Nurse here, giving my two cents: From a clinical standpoint, depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. "Clinical depression" is the more-severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. While exercise and time outdoors and a healthy diet (etc) are all beneficial for nearly everyone, they don't usually correct clinical depression, and the advice to try those things can feel overwhelming to someone who literally can't get out of bed. It can also feel like your experience is not being taken seriously (something Ren has a lot of experience with, as we know). Pharmaceuticals can be helpful, but they aren't always, and finding the right ones can be an arduous process. You are correct about the gut being integral to our physical and mental health. It seems intuitive that what we eat has a HUGE effect on our well being, both mental and physical, but scientifically we are still in the very early stages of understanding exactly HOW the microbiome affects mental health. We are very complex systems, and each of us is unique. What may work well for one person may not work at all for another with the same set of symptoms. I see a lot of distrust of healthcare providers in Ren reactions and the comment sections. While that is often well deserved, it's also important to remember that each case is unique because each human is unique. Even providers with true dedication and the absolute best intentions can struggle to get it right sometimes. (Unfortunately, just like humans in any other area of life, not all providers are striving to do their best every single day.) We know Ren is currently on a very specific, very limited, low-histamine diet to hopefully help his body regain better functionality. He said in a recent twitch stream that he's "allergic to fucking everything" right now. Hopefully he'll be able to expand his diet somewhat in the future. I'm so grateful to him for his amazing music, and also for these important conversations that his work has ignited. And to you, for helping to facilitate some of that discourse. ❤️
Thank you for this reasoned and evidence-based response. It's easy for people to think they have unlocked "THE TRUTH" when they read singular compelling studies that spawn dozens of articles, and think that the parts that speak to them, make sense in their lives, or help their symptoms will work for everyone. It can lead to them almost blaming people who don't respond to those things for not being dedicated enough, and often at the time in those vulnerable people's lives when they do not have the emotional, physical, or practical resources to commit. We're all different and the way out is never quite the same for anyone. We can never really stand in anyone else's shoes or see through their eyes. It's so important to remember that and lead with compassion and flexibility.
@@MissMeKate exactly. And I think that part of what is so compelling about Ren's body of work is that he's laid his own experiences bare. It shines a light on the complexities, and, yes, the failures, of the system meant to care for our fragile human selves. But of course we all still bring our own biases and preconceived notions, which affect how we hear it and what we read into it.
Our food IS NOT FOOD! Our food is more CHEMICALS AND BULLSHIT! WE ARE BEING SLOWLY POISONED BY CORPORATIONS AND POLITICIANS. Not yelling at you, just passionate, I've never had a Golden Age 😢
Mad props for reacting to this one. I've lived with depression for over 50 years now, and I spent years through my teens, twenties, and into my thirties fighting it... Therapists, medications, anything that could help me defeat it. It wasn't until I had made it to my forties that I realized that, just like Ren said in 'Hi Ren', it was never a battle for me to win. It's very hard to explain how, but I learned to be gentle with myself, to accept that part of me. These past couple months after discovering both Ren and NF at the same freaking time (I mean, really? you can't spread it out a bit?)... There have been a few tears, a lot of reflection, and a realization of just how far I've come from that 20 something broken kid. It's been cathartic seeing so many of the things I experienced emotionally throughout my life being expressed so openly and succinctly. Both Ren and NF are gifts to so many who have felt so broken for so long.
I'll be 52 in July, and Ren is the first person who makes me feel understood. No amount of education makes you feel the way Ren actually going through this stuff does ❤
The reason he's saying he doesn't want to talk about his father, his dead friend, and his life, is because he's inevitably had to do so over, and over again, with every new therapist he's seen. Even if they've read his medical file, they often tend to want you to say it again anyway, "with your own words". At least, that's my take, not to mention exhausting experience, on it. One of the therapists I've had, though, did say something very true about just that: "It's important to understand how current behaviour is influenced by the past, but at some point, if you keep digging in old shit it'll just stink more."
Yupz... Know this "song and dance" all to well. Once I wanted to discuss the increasing pain I was getting with my orthopaedic physician (was getting bruised ribs from wearing a boston-milwakea brace) first thing he asked was "your parents are divorced right?". And not even talking about all the psychiatrists psychologists etc..
This one is hard to hear... The last 12 seconds breaks my heart. It made me want to go find him just to hug him and make sure he was okay. He shouldn't have had to hurt for so long. I would take it away for him if I could.
I think that it is truly a blessing, that Ren has the intellect AND talent to be able to get these things out. Otherwise, he could have been LOST. That would have been tragic. For him and the world.
One of the issues with Depression is that even when you know you are disconnected from others, the instinct is to avoid connection. So many people get impatient, and the person who is depressed ends up comforting and supporting the person who should be supporting them. It's like trying to hold up a strong swimmer when you are drowning. The beauty of Ren's music is that he creates a necessary connection in the music--it's always there, it is the voice of someone who knows about Depression intimately, and it doesn't require anything from the person who is depressed. It just provides space to breathe.
Your best solo video to date sir. And can I just say myself and my wife through words like this and ren’s music coming into our life just came out of a dark place, 33 days sober. One day at a time, and realizing there is a higher power putting these things in front of us as a form of guidance. And through exercise and a healthy diet it has brought a newfound joy to our life. For anybody that is struggling it’s important to put out there that no matter how bad it is you don’t have to live that way. Learning to love yourself is key. Thank you BP, found this incredibly insightful. Subscribed.
I found ren when searching for answers for my child. She deals with depression and anxiety that actually paralyzes her. Ren’s music helps me understand what she won’t share
When you feel ill, feel pain, you feel seperated from the rest of the world. This is the point where time doesn‘t exists. And as for Ren who suffered half of his life, the time stood still … you are a prisoner in your own existence. And on top the outside world can’t understand and relate to your emotions, feelings your illness. Even the professionals (Docs) have no clue … so what else could you do? You starts speaking to yourself, to god to anybody else in your mind … bcs they are the only ones who can hear you. Many thanks for the Podcast 🙏🏻 and all the best for you and your family 👋
I’m 59 and I’ve been bipolar for most of my life. I’ve been on medication, on combinations of medications (antidepressants, mood stabilizers) and I’m in therapy. I’ve even tried living without medications and I won’t get into that except with it was bad without. Around every month I go through the symptoms of mania; I can’t shut up and i ramble to family and friends, and I can be ecstatic and the next minute I get so sad it feels like my heart will break. I spend money on things I don’t need and return them or donate them. The worst part is the fall-the euphoria and giddiness retreat until there is nothing there but darkness. I look at the things that bring me joy-my pets, my friends and my family and I feel barely anything because I’m rolled tight and everything is muffled. Sunshine and a spring breeze become darkness and black clouds with no breeze, no life. All of this happens every month to 6 weeks without fail. And throughout all of this there comes the hardest part. The acting, the pretending, the I’m fine mask. That pretending is the most difficult and exhausting part. The lies-no I’m fine (plaster on that smile) seems so obvious to me because of the difficulty to produce easily fools my closest people. It shook me that they only see the smile and fake laughter until I realized how good an actress I have become. These are the hard truths mistaken for happiness. This is my life and always has been. I grew up in a time when you simply don’t dare show your unhappiness. Like Ren said about the dance, the pendulum swinging from dark to light perfectly describes how being bipolar affects my life. At 59 years old I have danced with the pendulum far too long. It’s time I let those around me see me, the depth of the darkness and I need to relax, to soften like Ren says in Hi Ren. I need to let their compassion start to let in the light as I know they will so I can drop the acting and fully be me. Ren’s music is an experience that delivers hard truths to those of us in need. I have introduced Ren’s music to my family and friends because he deserves recognition for the brilliant music he produces. You can tell he has suffered and felt pain because he testifies to this in his music.
