Recently, Jessica Bennett, a reporter from Newsweek, contacted me by email. She said she was writing an article for Newsweek about blogging as therapy. She also told me that she came across my blog and wanted to mention it in the piece. She wanted to know if I agreed that blogging can be therapeutic and how. We corresponded back and forth several times and I enjoyed her interest in the His and Hers Depression Blog.
As it turns out, Jessica didn’t mention me or this blog in her article because she said, “the article got cut down a ton so it was so short…..sad….it got cut out in editing.” I told her I was disappointed but I understood that these things happen.
When I read her article, “My Shrink Says……..Blog!” I have to agree that it is way too short. I would love to have read more detail about why she sees blogging as an exercise in exhibitionism. It would also have been great to read some statistics on how many Psychiatrists are touting the therapeutic power of blogging. I’d like to give Jessica’s article a plug here because I think this reporter is a good writer. Since she contacted me, I’ve read a number of her Newsweek articles. You might enjoy some of the articles too!
I definitely agree with the following quote in Jessica’s article by psychologist, John Suler. “Revealing too much can cause shame or guilt.” Most of us really don’t want to post our deepest thoughts and secrets. We understand the value of keeping some things to ourselves in order to feel “safe”. 
A Safe and Peaceful Place at my home
Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category
Blogging as Therapy: His and Hers
Thursday, July 10th, 2008Why Ozzieblackcat and Depression? :His and Hers
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008I’m feeling much better and hope to be doing a lot more blogging in the weeks to come. I’m betting some of you have wondered why I chose the domain name, ozzieblackcat for a site about depression. Well, I’m going to tell you all about it in this post.
Several years ago when I decided I wanted my own domain, I tried to think of something unique as well as something that wasn’t already taken. At that time I had no idea what I was going to use the domain for. I know….not good planning. Anyway, I wanted the domain name of Ozzie because I have a blackcat named……Ozzie. Well, Ozzie was already taken, of course.
I decided to run Ozzie’s description together with his name….. thus, ozzieblackcat. I use the name ozzieblackcat as an online identity sometimes. I also use the name Ozzie as an online identity. (my preferred identity)
I built my first website using Microsoft Publisher. It is no longer online but I still have it on my computer and it is still my favorite website. I have a small website called Ozzie’s Place where you can see a few pictures of my family members and learn more about both me and my blackcat. I hope to expand that site someday soon.
A couple of years ago I decided to start blogging about depression and chose to use the domain name I already owned…..because I like it so much. So, there you have it. This is how a depression blog and the domain name, ozzieblackcat, came about.
Please visit:
Ozzie Reviews Avon
Can Texting Help With Depression?…….by Susan
Friday, June 13th, 2008Many of us blog about our problems with depression in hopes of helping ourselves and others. Have you ever used texting as an aid in dealing with depression or any other mental health problems? I can’t say that I have would be my first response……….. but, I do remember sending an occasional text in an effort to solicit support from a love one.
Texting is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends because it’s so fast. You can quickly share an interesting idea or picture. Can you also convey your emotions while sending texts? I certainly think so. It only takes a few words to let someone know you need help, support or friendship. I imagine it would be a bit harder to explain the depths of ones feelings in a text. It might also be a little difficult to receive a feeling of empathy from the recipient of our text. Maybe the quality of help depends on those who are doing the texting.
I read a recent article about texting and would like to share it with you. Texting Through Your Grief by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. says texting is a great way to communicate with others when you don’t feel like talking or using some other technology. In my opinion, talking is the best way to communicate our feelings and problems to either a professional or a loved one. However, I think journaling, blogging, telephoning and texting can all be useful tools we can use to help ourselves when we need to reach out to others. I use them all.
Please visit:
Ozzie Reviews Avon
What Do You Get From Blogging?…….by Susan
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008Someone asked me recently, “what do you get from blogging and how has it helped you?” I had to give that one a lot of thought before arriving at my answer. I had to evaluate my reasons for blogging about depression first. There are a lot of reasons why I blog. One very important reasons goes back to the years of professional help I received from my Psychologist. He suggested writing as a form of expression in an effort to understand and express my feelings. For quite some time I wrote poetry or letters and then I graduated to the Internet and blogging.
Another reason I blog about my mental health, namely depression, is to let my readers know they aren’t alone. I’m very aware of how so very many people suffer from depression, anxiety and relationship problems. I always found it helpful to know I wasn’t the only one and I’m betting you feel the same way. Somehow, having this knowledge helps us all to stop feeling like an oddity of some kind.
My final answer to the question, “what do you get from blogging and how has it helped you?” is this: I get empathy and encouragement from my readers through their comments on the blog and their other contacts with me either by email, in person or at various websites that I visit on a regular basis. Empathy, or understanding of what another is feeling, is an important thing for all of us to receive. Encouragement is sometimes vital to a persons survival and recovery of an acute episode of depression or anxiety. I appreciate immensely how you have all helped me and my brother with your support.
I had to add this statement to my answer “what do you get from blogging and how has it helped you?”. In addition to getting something from blogging at “His and Hers”, David and I hope we are also giving something to you, our readers. We hope we are helping you in some small way to realize you are not alone in your battle with being Bipolar and you are not alone in your struggle against depression.
Please visit:
my homepage at http://ozzieblackcat.com
My blackcat, Ozzie
Bloggers Unite for Human Rights……..by Susan
Thursday, May 15th, 2008I’m writing today about Domestic Violence for ”Bloggers Unite for Human Rights”, because it is a human right for all of us to live our lives free of fear and free of abuse. Domestic Violence happens in all kinds of families and relationships. It’s devastating to all who are involved. I know this from my own experience in being raised by parents who engaged in some domestic violence. It’s very confusing for a child, in addition to being extremely frightening and dangerous.
