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What does it mean to pursue a career in advanced mathematics while experiencing the profound challenges of paranoid schizophrenia? Drawing from her extraordinary personal journey, Diana Dirkby takes us behind the curtain of her dual life as an internationally recognized mathematician and a person navigating the complex reality of serious mental illness.

This raw, enlightening conversation explores the fascinating parallels between Diana's experience and that of mathematical genius John Nash, immortalized in "A Beautiful Mind." Diana describes her unique cognitive challenges—particularly the "word soup" that floods her mind during episodes—and reveals the ingenious strategies she developed to sustain her academic career despite these obstacles. From writing lectures verbatim in blue ink (never black) to maximizing productive work during periods of mental clarity, her practical approaches offer valuable insights for anyone facing similar challenges.

Beyond her personal story, Diana tackles misconceptions about both mathematics and schizophrenia. She eloquently explains how mathematics continues to evolve through human inquiry and research, using Fermat's Last Theorem as a compelling example. With compassion born from experience, she offers guidance to parents whose bright children receive schizophrenia diagnoses, emphasizing that while compromise is necessary, fulfilling lives and meaningful achievements remain possible with proper support and treatment.

Diana's message resonates with hope and pragmatism: success with schizophrenia requires acceptance, management, and support—but it is absolutely possible. Whether you're personally affected by mental illness, love someone who is, or simply seek to understand the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, this episode offers profound wisdom about finding clarity amidst chaos and pursuing intellectual passion despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Subscribe now to join this important conversation about triumph over adversity and the power of compromise in achieving meaningful success.

You can check out a basic, minimal website I made about my mathematics at https://aussiemathematician.io/.

Here are my other website and social media credentials:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#schizophrenia #college #university #mathematics #mentalhealth #family #relationships #SameHere #girlsdomath

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In this episode, I will describe several incidents where I got into trouble with law enforcement for totally harmless behavior because I have always been open about living with schizophrenia. This fact is a reason to be open about living with schizophrenia, not to hide it. I passed with flying colors, and that helps reduce the stigma.

The best book I have read on schizophrenia is the famous book by E. Fuller Torrey. Chapter One already gives an excellent account of what schizophrenia can be as an illness. You will find the book at the link https://amzn.to/4jBaty2 #ad #commissionsearned. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

#schizophrenia #police #lawenforcement #mentalillness #family #relationships #challenges #fiction #novel

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In this episode, I will introduce you to my two novels: "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X), whose title I abbreviate to "The Overlife," and "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9K6YMG), whose title I abbreviate to "Three Siblings." The first novel is about a mother and daughter both living with paranoid schizophrenia. The second novel is about sibling abuse. I will also talk about myself and the goals of this Podcast. This Podcast has a serious tone, but, don't worry, we will also have fun and humor in many of the episodes.

A video version of this episode is on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

My website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/
My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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In this short episode, I will introduce my new Podcast, "Fractured Ink: Writing in Life's Chaos." The podcast discusses fiction novels about families faced with a severe challenge. I have published two novels on such a theme. The first novel is "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" ("The Overlife" for short (https://www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X). The second novel is "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" ("Three Siblings for short) (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9K6YMG). Though fiction, the novels are based on real events in my life and the lives of close family and friends. I live with schizophrenia, as did my mother, which inspired "The Overlife." I suffer from complex PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which inspired "Three Siblings."

I reassure my audience that, though some of the issues I discuss are severe, my podcast will also include humor, my hobbies, my loves, and an explanation of how I succeeded in research mathematics and as a university professor.

The video version of this podcast is available on my YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

My website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/
My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)