Brave to put it out there my friend. 😢 I’m not so far off and I find it very hard to talk about these things. Ren is defiantly making it easier for all of us that have these issues, to speak out against the demons that have kept us in our proverbial dark rooms.
Big hugs! I am 45 and only got the right diagnosis (bipolar + cptss + adhd) 5 years ago. So I know what a enormous struggle it is not being able to be in control of yourself. I learned that ssri's trigger mania for me and that depakine works better (and safer) for me than lith. I am not sure if there is a place close by fir you where you can participate creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan for yourself? Those are the things that helped me getting control over my actions ❤. Lots of love
okay so I've been treated for Depression and I have friends in psychology and therapy who I constantly ask psychological stuff because I'm just really interested and these are the things that basically everyone said are true: - There is no chemical imbalance that causes depression, if you are diagnosed with depression and there is a chemical imbalance, the depression is secondary and the chemical imbalance is because of something like ADHD or Autism or Bipolar or OCD (which btw scientists as of recently think to all be the same underlying cause but with different people it shows in different ways). And these things usually make you feel like you don't fit in, like people don't understand you which then causes the depression. - about antidepressants: it really depends on the person and the cause of the depression. If the person is doing really bad, they might need antidepressants to take the edge off and actually start the process of recovery. Because if you're really deep in depression you don't even have the strength to try and change things to get out of it. But generally the antidepressants alone don't solve things, you will always need to tackle the cause of the depression. If it's trauma you need to see a therapist, if it's your living situation that's making you depressed you need to talk to a social worker to make your situation better etc etc. Antidepressants are for some people a helping hand to start getting better. Always depends on the person and the circumstances - and yeah, food is important but when you're that deep in depression it's a struggle to even eat at all, not even talking about chopping veggies and cooking for hours. And unhealthy foods generally (especially sugar) give your brain more dopamine (feel good hormone) which can make the depression feel less bad. Meaning people may "self medicate" with unhealthy food because it temporarily makes them feel better. and about the song: the line "that time never existed" actually refers back to the line before that, meaning he didn't have a golden age
I agree with everything you said on this one. Ive been in and out of the hospital since birth. Born with heart defects from the medication her dr was prescribing her while she was pregnant with me. Her doc didn't even giver a pregnancy test, told her she waa just fat, aand put her on phen-fen. The diet drug that was taken off the market for causing heart valve defects. I had a hole in my heart and a useless mitral valve that causing congestive heart failure. I have an artificial mitral valve now. I was back at work 3 weeks after the valve repair (had to go back in and replace it 8 years later) and my dr said he never saw anything like it, i was a healing machine. Well, i have a degree in nutrition and went to culinary school. Now that I've had 5 surgeries on my spine since 2012. I had to go on disability, and im still on it and it sucks. I have to eat what i can afford and that's definitely not the kind of food i can buy on disability. Its insane. This one of the many reasons I'm so drawn to his music 🎶
His cds 💿 literally dropped on his website about 5 or 6 hours ago and I haven't been this happy about new music since my early 20s in the early 90s!! Just putting it out there! Rumor has it they sell out in less than 24 hours!
I also like Rens analogy that dealing with depression isnt a fight, its a dance. Like it or not your feelings are a part of you, even the ones you dont like. So learning how to deal with them and move with them instead of constantly making it a battle where sometimes your happiness wins and sometimes your sadness wins is a great way of looking at it imo. Ive always got some happiness as well as some of the sadness with me. Because I know all those feelimgs are what make me me. My past doesnt define me but it is a part of me and my story. I hope everyone has a grounded and connected day ❤ and thanks for this reaction
Thanks for doing this one BP, and sharing your story. Keep it good my man, and go give your wife & daughter a hug!! This song like a lot of Ren’s music resonates with people because he doesn’t hide his emotion, and people can relate. Well it’s what has me hooked 😅. Can’t wait for your next one!
My man, greatest of respect for putting yourself out there like this. The pharmaceuticals seem to just treat the symptoms, not the cause. I've been living with bipolar since I was barely a teen. I love it and hate it. Like Ren says in "Hi Ren", the brighter the light, the darker the shadow. I knew that the more crazy my highs were, the blacker my depression, but the blacker my depression, the more crazy the highs. Peace, and love to you man.
As part of Ren’s treatment in Canada, the doctor put him on a special paleo diet. As for his Father and his friend, I’m not sure exactly what went on with his father, but I know he is a therapist. Ren’s parents are no longer together and his best friend took his own life..
It was his body being ravaged by the misdiagnosed Lyme Disease, Ren said he was in consent pain, but the Doctors, physiotherapists ect., kept telling him it was all in his mind, that certainly didn't help his mental illness, taking 10yrs to finally been proven right about the genuine pain he was suffering
@Black Pegasus At 13 minutes where you talk about our second brain! FIRE!!!! "You are eating information" FACTS! Very well put! You are such an inspiration to others over all well being. Thank you for having the stance you do and spreading the good word! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
This one makes me cry every time.. especially at the end cause i just loose it.. for me this song is kind of freeing.. like someone telling you i feel that too.. so it's ok to cry and hate your depression, cause in a way you have to go through that to deal with it every f@ time it hits you.. cause she doesn't go anywhere.. she always comes back 🤨 love how you open up man about your issues.. it's good to share and relate! Love 🙌🏻❤️
Thank you for you honesty regarding your baby loss. Men really do shut up shop and retreat to their caves when they experience this kind of loss. It’s refreshing to hear a man openly speaking about still birth. As a mum who has gone through a-still birth, it’s such a taboo subject. Even doctors have trouble talking about it. Most mothers feel like they have pretend it never happened and after support is patchy at best, sadly fathers get no support whatsoever. It’s taken 10 years to recover, depression, self harm through food, self neglect, depriving myself of all that made me happy. I now have a family of four and managed to stay with my partner somehow and on the road of finding myself ❤
I can only offer a layman's opinion but I personally believe that it only *seems* that depression is more prevalent these days because mental health was heavily frowned upon even up to the recent past. People are more willing to share these days so it's more common to hear about it. It's not as stigmatized as it once was. Many, many times medication helps. You clearly have your opinions, but there are numerous instances where it helps. It's nat always the right solution. It's not always wrong either. Insofar as s Ren, medication at the time didn't help at all. But that's because of the misdiagnosis. Ren, right now, is on literally dozens of meds. Daily. And he's shown major improvements. After years of medicine failing. Science is terribly imprecise, but when it's right... it's life saving.
