I find myself now at age 52 quite happy, though definitely not content. I grew up in a privileged home, and after spending 20 years on Wall Street and working my way into the million dollar club, I fell into a deep depression. I was in a bad marriage and when I started on Wall Street before the internet, it was fun and I enjoyed it. As the internet boomed and the public’s confidence … Read More
When I look at the adopted kids I know or knew and look at the number of them that have died or had severe problems it is so out of balance with non-adopted people I know there has got to be another explanation. Well, if you were adopted and are having problems, maybe the following paper contains some answers. If you were adopted, this is meant to soothe your questions, not stir up more of … Read More
In Hollywood, it seems almost accepted that a certain number of stars will die because of drugs or alcohol. While I didn’t follow Giraldo, I do find it amazing that days before he relapsed he was scheduled to do a recovery gig. I can’t emphasize in this blog enough how badly addiction really needs to be seen as a disease — just like cancer — and more attention needs to be given … Read More
You were probably discussing the subject at some point in the past when someone remarked “oh, he’s an addict” or “she’s an alcoholic” in an accusatory tone. If they had been talking about almost any other medical problem and said “he’s diabetic” or “she’s got cancer”, however, their tone would probably have been different — likely more sympathetic. This is because addiction is generally not viewed as a disease, unfortunately, but is perceived by many … Read More
This is EXACTLY how I feel today. There is not a single thing I want to change about my life. that’s a pretty cool place to get to, if you are able to treat your problems. Have faith, friend.
Those of you who have been following my blog — and those of you who may just have arrived– should know that my biggest theory about what is happening to us as a society in the … Read More
I have five rules I have developed over the years that help keep my depression at bay. If I break any one of the rules, I’m at risk of having a depressive episode — and for me there is nothing at all in life that is worse than one of these episodes or even compares to how low these put me on the mood scale. And, they have seemingly gotten deeper and more painful if … Read More
Author’s note: More Vietnam Vets have died from suicide than died in the whole Vietnam war because help was not available to many of them and Post Traumatic Stress took them down. Now we are losing 5 boys a day returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, not because help isn’t available, but because many of them have prided themselves on being tough. Needing a psychiatrist is seen as a weakness they are too proud to go
Bipolar Disorder tops the list in terms of the number of diagnoses made each year by doctors, mainly because most depression today is diagnosed as bipolar depression. Regardless of how prevalent these two diagnoses are individually ( The national Institute of Medical health estimates depression alone affects 20,000,000 Americans every year), there are stigmas attached to these disorders. Don’t allow a stigma to stop you from seeing the reality of the disorder — you or … Read More
I just read an article on alcohol, drugs, and crime and I find myself stunned at the numbers, when you consider that of the people in jail, about 89% of them perpetrated their crime while on drugs or alcohol. I believe there is a much MORE stunning number behind the drug and alcohol problem that the medical world has not totally cracked open, however.
This is evidenced by the large number of … Read More
One need only look at the racks stuffed full of “rag magazines” at the head of most market checkout lanes to know they are there because they sell. They sell the surprise and shock of a headline that announces somebody who is or was “on top” of their game has shaved all their hair off, married a mooch, or gotten busted for a whole bunch of drugs that were discovered when their car was searched … Read More
