Depression

Facebook Depression: It Happens

by Bill Brenner April 3, 2011 Communication Skills

A post from one of my Facebook friends got my attention the other day. He was sharing a new item about something called “Facebook depression” and if his comment is any indication, I don’t think he was buying it: “Really? Facebook depression? Pardon me but ‘Assholes!’” Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b93qfTYbROg&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] Here’s a snippet from the article, which appeared on WCVB Channel 5’s news site: According to a recent poll, more than 20 percent of teens…  [Read More]

Snowblind

by Bill Brenner April 1, 2011 Depression

There are some cranky people in New England today. A snowstorm on April 1 will do it every time. If you suffer from seasonal depression — the kind that strikes in the dead of winter — this kind of weather in spring can throw a person over the edge. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkbMd3Bygzs&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] I remember April 1, 1997 when we had a blizzard that dumped at least a foot of snow. I was holed up…  [Read More]

How I Can Be Happy Despite Myself

by Bill Brenner March 29, 2011 Addiction

I see a lot of moody people out there on Facebook and Twitter these days. Though I try not to put random complaints on my wall, my darker moods often come across in this blog. But in the big picture, I’ve found ways to be generally happy despite myself. Mood music: Allow me to share. But first, a couple acknowledgements: 1.) I stole this post’s title from somewhere. 2.) I readily admit that despite what…  [Read More]

Change Is Pain, But Not Impossible

by Bill Brenner March 28, 2011 Addiction

Last night’s 12-Step meeting reminded me of just how hard real change is. I used to measure change by who won the next election. I’ve realized that the only real change that matters is within myself. Naturally, it’s the hardest, most brutal kind of change to achieve. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqkxDgCIsOw&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] Last night’s AA Big Book reading focused on steps 8, 9 and 10: 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and…  [Read More]

Boston Rock: A History of Survival

by Bill Brenner March 21, 2011 Coping tools

My friends from the local band Pop Gun have finally put some performance video online. Listening to it takes me to a happy place, when life was tough but Boston-based rock kept me sane and strong. Boston has always been fertile ground for rock n roll. The obvious comes in the form of Aerosmith, The Cars and Godsmack (the latter actually has roots in my home turf — the Merrimack Valley). But the lesser-known bands…  [Read More]

What’s This Freakin’ Blog Really About, Anyway?

by Bill Brenner March 17, 2011 Addiction

I’ve gained several new readers in the past month. They have a lot of questions for me, which I like and appreciate. The most common question goes something like this: “What exactly is the focus of this blog?” Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4eVul99m50&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] It’s a fair question. Here’s the explanation. In this case the embedded links are important to seeing the whole picture. But don’t try to read them all at once. That would be insanity….  [Read More]

Physical & Mental Health: Not Two Different Things

by Bill Brenner March 16, 2011 Children's issues

I got a note this morning from an old friend that brilliantly illustrates how tightly physical and mental health are intertwined. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLrxQ2Cdwho&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] I’ll share his note, but keep the name out: Went to see a chiropractor yesterday (after the urging of my wife) to help with my anxiety. Went in very skeptical. After a thorough diagnosis, she discovered I have trouble with my cranial nerves and have an “over excited” nervrous system…  [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]

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]

Sympathy for the Unsympathetic

by Bill Brenner March 8, 2011 Addiction

I tend to get a lot of mail from people who read this blog, particularly the stuff about the rougher parts of my life. God Bless ’em, because they’re good people who want to buck me up. But I think they misunderstand where I’m coming from sometimes. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvJGQ_piwI0&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] There are days when my posts cross over to darker territory, especially when a wave of depression or OCD moment hits. I also do…  [Read More]

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