Thank you so much for reacting to this. A lot of Ren’s music deals with subjects that many people shy away from and don’t want to talk about. He confronts these things head on- the beauty of being an independent artist is he has the freedom to write about this in the way he wants to and his work opens the conversations. It’s certainly a subject that resonates with me. Another track that is amazing by Ren around this subject is Diazepam.
BP, you’re spot on with the stomach being connected to your brain. A neurologist wrote in her book “The Prime” about the actual and direct neurological pathway between the GI track and the brain. Fascinating. Wish they taught important things like nutrition and the importance of mental and physical fitness in schools Thanks for the excellent discussion. I don’t struggle with depression, but I have a family that does and this helps me understand.
BP, you elevated in this episode. High quality content here bro. Great job. I hope you get an interview with Ren some day, it would be a great session.
His father comments on some reactions usually those of therapists because he himself is a therapist. I don't know about their relationship but he seems very proud. He was at the Big Push's last show. That's all I have.
Such great takes here, but also thank you for talking about food and overall gut health. This is actually a huge part of Ren's regiment to get better as well.
As someone who has battled depression all my life I relate to this. I had a panic attack for the first time this year and that’s when I learned it is related to depression. I am so glad people are talking about this now. Dep😊makes you feel isolated. It’s a lifelong battle. I was on Prozac and took myself off. Best to all who have struggled and overcome. I have also found not eating meat helps.
These words hit home. I lost a decade of my life to major depressive disorder. Nothing the medical experts did made the symptoms disappear. I had to learn to function in the eye of a storm. I was then diagnosed with bipolar but they were wrong. I had complex PTSD. I thank you both for shining a light on a very difficult subject.
16:23 Hi BlackP Thank you for all your great reaction to Ren's music. Bringing all different artists is wonderfull, it gives so many point of view on the depth of his music. In your reaction to Depression, with these lyrics : "You know those times where you were carefree And everything was Golden? The golden age You know those times where everything was golden? Where you were carefree and everything was golden The hardest thing I ever had to do Was come to terms with the fact that That time never really existed" You commented about Time, as it was about "time" that never existed. I heard it as "That Time", those times where you were carefree. And then he says: "The hardest thing I ever had to do Was come to terms with the fact that That time never really existed" I understood that "that time when every thing was golden" never existed for him. Thank you so much for all you do to make Ren shine!
I have suffered with chronic pain for over half my life, undiagnosed mental illnesses… and I’ve lived this. I still can’t listen to this song without breaking down. The poetry and emotion is top tier.
I love your Ren reactions. You havent reacted to his best and biggest song yet. Its with his Band the Big Push and he covers Englishman in New York. It has over 8 million views and it is incredible!!
We have a bean size part in our brain called the amygdala. And when the stresshormone (cortisol) runs high... there is a part that litterly puts a little pressure on the amygdala. This pressure on the amygdala is what you feel ass the pressure in your head when you feel depressed. Excersising, listening to music, have social interactions releaves this pressure of the amygdala. That is why it is important how you plan your life.
Yea but a poetry slam is how my life and depression feels for me. It’s why music is so important for me. It’s my only comfort and motivator that I am not alone! A single women myself who doesn’t know if I will ever be a wife or have a partner again because I have had to be both for so long. So wire for those of us who can’t!!
I'm not sure the backstory of his father, but his dead friend was Joe Hughes who jumped off the Menai Bridge in Wales in 2009 I believe, his body has still never been found, his song Freckled Angel is a dedication to Joe, but it's touching to anyone who has lost someone, I've only listened once, had me crying like a little bitch.
I'll assume you mean you were crying like a person hearing something emotionally moving and behaving healthily, by not repressing it. Don't insult yourself for having emotions.
@@kowen5323 yeah, like a little bitch. I'm not offending myself, it's just to help with the visual of how moving it was, ain't nothing wrong with anyone showing or expressing themselves, but we all handle analogies differently
Here's the really tear jerking part of his friend jumping off the bridge, Ren and chinchilla do a live version of How to be me. Filmed on the bridge where his friend jumped
@@phughckyou Thank you, I really enjoy such details and am moved to tears on many of the songs. While watching Fteckled Angels with all the pics of Joe, I çan't hold back the waterworks. Fuck...
I feel this all in very deep places. But there may be some hope…because Ren is creating a tribe. And like many others, I am all in. It’s like my insides are pleading: “Please, please, how can I help you.”
I really needed to hear you advice today! I've been struggling from depression and anxiety for over 10 years now. I used alot of substances as a teen and self harmed alot. Now I have 2 children and I honestly feel like they saved me. 2 years ago I lost my grandmother, she raised me from birth, she was my mom and my world. I didn't take time to grieve her, I wanted to be strong for everyone around me. It took a year until I finally broke down and cried for hours, screaming about how unfair it was that she was taken from me. I've tried therapy and meds , they worked for a while. Now im trying to cope with my mental health without those things. I'm trying to read more, clean and decorate my house, trying to take more pride in my appearance and start working on myself. I still have my dark days, but now I know how to cope in a healthier way and I finally getting my spark back. This is a message for everyone else who is struggling : You are special, you are loved and you will make it through❤
I love your advice so much. My son has chronic depression, never been truly “happy” ever, and it’s been one of the hardest things for me as his mom. He’s 20 now and seems to be doing better and I’m so proud of him.
I love the way you approached this. ❤ Edit + just saying: Here in Germany therapists always add the info of what you said: 1. Eat healthy 2. Sport - Just move, start slowly, don't be afraid to start. 3. Daylight - Sunlight is best, but cloudy is fine too 4. Social contacts - meet/see people/friends/family
Thanks for taking the time to explore this work properly and explore the difficult emotions it so brilliantly surmises. Ren puts it all out there and bares his soul to help deliver his art, and this can be joyful, but also extremely hard to hear. His courage and creativity are a lesson to us all, and I believe by being so open and exploring his pain and the lessons he has learned like he does, he is helping others to realise its a human fight and they are not as alone as they fear. You can see in comment sections for some of his work that his songs have saved lives, and I'm sure this will fill him with some sense of achievement, because Ren has showed us his bare soul - and it shines with all the best bits of humanity, even when he is living in the shadow..
He's a Warrior of Light, imo - shining the brightest light on the Darkness others find themselves struggling in, opening a Portal to feeling safer openly discussing issues that were shameful, taboo such that it kept us isolated and floundering in the darkness alone. From reactors opening up on such a public platform, to the 1000's of people commenting, we are Connecting
Thank you for telling and making the reference about the second brain, your stomach. as a chef I love that❤❤❤ That is just as important as all the Ren text.
Man you really understand depression as you're giving an analysis of the great song, I'm glad I watched you this is my first time watching and you understand a person is depression even if it's you've never had it as severe as as others. Job as far as understanding that and yes I believe we all go through that like some people more severe for others.👍
Another song of Ren that I was dreading to listen to. I chose to listen to it first with you responding to it. Still it is hitting me like a plank of wood side ways.. But I am okay-ish because of having you there. Thanks BP.