When my parents started fighting, my sibblings and I would disappear to our rooms or outdoors. Mom and Daddy were oblivious to where we were or what we were doing. Oddly, none of my sisters have ever talked with me about our history of living with domestic violence. I guess for them, it’s still our “family secret”. I’m happy this topic is now publicly discussed and there is hope and help for the victims of domestic violence.
No one deserves to be abused, be it verbally or physically. Men, women and children can be victims of abuse. Physical violence even among family members is wrong and against the law. It could be happening in the house next door and you may never know it. Too often it is a well kept “family secret”.
Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. Both men and women can be abused though most victims are women. Children in these homes are also likely to be abused. Sometimes the people being abused don’t see themselves as victims because they think it only involves hitting, but domestic violence can be psychological, emotional or sexual abuse as well.
According to http://domesticviolence.org , in addition to pushing, hitting, slapping, choking, kicking and biting, the following are other signs of domestic violence:
1. threatening you or your children
2. threatening suicide to get you to do something
3. using or threatening to use a weapon against you
4. keeping or taking your paycheck
5. putting you down
6. forcing you to have sex
7. keeping you from seeing your friends or family
8 keeping you from going to work
These abusive behaviors can happen repeatedly in any kind of relationship and are often followed by a period of making up until the next cycle occurs. If you are being abused please know that you aren’t alone, it’s not your fault and help is available. It’s your human right to be free of domestic violence. You can find a list of helpful groups and their website links at Internet Resources.
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Free eBook Download………by Susan
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Free eBook download!
You may remember me writing about an upcoming eBook that would be featuring the His & Hers Blog. If not, here is a brief recap. A friend and fellow blogger, Mert Erkal at Search for Blogging created the term Bloghology which is an eBook to help promote small bloggers. He has just published the second edition of Bloghology in which our His & Hers blog is featured along with the following blogs:
An Internet Genius
Web Technology
The Story of Extreme Ezine
Travel Around the World
Graphic Design Articles
His & Hers Depression Blog
Never the Same River Twice
Have a Reason for Smile
Make Money Working From Home
Discover Tech Planet
How to Rule the World
Welcome to Henson’s Hell
Podcasting Manual for Bloggers
I think Mert has done an excellent job on this edition and I’m so proud to be a part of Bloghology. If you want to participate in the coming editions of Bloghology, please sign up at www.bloghology.org Many thanks to Mert for including His & Hers in this edition of Bloghology.
Download the free eBook and enjoy!
His & Hers Interview on Peopleized.com
Friday, March 7th, 2008Peopleized by: merkal2005 – Friday, 07 March 2008
 | His & Hers – Read an excellent blog about depression |
ozzieblackcat: I am a retired senior citizen who likes to blog. I’ve been married for 41 years and have four children and two grandchildren. I sell Avon products part time to ensure that I get out and connect with my friends and neighbors and don’t spend all of my time on the computer. I enjoy my family, my black cat…Ozzie, gardening, movies, walking and working on the computer.
merkal2005: How did you decide to keep a blog about depression? What was your main motive?
ozzieblackcat: I grew up in a family of nine and depression in varying degrees affected each and every one of us. I only have one brother, David, who is bipolar. He has made so many improvements in the past several years that I started my blog about depression as a way for he and I to express our feelings and continue to grow and improve our lives.
merkal2005: How is your blog going ? Do you get positive reaction from your readers?
ozzieblackcat: Yes, I do get positive reaction from my blog readers. In fact, my motives have evolved into attempting to help others by sharing the daily struggles and successes of living with depression. Readers frequently let me know that it does help them to know they aren’t the only ones who feel depressed in similar situations. My brother and I have both received a lot of encouragement from readers too.
merkal2005: How do you describe wisdom?
ozzieblackcat: I believe wisdom is a bit of intelligence mixed with good common sense, then, simmered for a while until you’ve reached the level of understanding required for each situation you must deal with.
merkal2005: As a “senior citizen” do you have suggestions to young bloggers to help them live a better life?
ozzieblackcat: Yes, my suggestion is to make your blog reflect something that is important to you in your life. I wouldn’t make blogging your “life”. Be sure to get out there and live.
| ozzieblackcat’s Page: his-hers.ozzieblackcat.com | Authors Page: merkal2005 |
Learn About Bloghology…….by Susan
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008David and I had a boost to our self esteem recently because His & Hers Depression Blog has been chosen to be part of the next edition of Bloghology. You say, what is Bloghology? Bloghology is a collection of bloggers, their profiles, photos and links to their best posts. The collection is in a PDF e-book which will help to promote the featured bloggers and their blogs.
A young man from Turkey by the name of Mert Erkal has invented this word and it’s been circulating all over the Internet. Mert has a blog called, Search for Blogging, which has been very helpful to me. I’ve been learning a lot about blogging from reading his tips and ideas.
If you’d like to check out all fifteen bloggers who have been selected to be in the second edition of Bloghology please visit the post on Mert’s blog which makes the announcement. Bloggers in the 2nd Edition of Bloghology
You can download and read the 1st Edition of Bloghology and learn about the bloggers who were featured in the 2007 PDF e-book. When the 2nd Edition of Bloghology is finished, I’ll definitely be putting a link to it here on the His & Hers Depression Blog. We’re going to be in an e-book!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Bloghology in this post. As bloggers we have really appreciated your support. With your support this site continues to grow. Hopefully we can continue to help others with the stories of our struggles and successes. I’m especially proud of our success in being chosen to take part in the 2nd Edition of Bloghology.
My Avon Website