feature=plcp

I was taught to use Windows Movie Maker in a teacher-training class. It’s probably the most beneficial such training I’ve ever received, for I’m actually using it for something that helps me feel better, when I’m anxious or depressed.

Am I implying that most (but not all) teacher-training sessions are utterly worthless? Why, of course I am!

Mathematical Therapy

Posted on 14 October 2012 by RobertLovesPi

When I need to, I make mathematical images to improve my mood. For me, it works. These are three I created yesterday, using MS-Paint and Geometer’s Sketchpad.

I have a hunch this sort of thing would only work for a very few people, and we’re probably all Aspies, whether diagnosed or not.

I also call this sort of thing “recreational mathematics.” It’s better than Prozac, at least for me.

I’ve been doing this sort of thing for far longer than I’ve been on WordPress. These are just the latest such images.

A Cartoon I Made Yesterday

Posted on 14 October 2012 by RobertLovesPi

Interpretation is left to the viewer.

Hi There. I’m RobertLovesPi.

Posted on 14 July 2012 by RobertLovesPi

RobertLovesPi is the name I use on the Internet, and I come to WordPress as a refugee from Tumblr, where I have grown tired of what I call the “reblogging-virus.” I am here to get a fresh start.

I am interested in a great many things. It would be silly for me to try to list all these topics here and now, so I won’t do that. My interests will become apparent as this blog progresses.

Regarding demographic basics, I was born in 30 B.G. (“Before Google”), but have become so accustomed to life in cyberspace that it now seems, to an almost scary degree, as if I am a native. I am 44 years old at the time of this blog’s inception, and work as a teacher of science (as well, sometimes, other subjects, varying from year to year) at a high school in Arkansas. It doesn’t take much math to figure out that this blog is starting in the year 14 A.G. (“Age of Google”) on my preferred calendar — if one knows that, unlike with the conventional calendar most Americans use, there is a Google Year Zero, also known as 1998 CE. And, yes, I invented the Google-based calendar myself. Why not?

As for my cyberspace name, it isn’t a joke. I really do love pi. Just don’t spell it with an “e,” please. If you do, that refers to someone else.

Also, my favorite number isn’t 3.14, no matter what your geometry teacher told you. And, no matter what I Kings 7:23 says, it certainly isn’t exactly 3. This can be proven with nothing more than a coffee can and some string.

Evidence is important to me, for I have been fooled before. I try my best to keep myself from being fooled again. If you want to persuade me of anything, be prepared to show me the evidence.