Respect for this analysis and how deep you went into it afterwards. A lot of people talk about how diet, exercise, exposure to sunlight etc., "cure" depression. And other people will react to this and say that it doesn't cure depression because it's an imbalance of chemicals/hormones in the brain and/or a structural difference in the brain giving rise to and/or resulting from that imbalance. There are multiple middle paths between these two sides of the road, so here's how I'd break it down: First, the word depression, like many words relating to mental health, is over-used. That's not to erase people that suffer from depression; that's addressed to the people that don't distinguish between being depressed and having depression (often because they don't have the experience of depression with which to distinguish between the two: lucky them). Being depressed (without depression) is more situational and a normal part of the human experience -- it makes sense to be depressed/grieving/down/blue when you've split up with a partner, lost a pet, lost a friend, lost a job, whatever -- but being depressed when you have depression isn't that. Having depression means that you have those feelings of being depressed even when there is no experience that would reasonably give rise to it, and as such, there's no grieving process to pass through, no getting back on the bike. It just is. One theory of depression (in the sense of being depressed) is that it is a natural reaction to bodily inflammation because bodily inflammation means that one is unwell. Isolating yourself from your people when you are unwell (i.e. potentially contagious) makes sense. The problem is that inflammation decoupled from physical unwellness is a thing and, it seems, increasingly so in modern society, especially so with depression. The kicker is that there's this thing called depressive realism, which means that depressed people tend to have a more realistic view of their situation than non-depressed people do. Without depression, it's called nihilism. Coming at that from the other end: optimism is a delusion, but optimistic people are also longer-lived and happier overall. So, whilst a delusion is not rational, it's more rational to be optimistic (but the tendency to be optimistic is also a genetically inherited trait). At some level, most depressed people know that they can't fake it until they make it, even though they absolutely will try and "smile, though their heart is breaking." The use of diet, exercise, exposure to sunlight etc., to cure depression is misstating what happens in the same way that BP was quick to say that if the meds are working for you, that's OK. If the healthier lifestyle is working, that's great, but let's be depressingly realistic about it. A healthier lifestyle frees up mental and physical resources that would otherwise be negatively affected by an unhealthy lifestyle and makes them available for dealing with your life. If you are depressed, it will help you get out of it; if you have depression, it will free up mental resources with which to deal with your depression, possibly leading to more 'good' days but, as with medication, that is not a cure, it's the management of symptoms. Of course, having the energy to engage in healthier behaviours, especially if the unhealthy behaviours are habitual, is difficult when depressed... unless you're having a good day. Just to note that alcohol is a depressant, but only after a certain point; it actually elevates your mood in the first instance. The point at which it switches is different from person to person, both due to metabolism, but also due to the degree and kind of prior exposure. In general, though, the more you have drunk in the past, the longer it takes to get to the elevated mood that precedes the depressive crash.
Hats off to u brother u said u haven't been through depression like that ..wow u have and your a shining light for that ..losing your mother is enough and then to go through more is extreme and to still battle through saloute
Hey. Really, really enjoying your channel. I found you via your Ren reactions. Balanced thoughts and some solid insights. I just wanted to say that when Ren says' That time necver existed'. He wasn't talking about time itself. He was saying the hardest thing he to deal with was realising that He himself never had that precious golden age as a child, like many children did. And it was devastating to him when he had to accept that fact. I think he confirms this at the end when he talks about having been dogged by depression since birth. Just my opinion dude. Anyway, peace and good health to you and your family. Keep on keeping on. I'm going to check out your new track now:):)
Yours has been a really wonderful reaction. It has made me think about a load of important things and flow with many others which are not that important, in fact. Thank you.
Thanks very much for your comments bp u probably don't have a clue how much it actually means to me to hear that kind of thing especially from you who I watch all the time and just want to say that your freestyles are amazing and I no wot you mean about sometimes you just slay it like its your day and nothing goes wrong keep going your getting better rapidly
Watching my mother die in front of me in the car accident we got in when I was 3 and it’s still a vivid memory in my brain 24 years later... therapy, mental places for years. Got some coping skills. But the alcohol took over for years.. Star soccer player for years had college clubs looking at me. Tore my meniscus. Ruined that. I’ve been going threw so many roadblocks but I’m still fighting. Full Hip replacement in July this year. I’m still fighting. Staying afloat I should say. I’m trying and that’s what keeping me sane. If I didn’t have family I probably wouldn’t be here anymore.
You hit my key in life, time. Time is the ONLY thing in our possession. We can “give” our time, “spend” our time, “waste” our time, “take” our time. Weather it speeds up or slows down everything is measured in time. We all sell our time for a price. There is no turning back time. And at the end of it all we have no more time. Time is inevitable and inescapable, the most valuable asset. So yes time is the truth, imho 😉🍻
He mentioned he lost two friends by the age of 25, in "Dear God" and about his father he spoke in "Power" said his parents split and he hates to see his mom alone. Beautiful y and painfully put "Late night crying Get so high to try to silence sounds of fighting Through the walls I heard love dying"
For me depression is a constant with moments of levity, Throw in a little anxiety and life is lovely 😂 Learning how to cope with it all is the hardest part, The drugs don't work they just make you feel worse . . .
We learn to flow with it but protect our peace, allow people in but not too many. Trauma ya’ll. Causes mental and emotional damage that some of us have to learn to float with as we fight for our sanity and growth. Too never go back down . It’s work and pharmaceutical causes more side effects and sometimes more damage!! Tricky for sure!!
Great video and your reaction was great. How to deal with these stuff can't be put on a recipe but the discussion and openness is vital. And you bring a great part to the table as well with your histories.
That was fantastic, I hadn't seen this one by Ren, I had to pause you and go watch it all in one go cos I wanted to see it all in one, then came back and watched your reaction. You really have touched on a lot there and I found your insight really helpful. I've gone from not watching reaction videos to watching loads, and you are definitely my favourite. I resonated with all of that. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this one and your story! I can relate to losing a baby, my Zooey was on this earth for 5 hours, and it hits me differently at different times. We are generally happy people but everyone deals with depression at different ways and times. Hi Ren really helped me get out of a funk and I've been loving finding Ren and a bunch others after. You had some great thoughts on this one and correct in everything!
The feeling that you can’t catch your breath and can’t control your emotions at all! It’s almost like I watch myself while my body just goes off on a tangent and up until now I didn’t know how to deal with but 2 years of therapy has taught me so much about myself! I’m still learning but I don’t think I would be who I am without everything that has happened in my life.
Big issue amongst males is not talking about depression or how they are feeling, brushed off to easy. Really appreciate your calm and honest approach with this Pegasus, your a good soul. Sadly suicide statistics for males is very high here in Scotland, more need to have a space they can talk or practical, creative opportunities for them to feel good about themselves or even just to express their feeling another way. Thank you for sharing this tune in this way 🎶💛👍🏽
Most ppl consider me kind, funny and selfless... But that is what I choose to put out into the world because I really find life to be a struggle... I desperately try to make others not feel like how I do... Happiness is like looking for pearls. All you can do is hope that you can find enough to make the heavy chain seem bearable... So I try to give ppl pearls even though I might be giving my own away at times...!
