Mental health

40: The New 20

by Bill Brenner August 26, 2010 Gratitude

A lot of people get depressed on their birthday. Not me. The fact that I turn 40 today is almost a freak of nature. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVXIK1xCRpY&fs=1&hl=en_US] When I was sick with the Crohn’s Disease as a kid, I lost a lot of blood and developed several side ailments. I’m told by my parents that the doctor’s were going to remove the colon more than once. It didn’t happen. They tell me I was closing…  [Read More]

You Think Too Much

by Bill Brenner August 25, 2010 Communication Skills

I have friends who spend a lot of time raking the same problems over the coals in their heads over and over again. The worry consumes them. I always tell them, “Don’t over think these things. That’s how you get the tumors and shit.” I know, because I used to let worry incapacitate me. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdZXmnLmhFM&fs=1&hl=en_US] This shouldn’t surprise readers of this blog. I’ve described it before. OCD is very much about worry spinning…  [Read More]

The Anxiety Attack

by Bill Brenner August 24, 2010 Fear and anxiety

Overcoming fear and anxiety is a major theme of this blog, and people who think they’ve experienced it often ask me to describe what it’s like for me. Mood music: It’s been about four years since experiencing a real anxiety attack, but I remember the feeling well. It starts with a worry. Maybe it’s concern that Sean and Duncan are sick. Kids below the age of 10 spike fevers all the time, especially in the…  [Read More]

An Exaggerated Response

by Bill Brenner August 20, 2010 Communication Skills

A reader asked me for my thoughts on “rollercoastering,” that exaggerated response to life’s normal challenges that creates high drama and the feeling of being on a rollercoaster. Hell yes, I’ve been on that ride. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I6y5-GuLPM&fs=1&hl=en_US] Here’s what my new friend had to say by e-mail (name kept anonymous to protect privacy): “Part of my addiction(s) is experiencing an exaggerated response to normal life events. Granted, I have a history of creating drama and…  [Read More]

Bully’s Remorse

by Bill Brenner August 19, 2010 Children's issues

There was a kid in high school everyone used to pick on. He had a monotone voice and was frail. Kids were terrible to him, including me. Mood music: [spotify:track:5Qy0zLjQy3czoj0yZ7DFkk] For you to understand what I’m about to get into, a review of the 12 Steps of Recovery are in order, with special emphasis on 8 and 9: 1. We admitted we were powerless over [insert addiction. Here’s mine]—that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to…  [Read More]

We Need Routines

by Bill Brenner August 16, 2010 Gratitude

Being the restless, boredom-shunning soul that I am, I always look forward to the next trip. But today I’m back to a more mundane routine, and I couldn’t be happier. As great as it is to bust out of the norm from time to time, we need our routines. Especially me. Mood music for this post: “Back in The Saddle” by Aerosmith: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDKxUt9UkmU For starters, a routine is vital for someone in recovery from addiction…  [Read More]

The Trouble With Wanting It All

by Bill Brenner August 15, 2010 Addiction

Ever since I got over my fear and anxiety I’ve had a bottomless appetite to do it all. I want to travel everywhere. I want to see everything. And I want to participate in as many events as possible. Sometimes that gets me in trouble. Here’s an example. Mood music: “Serve the Servants” by Nirvana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aztw2s3PZzY Columbus Day Weekend there are two events I badly want to be a part of. One is something my security…  [Read More]

Dirty and Fried

by Bill Brenner August 12, 2010 Fear and anxiety

It’s been an eventful week and I am close to fried. But before I collapse, I have many hours of travel ahead. As daunting as that may seem, I’m feeling a strange sort of satisfaction this morning. Rough as this has been, I accomplished a lot. I got four articles out of the conferences I attended — one extra than planned, thanks to the Secret Service. I got to spend time with our cousins, who…  [Read More]

A New Jersey State of Rage

by Bill Brenner August 8, 2010 For travelers

It’s been one of those days: Six states in 14 hours. The plan was to do it in nine. Then I took a wrong turn in New Jersey.  It was the second anger management test I had in a week. I guess I passed. But for a few hours I seriously considered diving off the wagon head first. Mood music:  http://youtu.be/2spuprrj4Pg The drive was going well enough. We made it to New Jersey in record…  [Read More]

Saturday Morning Sanity Check

by Bill Brenner August 7, 2010 For travelers

Didn’t get up until 6 a.m., which for me is sleeping in. Kids came in the room, dragged me out of bed and down the stairs to the living room. Poured myself into the chair and used the kids as a blanket. It got cold overnight. They make good blankets. Got out of the chair after an hour and grabbed a Red Bull. Now I’m listening to this while blogging: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irskrVvKR1E&hl=en_US&fs=1] Gotta pack for the…  [Read More]

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