Information and opinions on health from earlyriser at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/3511/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/3511/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/3511/index http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/152042/upside-back Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:25:57 -0400 earlyriser I just wanted to check in to say that I am doing alright. I had a rough three weeks a week ago. I was making some major decisions that were causing me a great deal of distress and stress. I suffered alot of depression and anxiety. I had the support of a close friend who stood by and listened. I ended up deciding not to do some of things by waiting for the right time. I was pushing ahead too fast and not really thinking of the long-term... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/152042/upside-back http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/3511/151811/32-counting Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:18:59 -0400 earlyriser   As I sat here pondering what to write it dawned me on that today was a monumental day in my life. A life changing day. A day some wonder why I would even remember it. How could I forget? Its been on my mind for a few days now. I'm surprised I feel as good as I do right now...I wondered how I'd feel. 32 years ago today, a group of "friends" and I went out partying. It was like any other Friday nig...ht. We had pot and booze and maybe... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/3511/151811/32-counting http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/151810/years-counting Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:10:37 -0400 earlyriser As I sat here pondering what to write it dawned on me that today was a monumental day. A life changing day. A day some wonder why I would even remember it. Its been on my mind for a few days now. I'm surprised I feel as good as I do right now...I wondered how I'd feel.   32 years ago today, a group of "friends" and I went out partying. It was like any other Friday night. We had pot and booze and maybe even some pills. We were playing... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/151810/years-counting http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/151499/wind-tides Sun, 25 Mar 2012 05:40:17 -0400 earlyriser About 2:30 this morning I heard a crash. I thought Frappe or Coco knocked something over. Next thing I know Margaret cries out "Dave I've fallen". I quickly got up and rushed around the bed. I didn't have my glasses on and stepped on her...she wasn't where I thought she'd be. I made sure she wasn't hurt...never know her hip might have broken. She wasn't hurt. I put my arms under hers and lifted her up. She stumbled a bit..her feet were twisted... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/151499/wind-tides http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/149036/checking Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:23:00 -0500 earlyriser After a minor bout of depression around the anniversary Michael's death, I am doing alright. I have my ups and downs but fore the most part I am healthy.   I sprained my ankle Christmas Day and have been (sort of) laid up. The pain isn't as bad but it still hurts to walk. Maybe this is the what I needed to slow down.   I have been stressed over a family, but I am gonna seek some counsel about them.   I had an ECT... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/149036/checking http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/148860/random-forward Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:45:33 -0500 earlyriser I am an optimist. I believe in the human spirit. I think I've said that before. To prove my point..my wife and I were out to lunch at a local diner, when an elderly couple were coming in through the door, she had a walker and he a cane. I went and held the door open for them. They were thankful. We ate our food and when it came time for the check the waitress said "you bill is taken care of". We didn't know for sure who paid our bill... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/148860/random-forward http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/3511/148789/year Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:55:57 -0500 earlyriser 2011 is a year soon not to be forgotten. I started off the year dealing with my younger brother's untimely death. Another brother has disowned me for reasons only beknownst to him. I was in the hospital two times and at the crisis center three times. Reached the lowest point of my life. I employed the aid of a therapist. Resumed ECT's. I endured a hurricane, tropical storm and a devastating flood (in three weeks). I have recently sprained my... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/3511/148789/year http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/148788/year Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:54:27 -0500 earlyriser 2011 is a year soon not to be forgotten. I started off the year dealing with my younger brother's untimely death. Another brother has disowned me for reasons only beknownst to him. I was in the hospital two times and at the crisis center three times. Reached the lowest point of my life. I employed the aid of a therapist. Resumed ECT's. I endured a hurricane, tropical storm and a devastating flood (in three weeks). I... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/148788/year http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/148551/merry-christmas Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:58:55 -0500 earlyriser Merry Christmas to all!!   I pray that the true spirit of Christmas fills your soul this day and everyday.   I have been a bit depressed. I haven't felt like doing much of anything. I do things so I don't slip into a deeper, dark place. Just going through the motions is keeping me above the water. I can't tell my wife what's bothering me. I love her dearly but cannot burden her with my stuff. She sees that I am not right yet won't... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/3511/148551/merry-christmas http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/3511/148154/stored-anxiety Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:36:29 -0500 earlyriser Its the two week mark from my last ECT. I am doing alright. Yesterday I had a major anxiety attack. I didn't handle it very well. I snapped at my wife. She had nothing to do with the attack and I had no right to lash out at her. I was gonna write about it before this but decided against it..I didn't want to escalate my mood. I was able to calm down fairly quickly and promptly apologized to my wife and asked if she could forgive me.   This... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/3511/148154/stored-anxiety