Top quality reaction and basis for discussion BP. I was first diagnosed with AND medicated for depression when I was 9 yrs old, (49yrs ago). Over the years I learned, like Ren, that it is a pendulum. If I can keep it swaying towards the light, I'm ok. Sure, major negative life events have kept it in the dark at times but overall, once I accepted the fact that I would never win, my life has been fine. Took some time to understand that though.
Great advice, thank you! Love the song🖤 I've been depressed over half my life because my ADHD wasn't recognized until recently (finally got the diagnosis 2 weeks ago, will turn 30 in 2 days) and I haven't gotten the support that I would have needed growing up. I always felt different and wrong but I was good at masking so I was "normal enough" in the eyes of others. Maybe things will start to get better now that I understand myself better and know why I am the way I am, and maybe the meds will help too.
Развлечения
Nurse here, giving my two cents:
From a clinical standpoint, depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. "Clinical depression" is the more-severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder.
While exercise and time outdoors and a healthy diet (etc) are all beneficial for nearly everyone, they don't usually correct clinical depression, and the advice to try those things can feel overwhelming to someone who literally can't get out of bed. It can also feel like your experience is not being taken seriously (something Ren has a lot of experience with, as we know). Pharmaceuticals can be helpful, but they aren't always, and finding the right ones can be an arduous process.
You are correct about the gut being integral to our physical and mental health. It seems intuitive that what we eat has a HUGE effect on our well being, both mental and physical, but scientifically we are still in the very early stages of understanding exactly HOW the microbiome affects mental health. We are very complex systems, and each of us is unique. What may work well for one person may not work at all for another with the same set of symptoms. I see a lot of distrust of healthcare providers in Ren reactions and the comment sections. While that is often well deserved, it's also important to remember that each case is unique because each human is unique. Even providers with true dedication and the absolute best intentions can struggle to get it right sometimes. (Unfortunately, just like humans in any other area of life, not all providers are striving to do their best every single day.)
We know Ren is currently on a very specific, very limited, low-histamine diet to hopefully help his body regain better functionality. He said in a recent twitch stream that he's "allergic to fucking everything" right now. Hopefully he'll be able to expand his diet somewhat in the future.
I'm so grateful to him for his amazing music, and also for these important conversations that his work has ignited. And to you, for helping to facilitate some of that discourse. ❤️
Thank you for this reasoned and evidence-based response. It's easy for people to think they have unlocked "THE TRUTH" when they read singular compelling studies that spawn dozens of articles, and think that the parts that speak to them, make sense in their lives, or help their symptoms will work for everyone.
It can lead to them almost blaming people who don't respond to those things for not being dedicated enough, and often at the time in those vulnerable people's lives when they do not have the emotional, physical, or practical resources to commit.
We're all different and the way out is never quite the same for anyone. We can never really stand in anyone else's shoes or see through their eyes. It's so important to remember that and lead with compassion and flexibility.
@@MissMeKate exactly. And I think that part of what is so compelling about Ren's body of work is that he's laid his own experiences bare. It shines a light on the complexities, and, yes, the failures, of the system meant to care for our fragile human selves. But of course we all still bring our own biases and preconceived notions, which affect how we hear it and what we read into it.
Your "2 cents" is the best comment I've seen in a long time and I thank you for taking the time 😊♥️
@@sassyslsgrl aww 🥰
Our food IS NOT FOOD! Our food is more CHEMICALS AND BULLSHIT! WE ARE BEING SLOWLY POISONED BY CORPORATIONS AND POLITICIANS. Not yelling at you, just passionate, I've never had a Golden Age 😢
Mad props for reacting to this one. I've lived with depression for over 50 years now, and I spent years through my teens, twenties, and into my thirties fighting it... Therapists, medications, anything that could help me defeat it. It wasn't until I had made it to my forties that I realized that, just like Ren said in 'Hi Ren', it was never a battle for me to win. It's very hard to explain how, but I learned to be gentle with myself, to accept that part of me. These past couple months after discovering both Ren and NF at the same freaking time (I mean, really? you can't spread it out a bit?)... There have been a few tears, a lot of reflection, and a realization of just how far I've come from that 20 something broken kid. It's been cathartic seeing so many of the things I experienced emotionally throughout my life being expressed so openly and succinctly. Both Ren and NF are gifts to so many who have felt so broken for so long.
I'll be 52 in July, and Ren is the first person who makes me feel understood. No amount of education makes you feel the way Ren actually going through this stuff does ❤
I'll also B-52 in July. Ren is the first musician I've had a crush on since Billy Idol LOL
The reason he's saying he doesn't want to talk about his father, his dead friend, and his life, is because he's inevitably had to do so over, and over again, with every new therapist he's seen.
Even if they've read his medical file, they often tend to want you to say it again anyway, "with your own words". At least, that's my take, not to mention exhausting experience, on it.
One of the therapists I've had, though, did say something very true about just that:
"It's important to understand how current behaviour is influenced by the past, but at some point, if you keep digging in old shit it'll just stink more."
This is what I got as well
Yupz... Know this "song and dance" all to well. Once I wanted to discuss the increasing pain I was getting with my orthopaedic physician (was getting bruised ribs from wearing a boston-milwakea brace) first thing he asked was "your parents are divorced right?". And not even talking about all the psychiatrists psychologists etc..
Heretic by Ren is my current theme song. It’s helping transmute certain emotions. It’s ok to feel.
Heretic is my jam!!!! Best song out in my taste!
This one is hard to hear... The last 12 seconds breaks my heart. It made me want to go find him just to hug him and make sure he was okay. He shouldn't have had to hurt for so long. I would take it away for him if I could.
I agree, with every ounce of my soul.
Ren is family in the truest sense of the word.
Ren has a P.O. box ...fans can sends stuff and fan mail.
I think that it is truly a blessing, that Ren has the intellect AND talent to be able to get these things out.
Otherwise, he could have been LOST.
That would have been tragic.
For him and the world.
One of the issues with Depression is that even when you know you are disconnected from others, the instinct is to avoid connection. So many people get impatient, and the person who is depressed ends up comforting and supporting the person who should be supporting them. It's like trying to hold up a strong swimmer when you are drowning.
The beauty of Ren's music is that he creates a necessary connection in the music--it's always there, it is the voice of someone who knows about Depression intimately, and it doesn't require anything from the person who is depressed. It just provides space to breathe.
Your best solo video to date sir. And can I just say myself and my wife through words like this and ren’s music coming into our life just came out of a dark place, 33 days sober. One day at a time, and realizing there is a higher power putting these things in front of us as a form of guidance. And through exercise and a healthy diet it has brought a newfound joy to our life. For anybody that is struggling it’s important to put out there that no matter how bad it is you don’t have to live that way. Learning to love yourself is key. Thank you BP, found this incredibly insightful. Subscribed.
keep taking each day as it come, sending love and positive vibes.
