Depression

Fear Factor

by Bill Brenner December 23, 2009 Children's issues

In this installment, the author describes years of living in a cell built by fear, how he broke free and why there’s no turning back. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” — Franklin Delano Roosevelt This morning I led a meeting of Over-eaters Anonymous, a task that included standing before a room of people for 30 minutes to tell my story of OCD, addiction and recovery. It was my third time…  [Read More]

The Stormy Present

by Bill Brenner December 16, 2009 Adventures in writing

A week and a half into this blog, I have most of the backstory etched in. There’s a little more backstory to come, particularly on how Faith has played a central role in my recovery and about how the signs of my craziness were there in my early 20s. More humor is yet to come as well. Response to this blog has been tremendous, and I thank those who are taking time to comment. Until…  [Read More]

The Bad Pill Kept Me From The Good Pill

by Bill Brenner December 10, 2009 Addiction

In a previous post I mentioned that I take medication for OCD: Prozac. It’s been extremely helpful, but it took a long time for me to even consider trying it. Here’s why: Mood music: As a kid sick much of the time with Chron’s Disease, I was often put on the maximum dose of a drug called Prednisone. The side effects were so horrific that I forever after resisted the idea of taking medication until…  [Read More]

‘What the Hell Are You Doing, Now We’re Both in the Hole!”

by Bill Brenner December 9, 2009 Addiction

This West Wing clip pretty much sums up the purpose of this blog:

The Most Uncool Addiction

by Bill Brenner December 8, 2009 Addiction

In this installment, the author opens up about the binge-eating disorder he tried to hide for years — and how he managed to bring it under control. I don’t beat myself for having engaged in addictive behavior. That kind of thing is obvious for someone with OCD. If there’s a compulsion to be rubbed raw, you go for it, no matter how destructive it is on body and soul. Then you wake up the next…  [Read More]

More On Famous People With Mental Illness

by Bill Brenner December 7, 2009 Depression

A good list on the subject is available from the  National Alliance on Mental Illness, NH branch. A few of those on the list: Art Buchwald, Columnist Depression Drew Carey, Actor Depression Winston Churchill “Had he been a stable and equable man, he could never have inspired the nation. In 1940, when all the odds were against Britain, a leader of sober judgment might well have concluded that we were finished,” wrote Anthony Storr about…  [Read More]

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