Bill Brenner

Sometimes, Un-Friending Is The Right Thing

by Bill Brenner March 15, 2011 Communication Skills

A friend of mine is angry and hurt because another friend deleted him and me from his Facebook friends list. The hurt is understandable: We grew up in Revere with this guy, and we went through a lot together. Mood music: [spotify:track:3XGbYvyi3sW9L5fzWluoAv] I sent our friend an e-mail asking why he un-friended us. His answer to me specifically was that this blog is dredging up too many painful memories from the past: Bill your OCD…  [Read More]

Mister Rogers’ Mother Was Right

by Bill Brenner March 14, 2011 Children's issues

Say what you will about Mister Rogers. His speech and mannerisms may stop being cool after you hit puberty, but the lessons he taught are timeless and ageless. My friend Olivia Gatti shared this quote from Mr. Rogers on Facebook awhile back: When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day,…  [Read More]

Have I Found What I’m Looking For?

by Bill Brenner March 14, 2011 Faith

Yesterday’s trip to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston has me reflecting on where my head was at five years ago and where it is now. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVdZ0Rdm8zI&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] This latest journey to the cathedral was as a helper and not as someone in the middle of a conversion. That’s what I thought at first, anyway. Five years ago I was there for the ceremony known as the Rite of Election, where…  [Read More]

The Catholic In The Room

by Bill Brenner March 13, 2011 Faith

The author writes an open letter to the RCIA Class of 2011 about Faith as a journey, not a destination. He warns that addiction, rage and other bad behavior don’t disappear the moment you’re Baptized. Mood music: [spotify:track:2yWOMbhPN2XJAiVy46Bhvz] I’ve been spending my Tuesday nights helping out with this year’s group of RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) students in Haverhill. I’m doing it partly as extra service for Lent, but also because I’m very attached to…  [Read More]

You of All People …

by Bill Brenner March 12, 2011 Children's issues

Recent weeks have pounded home the point that I’m seriously lacking in patience. With Duncan’s issues. With Erin’s workload. And more. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjto02iDNZA&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] Four words repeatedly ring in my head: “You of all people.” I of all people should be patient with Duncan. I was a problem child on a much deeper, darker magnitude than him. He’s a good boy. I should be a lot calmer when he has his meltdowns and gets…  [Read More]

Side-Effects of Prozac

by Bill Brenner March 12, 2011 Depression

A friend asked if I’ve ever experienced any side-effects from the Prozac I take to help manage OCD. An excellent question. Fear of side-effects kept me from trying the medication for years. Unfortunately, I did a lot of suffering in those years that could have been avoided. I had heard all kinds of horror stories about side-effects: Weight gain, violent mood swings, acne. That stuff does happen, but it didn’t happen to me. I have…  [Read More]

Coffee With My Therapist, Part 2

by Bill Brenner March 11, 2011 Communication Skills

I paid another visit to my therapist this morning, and the discussion was a lot more productive than last week’s get-together. Last week wasn’t his fault. I went in there with a migraine. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lz6qLQ4xSM&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] We’re continuing to work on my struggle to balance the urge to do everything with the need to slow it down. We’re working on my need for more patience as Erin and I help Duncan with his issues….  [Read More]

For Cousin Martha

by Bill Brenner March 10, 2011 Family

Cousin Martha — Erin’s cousin on the Robinson side, specifically — is way up on my list of favorite relatives. I love her humor, her wit and her ability to absorb all the needling I direct her way. The kids love her spiky hair, and to prove it they spiked up their hair after a bath one night and ran around yelling, “Look! I’m Cousin Martha!” I got a kick out of that before noticing…  [Read More]

Raising Sane Kids In An Insane World

by Bill Brenner March 10, 2011 Children's issues

Yesterday I was asked about tips for dealing with children who have OCD. Neither of mine have it (not officially, anyway), but our experiences with Duncan are leading us to some pretty all-purpose action items. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoGWe9l-OG8&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] As I’ve said before, my kids will be in a much better position to deal with mental ticks than I was, because I have coping skills to teach them that my parents didn’t have. First, a…  [Read More]

Why The Hell Does He Do That?

by Bill Brenner March 9, 2011 Mental disorders

My friends and family will tell you I have an arsenal of odd quirks. There’s the windmill hands. There’s the pacing, a trait my oldest son has inherited. Then there’s the fidgeting problem. Mood music (R.I.P. Mike Starr): [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jX1KAKp78&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] Ah, yes. I fidget a lot. That’s why I tend to work with my feet up on the desk. It keeps me still. When I sit like a normal person my legs start to bounce…  [Read More]

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