33 days! That’s fantastic! Keep doing what you’re doing… ❤
You've got this, keep it up ❤
I found ren when searching for answers for my child. She deals with depression and anxiety that actually paralyzes her. Ren’s music helps me understand what she won’t share
When you feel ill, feel pain, you feel seperated from the rest of the world. This is the point where time doesn‘t exists. And as for Ren who suffered half of his life, the time stood still … you are a prisoner in your own existence. And on top the outside world can’t understand and relate to your emotions, feelings your illness. Even the professionals (Docs) have no clue … so what else could you do? You starts speaking to yourself, to god to anybody else in your mind … bcs they are the only ones who can hear you. Many thanks for the Podcast 🙏🏻 and all the best for you and your family 👋
Beautifully put
I’m 59 and I’ve been bipolar for most of my life. I’ve been on medication, on combinations of medications (antidepressants, mood stabilizers) and I’m in therapy. I’ve even tried living without medications and I won’t get into that except with it was bad without.
Around every month I go through the symptoms of mania; I can’t shut up and i ramble to family and friends, and I can be ecstatic and the next minute I get so sad it feels like my heart will break.
I spend money on things I don’t need and return them or donate them. The worst part is the fall-the euphoria and giddiness retreat until there is nothing there but darkness. I look at the things that bring me joy-my pets, my friends and my family and I feel barely anything because I’m rolled tight and everything is muffled. Sunshine and a spring breeze become darkness and black clouds with no breeze, no life.
All of this happens every month to 6 weeks without fail.
And throughout all of this there comes the hardest part. The acting, the pretending, the I’m fine mask. That pretending is the most difficult and exhausting part. The lies-no I’m fine (plaster on that smile) seems so obvious to me because of the difficulty to produce easily fools my closest people. It shook me that they only see the smile and fake laughter until I realized how good an actress I have become.
These are the hard truths mistaken for happiness. This is my life and always has been.
I grew up in a time when you simply don’t dare show your unhappiness.
Like Ren said about the dance, the pendulum swinging from dark to light perfectly describes how being bipolar affects my life. At 59 years old I have danced with the pendulum far too long. It’s time I let those around me see me, the depth of the darkness and I need to relax, to soften like Ren says in Hi Ren. I need to let their compassion start to let in the light as I know they will so I can drop the acting and fully be me.
Ren’s music is an experience that delivers hard truths to those of us in need. I have introduced Ren’s music to my family and friends because he deserves recognition for the brilliant music he produces. You can tell he has suffered and felt pain because he testifies to this in his music.
Brave to put it out there my friend. 😢 I’m not so far off and I find it very hard to talk about these things. Ren is defiantly making it easier for all of us that have these issues, to speak out against the demons that have kept us in our proverbial dark rooms.
Big hugs! I am 45 and only got the right diagnosis (bipolar + cptss + adhd) 5 years ago. So I know what a enormous struggle it is not being able to be in control of yourself. I learned that ssri's trigger mania for me and that depakine works better (and safer) for me than lith. I am not sure if there is a place close by fir you where you can participate creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan for yourself? Those are the things that helped me getting control over my actions ❤. Lots of love
okay so I've been treated for Depression and I have friends in psychology and therapy who I constantly ask psychological stuff because I'm just really interested and these are the things that basically everyone said are true:
- There is no chemical imbalance that causes depression, if you are diagnosed with depression and there is a chemical imbalance, the depression is secondary and the chemical imbalance is because of something like ADHD or Autism or Bipolar or OCD (which btw scientists as of recently think to all be the same underlying cause but with different people it shows in different ways). And these things usually make you feel like you don't fit in, like people don't understand you which then causes the depression.
- about antidepressants: it really depends on the person and the cause of the depression. If the person is doing really bad, they might need antidepressants to take the edge off and actually start the process of recovery. Because if you're really deep in depression you don't even have the strength to try and change things to get out of it. But generally the antidepressants alone don't solve things, you will always need to tackle the cause of the depression. If it's trauma you need to see a therapist, if it's your living situation that's making you depressed you need to talk to a social worker to make your situation better etc etc. Antidepressants are for some people a helping hand to start getting better. Always depends on the person and the circumstances
- and yeah, food is important but when you're that deep in depression it's a struggle to even eat at all, not even talking about chopping veggies and cooking for hours. And unhealthy foods generally (especially sugar) give your brain more dopamine (feel good hormone) which can make the depression feel less bad. Meaning people may "self medicate" with unhealthy food because it temporarily makes them feel better.
and about the song: the line "that time never existed" actually refers back to the line before that, meaning he didn't have a golden age
Completely agree. My therapists have often talked about how gut heath impacts mental health. I think it's becoming more mainstream. Preach.
I agree with everything you said on this one. Ive been in and out of the hospital since birth. Born with heart defects from the medication her dr was prescribing her while she was pregnant with me. Her doc didn't even giver a pregnancy test, told her she waa just fat, aand put her on phen-fen. The diet drug that was taken off the market for causing heart valve defects. I had a hole in my heart and a useless mitral valve that causing congestive heart failure. I have an artificial mitral valve now. I was back at work 3 weeks after the valve repair (had to go back in and replace it 8 years later) and my dr said he never saw anything like it, i was a healing machine. Well, i have a degree in nutrition and went to culinary school. Now that I've had 5 surgeries on my spine since 2012. I had to go on disability, and im still on it and it sucks. I have to eat what i can afford and that's definitely not the kind of food i can buy on disability. Its insane. This one of the many reasons I'm so drawn to his music 🎶
His cds 💿 literally dropped on his website about 5 or 6 hours ago and I haven't been this happy about new music since my early 20s in the early 90s!! Just putting it out there! Rumor has it they sell out in less than 24 hours!
I also like Rens analogy that dealing with depression isnt a fight, its a dance. Like it or not your feelings are a part of you, even the ones you dont like. So learning how to deal with them and move with them instead of constantly making it a battle where sometimes your happiness wins and sometimes your sadness wins is a great way of looking at it imo. Ive always got some happiness as well as some of the sadness with me. Because I know all those feelimgs are what make me me. My past doesnt define me but it is a part of me and my story. I hope everyone has a grounded and connected day ❤ and thanks for this reaction
"Power" by Ren is the only song I remember where he talks about his father.
Thanks for doing this one BP, and sharing your story. Keep it good my man, and go give your wife & daughter a hug!! This song like a lot of Ren’s music resonates with people because he doesn’t hide his emotion, and people can relate. Well it’s what has me hooked 😅. Can’t wait for your next one!
I believe he was saying "that time" meaning the Golden age "never really existed". Not time itself but one could argue that as well I suppose.
Hugs to everyone going through this feeling. It is horrible 💙 been through it, going through it & crazy bad anxiety
My man, greatest of respect for putting yourself out there like this. The pharmaceuticals seem to just treat the symptoms, not the cause. I've been living with bipolar since I was barely a teen. I love it and hate it. Like Ren says in "Hi Ren", the brighter the light, the darker the shadow. I knew that the more crazy my highs were, the blacker my depression, but the blacker my depression, the more crazy the highs. Peace, and love to you man.
