The Power of a Self-Help Approach: Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior” Cat Explains
- Bruce Schutter
- Jun 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 7
So, Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior” Cat has decided to give a motivational speech this weekend in town.
I know. I was shocked too. Apparently, a cat with anxiety, bipolar, and a long-standing feud with the vacuum cleaner has become a public speaker. But here we are.
Naturally, before he trots out on stage in front of a live audience, he wanted to test his speech on someone who knows a thing or two about mental health, emotional spirals, and daily comebacks. So, he came to me. Oh joy.
Now, I love Marvin. He’s direct, slightly judgmental, but he knows the truth—because he’s lived it.
So have I.
We Were Taught Mental Health Help Meant Limitation
Marvin and I both spent years believing what the world told us about mental health struggles. If you had bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, or heck—even just a couple of rough years stacked together—you were handed a long list of things you shouldn’t do:
Don’t stress.
Don’t isolate.
Don’t feel too much.
Don’t… be you, basically.
Helpful, right? No!
What no one told us—what we needed to hear—was this:
You can be in charge of your emotions.
You can build a life you’re proud of.
You can take action.
You can be a Warrior!
And that’s the heart of the Mental Health Warrior Program—a bold new SELF-HELP approach that doesn’t rely on waiting for someone else to “fix” you. Instead, it puts the power to act right back in YOUR hands.
Marvin believes in it. I built it.
The Origin Story (No Capes, Just Pain and Progress)
For 20 years, I battled Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, and PTSD. Some days I couldn’t get out of bed. Other days, I drank to feel nothing. Eventually, I reached a point so dark, I tried to end my life.
But with a second chance, I realized something no one had ever told me: Mental health isn’t just something you manage—it’s something you build. Daily. Actively. Intentionally.
So I built a new approach—the Mental Health Warrior Program—that’s not about perfection. It’s about momentum. Strength over shame. Action over avoidance.
And tools—real tools—that help you become the Warrior and take charge of your emotions!
Now, Marvin and his crew use those tools every day. And as part of his new public speaking career (I can’t believe I’m writing this), Marvin wants to explain exactly what a self-help mental health approach looks like.
Marvin’s Intro
“People act like ‘self-help’ and ‘mental health disorder’ don’t belong in the same sentence,” Marvin began, tail flicking like he was narrating a crime documentary.
“But SELF-HELP means we have the power to take action in our own life and make forward progress each day.
Plus, self-help doesn’t mean going it alone. It means owning your growth. Not waiting for someone else to hand you a diagnosis, a permission slip, and a map.”
And then, because he’s Marvin, he broke it down with three examples from his own life of how he take action and triumphs over his challenges each day!
Marvin’s Example 1: The Morning Spiral
“Sometimes I wake up with the emotional stability of a wet sponge,” Marvin said.
He used to lie there, overthinking everything:
What if the humans leave forever?
What if the treat drawer’s empty?
What if the vacuum is plotting again?
New Self-Help Approach:
Now he uses the Warrior Mindset Rule 1: "Acknowledge the importance of your mental health."
He gets up, stretches (dramatically), and does his version of a sandbag Walkabout (he pushes a sock down the hallway like it’s a kettlebell).
That recenters his emotions and prepares him to tackle the days challenges, not hide from them under the laundry pile.
My Takeaway:
I do the same thing—except I swap the sock for a quick cleanup of last night’s dishes.
Starting my day with movement resets my emotional state. It breaks the morning spiral of negative thoughts that try to hijack me—especially in that vulnerable window right after I wake up and before I’ve had my diet soda (aka cold, fizzy coffee).
Now that’s SELF-HELP in action!
Marvin’s Example 2: Emotional Hairball Attacks
Some days, Marvin gets overwhelmed—sad, angry, overstimulated.
His old move? Hide under the bed and hiss at everyone.
New Self-Help Approach:
He grabs a Warrior Tool that helps him take charge of his emotions: The Emotional Hairball List.
It’s a short, scribbled list of what he’s feeling—and one action that will help.
Sad—Time in the sun spot.
Angry—Scratch post rage session.
Lonely—Sit directly on a laptop keyboard until someone notices.
My Takeaway:
I use journaling the same way. I name the emotion, write it down, and then pick one small action that supports healing.
That’s the Emotions-First Action List—a powerful self-help strategy that turns emotional chaos into a game plan.
Marvin’s Example 3: Comparing His Progress
“Everyone talks about being ‘better,’” Marvin growled. “But no one says what that actually means.”
That used to confuse him—and made him feel like he was always behind or never making real progress.
He used to think better meant “normal” (whatever that is). Now, it means progress on his terms.
New Self-Help Approach:
Each week, he logs a “Warrior Win.”
Showed up even when anxious.
Didn’t bite Doug the dog (again).
Took a nap instead of starting a fight.
These small victories remind him he’s growing, even when things still feel hard!
My Takeaway:
I use the same Weekly Wins tracker.
I don’t chase perfection—I celebrate momentum.
That’s real self-help: redefining success as growth, not some imaginary finish line.
The Book That Started It All
As Marvin ended his trial speech (with dramatic pauses and, yes, a mic drop—he knocked over my water bottle), he pointed to the source of it all:
“Everything I know, I learned from Bruce’s book: I Triumphed Over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior.”
He’s not wrong (I say while blushing). That book outlines:
✅ The 4 Core Components of a Mental Health Warrior.
✅ Real stories from my journey—no filters, just truth.
✅ A full set of tools to help you start your own Warrior path!
This isn’t theory. It’s what actually worked—for me, for Marvin and his crew… And now, for you too!
Wrap-Up
So here’s the truth:
You’ve been told your emotions are too much.
That your challenges define you.
That you’ll always be stuck waiting for “help” to arrive.
Marvin and I are here to tell you: No!
You have power.
You can take action.
You have the tools to triumph each day over your challenges!
So when life throws chaos, confusion, or a surprise vacuum cleaner your way… grab your copy of "I Triumphed Over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior"—and take action.
Embrace the power of a SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge—and the strength back in YOUR hands!
Bruce Schutter
Comments