Bill Brenner

Shamed to Death

by Bill Brenner May 25, 2010 Fear and anxiety

Why do people with mental and physical illness choose a slow, painful death over recovery? Mood music for this post: “Estranged” by Guns N Roses: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpmAY059TTY&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Last week I went on a tirade against firms putting limits on coverage for mental health care. It’s the same sorry song that ratchets up the fear level for those suffering from depression, OCD, bipolar disorder and the like, and The Boston Globe’s Kay Lazar shed light on a…  [Read More]

Pills Can’t Kill Pain at the Source

by Bill Brenner May 24, 2010 Addiction

The author has written much about his binge-eating addiction, but not so much about the pills — until now. Mood music for this post: “I Don’t Like the Drugs But the Drugs Like Me” by Marilyn Manson: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EefPcht54c&hl=en_US&fs=1&] A fellow addict in OA recently asked me how pills fit into my overall haze before I found recovery. She asked because when sharing my story I mention how taking Prednisone as a kid for Crohn’s Disease…  [Read More]

Howie Mandel Fights The Stigma

by Bill Brenner May 23, 2010 Courage

Truth be told, I’ve never been much of a Howie Mandel fan. I liked his brand of humor in the beginning but eventually lost interest. But I give him a lot of credit for being open about his own struggle with OCD and taking the fight to The Stigma: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiZ84SZcPps&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Hitting Bottom: Songs and Backstory

by Bill Brenner May 23, 2010 Addiction

Hitting bottom is the moment of truth for an addict, whether the shackles are made of heroin, booze or food. I’ve been there. You have a choice: Clean up your act or die a painful death that can be either quick or slow. People ask me all the time about my big moment. The answer is that there wasn’t that one dramatic moment of hitting bottom. It was more a series of bottoms. It was…  [Read More]

Prozac or Potatoes: Which is Better?

by Bill Brenner May 22, 2010 Food

The author votes for some of each. Though only 2 ounces of potato at a time. Mood music for this post: “We’re All Gonna Die” by Iggy Pop and Slash: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ5Rmt7jYhQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] At the suggestion of my friend Christy Hubbard, I decided to check out Kathleen Des Maisons’ book “Potatoes Not Prozac.” She suggested I take a look after reading a couple of my previous posts about being a Prozac taker. [More on that in The…  [Read More]

Home Sweet Home

by Bill Brenner May 21, 2010 Family

The author on returning home. Mood music for this post: “Home Sweet Home” by the Motley Crue: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrYmsU0ZknA&hl=en_US&fs=1&] There have been a lot of times in my life where I looked forward to coming home only to be sorry I was back minutes after getting there. When I used to spend six-week stints in Children’s Hospital for the Crohn’s Disease, I would always think about home. I would think of the day I’d be released…  [Read More]

OCD Group Therapy With Benefits

by Bill Brenner May 20, 2010 Lighthearted

Not sure why I found this amusing. But I did. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDuRbHd9Jcc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

My Personal Ground Zero

by Bill Brenner May 19, 2010 Courage

A walk past Ground Zero takes the author from the darkness to the light. Mood music for this post: “The Engine Driver” by The Decemberists: If ever there was a day when I could relapse my way into McDonald’s to down $40 bags of junk and wash it down with four glasses of wine, this was it. My mood took a deep dive this afternoon. And the source was the last thing I would have…  [Read More]

Trapped in a Tin Can

by Bill Brenner May 19, 2010 For travelers

The author faces another lack-of-control moment. Will he survive? Mood music for this post: “By the Sword” from Slash’s new and excellent solo album: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP_RIwHwJyY&hl=en_US&fs=1&] After only two days home from Washington DC, I’m on the road again. This time I’m headed to New York to give a talk on DDoS attacks at a security event. I’m glad to do it because after spending the first part of my life in sheer terror of public…  [Read More]

The Mental Illness Stigma That Won’t Die

by Bill Brenner May 18, 2010 Communication Skills

The author came clean about his own battles with mental illness and addiction exactly because of stupidity like this… Mood music for this post: “Push Comes to Shove” by Van Halen, from the “Fair Warning” album: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3aW7oofNgs&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Kay Lazar from The Boston Globe wrote a story this week that sent my blood boiling. My problem wasn’t with the reporting or writing. She does a fine job. It’s the topic that burns. The story, available here,…  [Read More]

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