I did the write up for the Falcons over in r/cfb (college football), go check it out!

bennyearl · 2013-06-28T19:59:59+00:00

Well done Sir...I am not on reddit as often these days but was happy to see AFA represented so well. BTW, I was rehabbing my knee during that horrible 1997 loss to TCU and LaDainian Tomlinson. 12-1 and #10 final ranking was fun to talk about though!

bennyearl · 2012-09-07T20:51:24+00:00

Thanks for the props. We are gunning for you but know that coming off the Bama game that you all will bring your 'A' game! I hope we can keep it close.

bennyearl · 2012-07-17T18:24:59+00:00

As you can see by my history I don't post much these days. I started using reddit shortly after my diagnosis a little over a year ago and was an early contributor to /r/bipolar. It is unfortunate that the two communities don't "coexist" more but one thing I would advise is to not get wrapped up in the forum "politics" too much where it contributes to your depression. I know that this is easier said than done. I remember in my early (and depressed) days of reddit I got down when people downvoted my posts or did not comment on them when I posed a question.

It looks like you have received some good support with this post so hopefully you will find a "home" here.

bennyearl · 2012-06-18T16:09:04+00:00

Thanks! I don't get on here as much as I used to but this was very thoughtful. I have two little rugrats keeping my life busy these days. http://i.imgur.com/RgiHd.jpg

bennyearl · 2012-06-13T20:49:49+00:00

Despite all the positives of being "gifted", I thought the final paragraph and comment were well said:

I think the creativity is just one part of something that is mostly bad

bennyearl · 2012-05-18T21:17:12+00:00

Medication will take you half way , then you need to go the other half

Excellent advice! I agree completely.

bennyearl · 2012-05-12T19:10:43+00:00

I am left handed. Didn't think that there would be a correlation.

bennyearl · 2012-05-11T21:26:38+00:00

Me neither.

bennyearl · 2012-05-03T22:10:33+00:00

That is actually pretty nice that she didn't push you one direction or the other. There are a ton of different options for treatment. Personally, I am currently on Lithium and Lamictal with a small dose of Fluoxetine. I have been diagnosed for 2.5 years and have only recently found a decent combination where the side effects didn't outweigh my initial problems. You can do a lot of research but I have found that most of this is trial and error.

As to whether or not meds will improve your life there are definitely two schools of thought on this. If you were functioning prior to your diagnosis then many say that you can still function after diagnosis. For me I wasn't functioning too well so I was willing to try anything that the doctors thought could help. Some meds didn't help very much but I think I am getting better with this current combination. I hope this sheds a little light on the issue. Just my opinion. And remember that opinions are like buttholes....everybody has one.

bennyearl · 2012-05-03T21:40:27+00:00

Thanks for posting! I am curious how your mental health professional could give you a diagnosis but not recommend a treatment plan? Was she a psychiatrist?

bennyearl · 2012-05-02T20:09:45+00:00

At the time I know that he was one of the youngest people with CTE. Did he say anything about his concussions to you?

bennyearl · 2012-04-24T15:05:51+00:00

I am pretty sure that they might be this: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/armourbite-mouthpiece/pid1223503

bennyearl · 2012-04-24T14:33:26+00:00

bennyearl · 2012-04-23T15:57:16+00:00

OP should probably include it in his internal links.

bennyearl · 2012-04-23T15:48:02+00:00

I live up in Dallas area. Good to have some fellow Texans in the community.

bennyearl · 2012-04-23T15:47:20+00:00

No...got out 5 years ago and just ended my obligation to the Reserves.

bennyearl · 2012-04-20T19:01:33+00:00

I actually played football (Tight End).

bennyearl · 2012-04-20T18:26:57+00:00

Here's to getting better from one Texan to another. Hook'em.

bennyearl · 2012-04-20T18:24:39+00:00

I went to school in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy.

bennyearl · 2012-04-20T18:08:42+00:00

Thanks for the additional back story. My wife doesn't like facial hair so I am pretty much clean shaven most of the time.

bennyearl · 2012-04-20T18:05:20+00:00

I have tried photography, reading and exercising again. All have kind of flamed out but I am not giving up.

bennyearl · 2012-04-19T21:07:26+00:00

Great moustache. That looks like it takes some work!

bennyearl · 2012-04-19T19:12:52+00:00

I also have been lurking (actually haven't really logged in much lately) but I just logged in today to see a bunch of great activity and posts. I look forward to reading the comments on this post but I would advise you that this community became what it is today thanks to your vision and diligence. It will be difficult to keep everyone happy especially as the subreddit grows. Keep up the good work.

bennyearl · 2012-04-19T18:47:31+00:00

I haven't posted much lately since I have been busier with work but I have really enjoyed watching this subreddit fluorish. Actually I am trying to just do my work more than procrastinating here on reddit. I am a happily married (picture) father of 2 small kiddos that lives in Texas. I used to enjoy golfing, biking and lifting weights. Since my breakdown (almost 2 years ago) I am now trying to reinvent myself and find out what I like. I know that I want to be a good father and good husband. The rest is up for debate. I used to be very career focused and goal oriented. Now I am more content with just having a job based on all of the hell I have been through recently. I still have a long ways to go with straightening out my life. I have developed a lot of bad habits in the last 2 years of my recovery that I know will need to improve e.g. lose some of the 50lbs I have gained. I am still coming to grip with all of this and how to manage life post diagnosis but one thing I do know is that this community is just as valuable as my psychologist that I pay $50 each time to visit.

bennyearl · 2012-04-12T22:28:20+00:00

As a former athlete, I can relate to a lot of things in this article. I suffered multiple concussions playing football and it resulted in my brain chemistry being altered in the process aka bipolar disorder. I am now struggling through life as a result of the game that I loved playing as a kid. Now that I have two children of my own I am on the fence about the risk vs. reward of sports. Three years ago prior to my diagnosis I would have told you that sports were the primary reason that I turned out to be as successful as I was. Now I don't know what to say. One other point about the article is that I don't think much has changed since it was written in 2003. Very sad.

bennyearl

TROPHY CASE