Mental health

A Depressed Mind Is Rarely A Beaten Mind

by Bill Brenner October 21, 2011 Coping tools

A report in USA Today says 1 in 100 adults have planned their suicide in the past year, a statistic that doesn’t surprise me, knowing what I do about depression. Mood music: I’ve suffered a lot of depression in my day. I’m experiencing a touch of it right now. I’ve never seriously considered ending it. But I can easily see how someone in that state of mind could head in that direction. From the report:…  [Read More]

My Mood Swing: A Soundtrack

by Bill Brenner October 20, 2011 Coping tools

I’m in a rotten mood this afternoon and I’m not sure why. Various people are pissing me off though. So I’m listening to songs that seem to commiserate with me. Allow me to share: http://youtu.be/PBT5nAqMwvs That’s better.

Feel It, Don’t Fight It: Making The Disorder Work For You

by Bill Brenner October 18, 2011 Coping tools

Instead of fighting mental disorder — be it OCD or A.D.H.D. — picture yourself accepting and even embracing it, then learning to use it to your advantage. It’s kind of like Luke Skywalker learning to use and control the Force instead of it controlling him. Yesterday’s post on mental illness as a luxury item resonated with several readers, especially the part where I quote Edward (Ned) Hallowell, psychiatrist and co-author of “Driven to Distraction” and “Delivered…  [Read More]

Is Mental Illness A ‘Luxury’ Disease?

by Bill Brenner October 17, 2011 Addiction

There’s an interesting debate unfolding on The New York Times website about mental illness in America. What got my attention was the suggestion that mental illness and the related treatments are luxury items. Mood music: The debate — between a variety of professionals in the mental health field — runs the spectrum from suggesting mental illness is still misunderstood and undertreated to being over diagnosed and used as an excuse to hide from personal responsibility….  [Read More]

Support Your Local Crisis Hotline Person

by Bill Brenner October 13, 2011 Courage

One of the byproducts of writing this blog is that old friends and strangers have reached out to me for chats about what they’re going through. Mood music: http://youtu.be/mso6N_eqg_k You could say I’m doing an increasing amount of unpaid, uncertified counseling. I’d like to think it’s just me trying to be a good friend and following up on what I do here. It can be a bit much sometimes. That’s not a complaint. It’s just…  [Read More]

Season of Depression

by Bill Brenner October 13, 2011 Depression

Like everyone else, I love the colors and crisp air of autumn. But there’s something else about fall that I hate: It’s the beginning of the mood swings and depression. Mood music:  When the days get shorter and I find myself driving to work in the dark, it has an effect on my brain. Welcome to my annual class on S.A.D. People who suffer from chemical imbalances in the brain are directly impacted by daylight…  [Read More]

How To Talk To A Liar Who’s Been Caught

by Bill Brenner October 12, 2011 Addiction

A reader who recently found the two posts I wrote on addicts as compulsive liars had a sad story to share. Her husband, a compulsive spender, gambler and drinker, lies to her all the time. He apparently sucks at it. She always finds out. Mood music: How, she asked me, does she deal with a person like this? She still loves him, and in many respects he’s still the great guy. But lies are a…  [Read More]

Axl Rose: Still A Jackass

by Bill Brenner October 10, 2011 Communication Skills

Guns n Roses singer Axl Rose is still a jackass after all these years. Consider the following: Mood music: From the metal news site Blabbermouth.net: GUNS N’ ROSES‘ continual tardiness is making things rough for concert promoters and fans alike, with long waits for Axl Rose just as much a definite at a the band’s concert as hearing “Paradise City” or “Welcome To The Jungle”. At the Rock In Rio concert on October 2, GUNS N’ ROSES came onstage two hours late despite having…  [Read More]

Happy Birthday, Old Friend

by Bill Brenner October 7, 2011 Depression

It just dawned on me that today would have been Sean Marley’s 45th birthday. You’ve seen much here about how his life and death shaped me. But right now I just want to point out all that was cool about him. Mood music: –He was a gifted guitarist. He could learn to play just about anything, and could write great musical bits when he wanted to. He gave me my first guitar for Christmas in…  [Read More]

God Hates Gays? Dummy

by Bill Brenner October 7, 2011 Communication Skills

This is a semi-sequel to the last post. This is a picture that says so much, and it appeals to my Revere sensibilities: To all the idiots who keep telling us that God hates certain people, including gays, I refer you to the following posts… Gay Haters Or Just Idiots?   Racists AND Idiots   Depression and Being Gay   One More Thing About Being Depressed and Gay… Now put your stupid signs away and go home.

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