The Voices in my Head

On May 3rd, We're going to listen to a TedTalk by Eleanor Longden. 

Here's the abstract from the website: 

"To all appearances, Eleanor Longden was just like every other student, heading to college full of promise and without a care in the world. That was until the voices in her head started talking. Initially innocuous, these internal narrators became increasingly antagonistic and dictatorial, turning her life into a living nightmare. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalized, drugged, Longden was discarded by a system that didn't know how to help her. Longden tells the moving tale of her years-long journey back to mental health, and makes the case that it was through learning to listen to her voices that she was able to survive."

And then we'll talk about the strategies she used to win herself back, and the external forces working for and against her.

Please join us.

Bonus video: https://www.ted.com/talks/elyn_saks_seeing_mental_illness 

"On Being with Krista Tippett" -- Julia Rogers

This Sunday, faithful member Julia Rogers will lead the discussion with a recent episode of Krista Tippett's "On Being". Always thoughtful, this session addresses conflict and resolution around "The Future of Marriage" in seeking a redemptive solution to the tension emanating from same sex marriage. Please join us. You can preview the dialog, Here.

The Divide: American Justice in the Age of the Wealth Gap

This Sunday, April 19th, we'll hear Jennie Young and the Thursday's with Jesus group discuss Matt Taibi's book on the impact of wealth inequality. It's a big topic close to the heart of social justice. Please join us.

"What Happens to the Brain During Alzheimer's Disease?"

This coming Aunday, April 12th, Vanessa Fitsanakis returns with a talk on Alzheimer's Disease. She writes:

"Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease inthe US. It is primarily associated with aging, which is problematic since people routinely live into their 80's. AD is also difficult on family members because they must watch their loved one slowly lose their memory, and their ability to make appropriate decisions. All of these functional losses can be linked to specific brain regions that deteriorate during disease progression. The goal of this presentation is to familiarize the audience with the neuroanatomy associated with AD, and to provide a better understanding of what happens during this devastating disease."

Please feel free to bring anyone you know who could benefit from this presentation.

Vanessa is the "Dr Edward W Burke, Jr, Professor in Natural Sciences," Associate Professor and Chair Department of Biology at King University, Bristol, TN. She is a "local" who earned her BS at Milligan, MSc at Edinburgh, and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt. Vanessa's current research in neurotoxicology is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences