Recovery

Outing Myself

February 22, 2010 Adventures in writing

The author on why he chose to “out” himself despite what other people might think. Mood music:  Show Me How To LiveAudioslaveAudioslave A couple friends have asked why I “outed myself” in this blog. Wasn’t I afraid people would blackball me at work? Don’t I worry that I’ll be defined by my struggle with OCD [...]

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Another Reason Addiction-Depression Stinks

February 20, 2010 Addiction

I’ve mentioned before that one of the inspirations for this blog was a book called “The Heroin Diaries” by Nixxi Sixx, bass player and lyricist for Motley Crue. It’s a book of diary entries he wrote from late 1986 to late 1987, at the time the “Girls Girls Girls” album was recorded and the band [...]

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Addicted to Feeling Good: A Love-Hate Story

February 17, 2010 Addiction

To kick off Lent, the author reflects on some of his dumber quests to feel good. Mood music for this post: “Snake Eyes and Sissies” from Marilyn Manson: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysi8lAX7kHM&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Every now and then, it’s useful to look back on who I used to be so I can appreciate who I am today. Today, as Lent [...]

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What Kind of Day It Has Been

February 16, 2010 Addiction

The author’s day has not gone as planned. He’s OK with that, though he wasn’t always. Mood music for this post: “Adrift And At Peace” from NIN: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMnv8zrmAyU&hl=en_US&fs=1&] This day has not gone as planned. I wanted to be in the office today plowing through some work. But another winter storm forced me to work [...]

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In Defense of Patrick Kennedy

February 13, 2010 Addiction

The youngest son of Edward M. Kennedy has often been criticized as a lightweight Congressman who gets away with things other people would get arrested for. But the author salutes him anyway. Here’s why. Patrick Kennedy, the youngest child of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, announced yesterday that he won’t be running for re-election [...]

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When Pain Drips from the Mind to the Body

February 12, 2010 Depression

The author on why it’s true that mental illness leads to physical sickness. Mood music:  This Is Gonna HurtSixx:A.M.This Is Gonna Hurt I’ve heard a lot of people argue over whether this person’s or that person’s aches and pains were “all in their head.” You know the types: Never any real underlying disease, but they’re [...]

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OCD Diaries: The Office Mom

February 9, 2010 Coping tools

The author salutes Anne Saita, a former co-worker who showed me how to stand up to people and face down my fears — and whose blog is a must-read. I’ve been reading the blog Run DMZ a lot lately.The main reason is that it’s chock full of excellent content on how to eat and exercise [...]

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Sobriety vs. Abstinence

February 8, 2010 Addiction

Whenever I share my experiences with OCD and the related binge-eating disorder [See: The Most Uncool Addiction], there’s a word I always refrain from using if I’m outside the safe confines of my OA group: Abstinence. I don’t hate the word. But I don’t like it much, either. All anyone ever thinks about when it’s [...]

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The Engine in Hyperdrive

February 7, 2010 Adventures in writing

It’s Sunday and I’m wrapping up my visit to the #ShmooCon security conference in Washington D.C. My compulsive tendencies are humming along at full throttle, which isn’t as bad as it seems. True, the goal is to minimize the OCD overdrive as much as possible. Especially when it comes to giving in to one’s addictions. [...]

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Rest Re-defined

February 2, 2010 Fear and anxiety

The author finds that he gets the most relaxation from the things he once feared the most. Mood music for this post: Henry Rollins reciting “I Know You,” to a backdrop of Nine Inch Nails. Absolutely brilliant: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CPIT4nsT24&hl=en_US&fs=1&] A strange thing happened to me on the way to recovery: I started finding peace and relaxation [...]

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