Physical Distancing Doesn’t Mean Social Distancing

by Bill Brenner March 20, 2020 Fear and anxiety

With available technology, we can keep a physical distance and still be social.

5 Examples of Humanity’s Best Amid COVID-19

by Bill Brenner March 19, 2020 Fear and anxiety

The war footing we’re on with COVID-19 isn’t ending anytime soon. But there are myriad examples of humanity doing the right things and making progress.

Finding Meaning in a COVID-19 War Footing

by Bill Brenner March 18, 2020 Fear and anxiety

Social distancing sucks after a while. But all is not lost.

Joking About COVID-19

by Bill Brenner March 17, 2020 Fear and anxiety

“Humor is the universal solvent against the abrasive elements of life.”

Researching COVID-19 When You Have Depression, Anxiety and OCD

by Bill Brenner March 15, 2020 Fear and anxiety

One of my biggest OCD habits has always been a tendency to over-research things. In 2005-06, when some “experts” predicted an H5N1 bird flu pandemic that would kill as many or more people as Spanish Flu in 1918-19, I googled “bird flu” multiple times a day and would go five pages deep per search. You can find some terrifying shit in a search like that. That period and the one we’re now living through has brought three…  [Read More]

I Had Nothing Left to Say. Then Came COVID-19.

by Bill Brenner March 14, 2020 Fear and anxiety

It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, deciding there was nothing left to say about life with OCD, depression and anxiety. I learned to live with it, accepted that ups and downs would be part of the journey (they have been) and saw others stepping up to share their challenges in powerful fashion. So I departed, leaving the blog online for those who might get use from it. My work here was done….  [Read More]

Robert C. Corthell, 1948-2017: Trucker, Teacher, Family Man

by Bill Brenner November 9, 2017 Gratitude

Robert C. Corthell of Haverhill, Mass., died peacefully at Lahey Burlington Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, surrounded by loved ones, after suffering a pulmonary embolism. He was 69. He fought his brief illness with the same stubbornness and grit by which he lived. His family and friends knew him as Bob, Bobby, Dad and Grandpa. He was born and raised in Haverhill and, after serving in the U.S. Army, spent the rest of his life there,…  [Read More]

I Was Lost But Now I’m Found

by Bill Brenner April 3, 2017 Dealing with life

There are plenty of reasons I haven’t written in this blog in a long time. The easy reasons are that my career has been busy and I’ve been managing a family building on the side. I also decided awhile back that I shouldn’t write unless I had something to say. To be honest, I just didn’t feel like opening up like I used to. But lately my willingness has returned. Mood music: The last year has included…  [Read More]

Thought I Was a Security Rockstar. Was Just Stupid

by Bill Brenner March 24, 2017 Dealing with life

In pretty much every industry of late, people of great talent, drive and achievement are being labeled rock stars. I certainly see it as I work in the information security industry. Those who get the label tend to deserve it. But there’s a dangerous side-effect: The term rock star can bloat the egos of those it’s bestowed upon. It leads to big heads and bad attitudes. I’ve watched many handle it with humble grace. And…  [Read More]

Depression and Anxiety in the Age of Trump

by Bill Brenner November 18, 2016 Political discourse

This post isn’t to endorse or condemn either of this year’s presidential candidates. It IS acknowledgement that people are shaken by the election of Donald Trump as president. For many, the uncertainty and fear translates into depression and anxiety. If Hillary Clinton had won, there’d be a lot of Trump supporters suffering in similar fashion. So I would have been writing this post anyway. The big question is how to move forward if the election has…  [Read More]

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