As part of Ren’s treatment in Canada, the doctor put him on a special paleo diet.
As for his Father and his friend, I’m not sure exactly what went on with his father, but I know he is a therapist. Ren’s parents are no longer together and his best friend took his own life..
Would love to see you do How to be me, ren x chinchilla LIVE❤
It was his body being ravaged by the misdiagnosed Lyme Disease, Ren said he was in consent pain, but the Doctors, physiotherapists ect., kept telling him it was all in his mind, that certainly didn't help his mental illness, taking 10yrs to finally been proven right about the genuine pain he was suffering
@Black Pegasus At 13 minutes where you talk about our second brain! FIRE!!!! "You are eating information" FACTS! Very well put! You are such an inspiration to others over all well being. Thank you for having the stance you do and spreading the good word! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
This one makes me cry every time.. especially at the end cause i just loose it.. for me this song is kind of freeing.. like someone telling you i feel that too.. so it's ok to cry and hate your depression, cause in a way you have to go through that to deal with it every f@ time it hits you.. cause she doesn't go anywhere.. she always comes back 🤨 love how you open up man about your issues.. it's good to share and relate! Love 🙌🏻❤️
Thank you for you honesty regarding your baby loss. Men really do shut up shop and retreat to their caves when they experience this kind of loss. It’s refreshing to hear a man openly speaking about still birth.
As a mum who has gone through a-still birth, it’s such a taboo subject. Even doctors have trouble talking about it. Most mothers feel like they have pretend it never happened and after support is patchy at best, sadly fathers get no support whatsoever. It’s taken 10 years to recover, depression, self harm through food, self neglect, depriving myself of all that made me happy. I now have a family of four and managed to stay with my partner somehow and on the road of finding myself ❤
This is a Great reaction considering that its way beyond your normal scope of reviews. Wonderful job.
Love & Respect from London 🇺🇸🇬🇧 ❤
I can only offer a layman's opinion but I personally believe that it only *seems* that depression is more prevalent these days because mental health was heavily frowned upon even up to the recent past. People are more willing to share these days so it's more common to hear about it. It's not as stigmatized as it once was.
Many, many times medication helps. You clearly have your opinions, but there are numerous instances where it helps. It's nat always the right solution. It's not always wrong either.
Insofar as s Ren, medication at the time didn't help at all. But that's because of the misdiagnosis. Ren, right now, is on literally dozens of meds. Daily. And he's shown major improvements. After years of medicine failing. Science is terribly imprecise, but when it's right... it's life saving.
Thank you so much for reacting to this.
A lot of Ren’s music deals with subjects that many people shy away from and don’t want to talk about.
He confronts these things head on- the beauty of being an independent artist is he has the freedom to write about this in the way he wants to and his work opens the conversations.
It’s certainly a subject that resonates with me.
Another track that is amazing by Ren around this subject is Diazepam.
BP, you’re spot on with the stomach being connected to your brain. A neurologist wrote in her book “The Prime” about the actual and direct neurological pathway between the GI track and the brain. Fascinating. Wish they taught important things like nutrition and the importance of mental and physical fitness in schools
Thanks for the excellent discussion. I don’t struggle with depression, but I have a family that does and this helps me understand.
BP, you elevated in this episode. High quality content here bro. Great job. I hope you get an interview with Ren some day, it would be a great session.
His father comments on some reactions usually those of therapists because he himself is a therapist. I don't know about their relationship but he seems very proud. He was at the Big Push's last show. That's all I have.
Such great takes here, but also thank you for talking about food and overall gut health. This is actually a huge part of Ren's regiment to get better as well.
As someone who has battled depression all my life I relate to this. I had a panic attack for the first time this year and that’s when I learned it is related to depression. I am so glad people are talking about this now. Dep😊makes you feel isolated. It’s a lifelong battle. I was on Prozac and took myself off. Best to all who have struggled and overcome. I have also found not eating meat helps.
It is soo hard! A daily struggle and most of us are on our own with it! Anyone that has a partner appreciate them!!
These words hit home. I lost a decade of my life to major depressive disorder. Nothing the medical experts did made the symptoms disappear. I had to learn to function in the eye of a storm. I was then diagnosed with bipolar but they were wrong. I had complex PTSD. I thank you both for shining a light on a very difficult subject.
16:23
Hi BlackP
Thank you for all your great reaction to Ren's music. Bringing all different artists is wonderfull, it gives so many point of view on the depth of his music.
In your reaction to Depression, with these lyrics :
"You know those times where you were carefree
And everything was Golden? The golden age
You know those times where everything was golden?
Where you were carefree and everything was golden
The hardest thing I ever had to do
Was come to terms with the fact that
That time never really existed"
You commented about Time, as it was about "time" that never existed. I heard it as "That Time", those times where you were carefree. And then he says:
"The hardest thing I ever had to do
Was come to terms with the fact that
That time never really existed"
I understood that "that time when every thing was golden" never existed for him.
Thank you so much for all you do to make Ren shine!
I have suffered with chronic pain for over half my life, undiagnosed mental illnesses… and I’ve lived this. I still can’t listen to this song without breaking down. The poetry and emotion is top tier.
Dear God is also epic.
I'd love to hear his reaction to this one!
Yeah this one and Penitence always brings to tears. I love your new track 😍
I love your Ren reactions. You havent reacted to his best and biggest song yet. Its with his Band the Big Push and he covers Englishman in New York. It has over 8 million views and it is incredible!!
We have a bean size part in our brain called the amygdala. And when the stresshormone (cortisol) runs high... there is a part that litterly puts a little pressure on the amygdala. This pressure on the amygdala is what you feel ass the pressure in your head when you feel depressed.
Excersising, listening to music, have social interactions releaves this pressure of the amygdala. That is why it is important how you plan your life.
Yea but a poetry slam is how my life and depression feels for me. It’s why music is so important for me. It’s my only comfort and motivator that I am not alone!
A single women myself who doesn’t know if I will ever be a wife or have a partner again because I have had to be both for so long.
So wire for those of us who can’t!!
I'm not sure the backstory of his father, but his dead friend was Joe Hughes who jumped off the Menai Bridge in Wales in 2009 I believe, his body has still never been found, his song Freckled Angel is a dedication to Joe, but it's touching to anyone who has lost someone, I've only listened once, had me crying like a little bitch.
I'll assume you mean you were crying like a person hearing something emotionally moving and behaving healthily, by not repressing it. Don't insult yourself for having emotions.
@@kowen5323 yeah, like a little bitch. I'm not offending myself, it's just to help with the visual of how moving it was, ain't nothing wrong with anyone showing or expressing themselves, but we all handle analogies differently
Here's the really tear jerking part of his friend jumping off the bridge, Ren and chinchilla do a live version of How to be me. Filmed on the bridge where his friend jumped
@@dankbud1008 at night, the same hours it occured. If that's not a tribute idk what is
@@phughckyou Thank you, I really enjoy such details and am moved to tears on many of the songs. While watching Fteckled Angels with all the pics of Joe, I çan't hold back the waterworks. Fuck...
