Bill Brenner

Turning the Tables on Those Who Whine

by Bill Brenner June 26, 2010 Depression

The author has a low tolerance for those who bitch. But he’s about to do it anyway. Mood music for this post: “Thorn in My Pride” by The Black Crows: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d-xq6q72cA&hl=en_US&fs=1&] This post is about whining and hypocrisy. For much of my adult life, I’ve had a low tolerance for people who whine about every little thing. I say adult life, because as a teenager all I did was whine. Facebook has become a favorite…  [Read More]

Putting the Fun in Dysfunction

by Bill Brenner June 25, 2010 Uncategorized

Why the author needs dysfunctional people in his life. Mood music for this post: “California Uber Alles” by The Dead Kennedys: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW8UlY8eXCk&hl=en_US&fs=1&] In one of our many discussions over what she doesn’t like about me and my way of life, my mother often lamented that whatever she didn’t like was “just not normal.” Truth is, I don’t think I’ve ever met a normal person in my nearly 40 years on this planet. I prefer it…  [Read More]

If it Breaks, Let Someone Else Fix It

by Bill Brenner June 23, 2010 Depression

Two incidents illustrate the fault lines that remain with my personal brand of OCD. Mood music for this post: “Coming Undone” by Korn: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioJ9ZHqzMT0&hl=en_US&fs=1&] “Fuck! Even in the future nothing works.” — Dark Helmet, on discovering that the cancel button for his ship’s self-destruct command was out of order. Yesterday was a bad day for our Internet to crash. I was working from home and had a lot of stuff to do. Today is a bad…  [Read More]

Addicted to Relationships: A Cautionary Tale

by Bill Brenner June 22, 2010 Addiction

The author on relationship dependency and the damage done. Mood music: Calling relationships an addiction may sound ridiculous on the surface. We need relationships. This post is about people who need to have a mate for their lives to have meaning. They’re so desperate to be part of a union that they get intense about it very quickly, squeeze too tight and become a dysfunctional mess when the inevitable implosion happens. Oh, yes. I’ve been…  [Read More]

Flour and Sugar: A Tale of Slavery

by Bill Brenner June 21, 2010 Addiction

The author has been asked how he gets by with no bread, pasta and all the other flour-sugar substances. Here’s his answer. Update: A recent New York Times Magazine article on sugar as a toxin is worth reading as a companion to this post. Article summary: “That it makes us fat is something we take for granted. That it might also be making us sick is harder to accept.” Mood music: A reader of this…  [Read More]

Notes on Being a Dad, a Son and Grandson

by Bill Brenner June 19, 2010 Children's issues

The author shares some writings on his father, grandfather and kids for Father’s Day. Mood music for this post: “Holiday in the Sun” by the Sex Pistols. Has nothing to do with the topic, but tomorrow is Father’s Day and I felt like hearing some Sex Pistols. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWF9MMxnekQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Since it’s Father’s Day weekend, I thought the appropriate thing to post would be these items on my father, grandfather and my children… Snowpocalypse and the Fear…  [Read More]

Everybody Wants Some

by Bill Brenner June 18, 2010 Lighthearted

Having had more than my fair share of insanity in life, I have a special appreciation for film clips that make fun of the crazies. Nobody nails it like the folks behind the movie “Better Off Dead.” How can you go wrong when David Lee Roth is reduced to hamburger meat? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz6Kcz62onA&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Others Who Fight the Stigma

by Bill Brenner June 18, 2010 Addiction

This isn’t the only blog trying to poke the stigma of mental illness and addiction in the eye. Check these out: Mood music for this post: “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” by The Avett Brothers: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E22HprMQN8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&] I’ve been lucky to run across a couple other blogs this week where others are doing their part to break the stigma of OCD and binge eating. These finds make me happy because I’d hate to be…  [Read More]

An OCD Incident

by Bill Brenner June 16, 2010 Mental disorders

As good as the author has gotten at managing OCD, some days it still comes crashing down. Mood music for this post: “You’re Crazy” by Guns ‘N Roses: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wmwud1DXQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Today was not one of my better days, folks. I had an OCD moment at work. My boss was pretty forgiving about the whole thing, but I’m still pissed with myself. Before I go any further, this is not a bitch-about-work post. For starters, I have…  [Read More]

Parental Estrangement

by Bill Brenner June 15, 2010 Family

The story of a relationship ruptured by mental illness. I told myself never to write this one. Too many people would feel burned. Then I remembered those who won’t like this are already angry with me. This is a critical piece of my journey through mental illness, addiction and recovery. So in I go. Those who know me well know I haven’t gotten along with my mother and step-father for a long time. It’s been…  [Read More]

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