Category: Writing

“LOOKIN’ COOL, BUT A FOOL…” THE MYSTERY OF MENTAL ILLNESS, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view, Writing

I looked in the mirror and nodded. Yeah, I really liked my jacket and wool cap. It was chilly this morning, but with the new additions to my wardrobe, I’d be warm and look good.

Minutes later, I was browsing the window of Barnes & Noble when a homeless man, pushing his cart filled with all his possessions shoved into plastic bags, announced loudly, “Lookin’ cool, but a fool”.

Shocked, I stepped away from the window and watched as the man shuffled past. “Jesus”, he was talking about me! I glanced at my reflection in the store window and shuddered. How did he know? I was feeling so full of myself this morning, and the old guy picked right up on it. It was brilliant.

It’s uncanny how some untreated schizophrenics have the intuitive skill to read our minds. Like a psychiatrist uses his “third ear” to pick up hidden nuances in psychotherapy, the schizophrenic can be even more acutely in tune to another’s inner workings.

To me it is absolutely amazing and mysterious. Sadly or happily or whatever one’s perspective, when treatment is successful, the magic fades — as do the voices and paranoid ideas.

Before they’re treated, how do psychotic people do it?

Probably being paranoid, with all senses on alert, allows the primitive, reptilian part of the brain to pick up and decipher the hidden thoughts of all potential attackers. The biochemicals in the brain align just so and magic happens.

I loved my first year of psychiatric residency when I was surrounded by untreated schizophrenics. I loved the mystery and the magic. I loved all aspects of how the mind works.

I still do…

Like mysteries and magic? Check out Chasing Backwards, a psychological mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear.

Dr. Smukler has won the prestigious Golden Ear Award for excellence in teaching at Harbor-UCLA Medical center and excellence in writing fiction at The Santa Barbara Writers Conference.

All books are available as ebooks and paperbacks. You can find them at amazon.com/author/arthursmukler or https://artsmuklermd.com/

A POLE DANCE CONTEST IS HAPPENING IN RIO! by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, World events, a psychological view, Writing

Like pole dancing? Now there’s a world contest for, hold on to your wallets, both women and men.
Over 130 dancers from 36 countries are competing in a 3 day contest where judges evaluate the artistic ability and difficult moves to choose the winner. He or she gets a prize of $35,000. The contestants are amazing athletes!

No sleeze? No slimey guys drooling over girls 1/3 their age? What’s this world coming to?

When I published Skin Dance, a mystery, I did my research in “old school” bars and actually took a class in “How to run your own strip bar”.
If I’d only known about Rio!

But, if you’re interested in a psychological mystery that starts in the kind of strip bar that has nothing to do with a healthy sports environment, you’ll love, Skin Dance, a mystery.

If you figure out what’s going on before the end, the next beer is on me.

Sent from my iPhone