Bill Brenner

Just Drug It Away

by Bill Brenner December 9, 2010 Uncategorized

Just saw a snippet of research suggesting a surge in the number of people taking pills for depression but a decline in the number of those seeking therapy. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CUb4TuxN0w&fs=1&hl=en_US] Here it is, from the Health, Medical and Science feed I subscribe to: More depression, less psychotherapy, more drugs: Archives of General Psychiatry Dec.06, 2010 in Depression, Men’s Health, Mental Health, Pharmaceuticals, Women’s Health More patients were being treated for depression in 2007 than a decade…  [Read More]

The Rudolph Conspiracy

by Bill Brenner December 9, 2010 Lighthearted

I just got done watching a pretty warped video on YouTube that merges “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” with “Full Metal Jacket.” It got me thinking about what that kid’s Christmas special says about society. I always get a kick out of how Santa is portrayed in this one. He’s the typical asshole authority figure, shaming someone because they’re different. He’s cranky. He’s feeling the pressure. I’ve always related to this guy. Then there’s the lead…  [Read More]

Help Her Out

by Bill Brenner December 8, 2010 OCD

A few days ago I wrote a post about a movie called Machine Man, which deals with a man struggling with OCD. I received a note this evening from the film maker, Kellie Madison. Allow me to share: “I am the filmmaker working on Machine Man and I wanted to thank you so much for taking the initiative to write this post. It really means a lot to me to be appreciated for the work…  [Read More]

Christmas Doesn’t Suck Like It Used To

by Bill Brenner December 8, 2010 Depression

The Christmas season remains an uncomfortable time of year for me. I’m used to going into a deep depression the second December starts. But something’s different this year. For the first time in a long time, I’m not dreading it. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNtipSggWY&fs=1&hl=en_US] Life isn’t perfect. It never will be. Not supposed to be. But I’m finally starting to move past the idea that Christmas is supposed to always be perfect, sparkling and free of…  [Read More]

One Year Later

by Bill Brenner December 6, 2010 Adventures in writing

A year ago today, I was feeling down. It was nothing unusual, because the onset of the Christmas season has a way of messing with me. But this time, I felt a special compulsion to do something about it. The result was this blog. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp8sDwwRokY&fs=1&hl=en_US] About a year into my recovery from serious mental illness and addiction — the most uncool, unglamorous addiction at that — I started thinking about sharing where I’ve…  [Read More]

Thinking in Absolutes: A Bad Idea

by Bill Brenner December 5, 2010 Communication Skills

One of the problems with a mind laden with OCD is that you think a lot in absolutes. It’s one of the first things you need to stop doing when you finally decide to get help. But six years in, I still haven’t conquered that beast. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CpRCc4Jre8&fs=1&hl=en_US] Thinking in absolutes when your in a good mood is dangerous because you tend to think you’re so much better than you really are. Example: Someone…  [Read More]

Those 70s Cartoons and Child Abuse

by Bill Brenner December 4, 2010 Children's issues

There’s a thing going on this weekend on Facebook where people are changing their profile pics to a 70s cartoon of their choice to raise awareness against child abuse. It’s an admirable thing, but there’s also a downside. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5P8lrgBtcU&fs=1&hl=en_US] I did bite, though. Here’s what I am for the weekend: When I was in the hospital six weeks at a time for Crohn’s Disease, Tom and Jerry was a welcome distraction. I used to…  [Read More]

The Eagle-Tribune Revisited

by Bill Brenner December 3, 2010 Communication Skills

Danny Goodwin and I decided on a whim to crash the newsroom of The Eagle-Tribune this afternoon. It’s where we forged our friendship. It’s where I was when my sanity really started to come apart and it’s where some damn good people still work. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9yuDEnMhhk&fs=1&hl=en_US] The place hasn’t changed a bit. The computer screens may be flatter and a corner of the room is now taken up with multimedia gear, but the pictures…  [Read More]

Friends in Crisis

by Bill Brenner December 3, 2010 Communication Skills

I have a few friends who are in crisis these days, making my own struggles seem trivial. Talking to them is a lot like living in the Twilight Zone. I’m used to being self absorbed. Mood music: [spotify:track:7bv9wNXN3FHKMRTMdi48fL] I have to admit something: I’m not that good at being there for others. Lord knows I try, but I get so stuck in my own head sometimes that it’s hard to see what’s happening around me….  [Read More]

Machine Man: The Movie

by Bill Brenner December 3, 2010 OCD

The disorder I was diagnosed with five years ago is going to be the focus of a movie. I guess that means it’s cool to have OCD now. A reader pointed me toward the website for “Machine Man: The Movie” yesterday, and I’ve been digging around the site, totally captivated. There’s a “why we’re doing this” clip on the site that sounds a lot like the reasons I started this blog.  The website is chock…  [Read More]

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