Thanks for this!!! Greetings from Mexico
I feel this all in very deep places. But there may be some hope…because Ren is creating a tribe. And like many others, I am all in. It’s like my insides are pleading: “Please, please, how can I help you.”
I really needed to hear you advice today! I've been struggling from depression and anxiety for over 10 years now. I used alot of substances as a teen and self harmed alot. Now I have 2 children and I honestly feel like they saved me.
2 years ago I lost my grandmother, she raised me from birth, she was my mom and my world. I didn't take time to grieve her, I wanted to be strong for everyone around me. It took a year until I finally broke down and cried for hours, screaming about how unfair it was that she was taken from me. I've tried therapy and meds , they worked for a while. Now im trying to cope with my mental health without those things. I'm trying to read more, clean and decorate my house, trying to take more pride in my appearance and start working on myself. I still have my dark days, but now I know how to cope in a healthier way and I finally getting my spark back. This is a message for everyone else who is struggling : You are special, you are loved and you will make it through❤
Just wanna let u know that i would listen to u for over 3 hours talkin about depression and the ways u deal with them for u
Much love from germany ❤
I love Ren's 'What you want '.. check it out ❤
I love your advice so much. My son has chronic depression, never been truly “happy” ever, and it’s been one of the hardest things for me as his mom. He’s 20 now and seems to be doing better and I’m so proud of him.
I love the way you approached this. ❤
Edit + just saying: Here in Germany therapists always add the info of what you said:
1. Eat healthy
2. Sport - Just move, start slowly, don't be afraid to start.
3. Daylight - Sunlight is best, but cloudy is fine too
4. Social contacts - meet/see people/friends/family
Thanks for taking the time to explore this work properly and explore the difficult emotions it so brilliantly surmises.
Ren puts it all out there and bares his soul to help deliver his art, and this can be joyful, but also extremely hard to hear. His courage and creativity are a lesson to us all, and I believe by being so open and exploring his pain and the lessons he has learned like he does, he is helping others to realise its a human fight and they are not as alone as they fear. You can see in comment sections for some of his work that his songs have saved lives, and I'm sure this will fill him with some sense of achievement, because Ren has showed us his bare soul - and it shines with all the best bits of humanity, even when he is living in the shadow..
He's a Warrior of Light, imo - shining the brightest light on the Darkness others find themselves struggling in, opening a Portal to feeling safer openly discussing issues that were shameful, taboo such that it kept us isolated and floundering in the darkness alone. From reactors opening up on such a public platform, to the 1000's of people commenting, we are Connecting
Thank you for telling and making the reference about the second brain, your stomach.
as a chef I love that❤❤❤
That is just as important as all the Ren text.
Man you really understand depression as you're giving an analysis of the great song, I'm glad I watched you this is my first time watching and you understand a person is depression even if it's you've never had it as severe as as others. Job as far as understanding that and yes I believe we all go through that like some people more severe for others.👍
Could it be.... that mushy peas are medicine? 😂 Thank you for talking about the second brain. It will help folks heal.
Another song of Ren that I was dreading to listen to. I chose to listen to it first with you responding to it. Still it is hitting me like a plank of wood side ways.. But I am okay-ish because of having you there. Thanks BP.
Your so right thank you ❤❤
This song always reminds me of the artist Milo. He makes weird spoken rap for anyone into this sound
This the the Best Reaction I have ever heard . Thank You B P ❤ 😅 Love Ren and want 😅 the best for him !!
Respect for this analysis and how deep you went into it afterwards.
A lot of people talk about how diet, exercise, exposure to sunlight etc., "cure" depression. And other people will react to this and say that it doesn't cure depression because it's an imbalance of chemicals/hormones in the brain and/or a structural difference in the brain giving rise to and/or resulting from that imbalance. There are multiple middle paths between these two sides of the road, so here's how I'd break it down:
First, the word depression, like many words relating to mental health, is over-used. That's not to erase people that suffer from depression; that's addressed to the people that don't distinguish between being depressed and having depression (often because they don't have the experience of depression with which to distinguish between the two: lucky them). Being depressed (without depression) is more situational and a normal part of the human experience -- it makes sense to be depressed/grieving/down/blue when you've split up with a partner, lost a pet, lost a friend, lost a job, whatever -- but being depressed when you have depression isn't that. Having depression means that you have those feelings of being depressed even when there is no experience that would reasonably give rise to it, and as such, there's no grieving process to pass through, no getting back on the bike. It just is.
One theory of depression (in the sense of being depressed) is that it is a natural reaction to bodily inflammation because bodily inflammation means that one is unwell. Isolating yourself from your people when you are unwell (i.e. potentially contagious) makes sense. The problem is that inflammation decoupled from physical unwellness is a thing and, it seems, increasingly so in modern society, especially so with depression.
The kicker is that there's this thing called depressive realism, which means that depressed people tend to have a more realistic view of their situation than non-depressed people do. Without depression, it's called nihilism. Coming at that from the other end: optimism is a delusion, but optimistic people are also longer-lived and happier overall. So, whilst a delusion is not rational, it's more rational to be optimistic (but the tendency to be optimistic is also a genetically inherited trait). At some level, most depressed people know that they can't fake it until they make it, even though they absolutely will try and "smile, though their heart is breaking."
The use of diet, exercise, exposure to sunlight etc., to cure depression is misstating what happens in the same way that BP was quick to say that if the meds are working for you, that's OK. If the healthier lifestyle is working, that's great, but let's be depressingly realistic about it. A healthier lifestyle frees up mental and physical resources that would otherwise be negatively affected by an unhealthy lifestyle and makes them available for dealing with your life. If you are depressed, it will help you get out of it; if you have depression, it will free up mental resources with which to deal with your depression, possibly leading to more 'good' days but, as with medication, that is not a cure, it's the management of symptoms.
Of course, having the energy to engage in healthier behaviours, especially if the unhealthy behaviours are habitual, is difficult when depressed... unless you're having a good day.
Just to note that alcohol is a depressant, but only after a certain point; it actually elevates your mood in the first instance. The point at which it switches is different from person to person, both due to metabolism, but also due to the degree and kind of prior exposure. In general, though, the more you have drunk in the past, the longer it takes to get to the elevated mood that precedes the depressive crash.
Wonderful reaction and conversation here in the comment section. Very respectful, helpful and constructive. Like all things should be. :)
💯 agree with everything you said. Thank you, beautiful reaction.
Hats off to u brother u said u haven't been through depression like that ..wow u have and your a shining light for that ..losing your mother is enough and then to go through more is extreme and to still battle through saloute
Hey. Really, really enjoying your channel. I found you via your Ren reactions. Balanced thoughts and some solid insights. I just wanted to say that when Ren says' That time necver existed'. He wasn't talking about time itself. He was saying the hardest thing he to deal with was realising that He himself never had that precious golden age as a child, like many children did. And it was devastating to him when he had to accept that fact. I think he confirms this at the end when he talks about having been dogged by depression since birth. Just my opinion dude. Anyway, peace and good health to you and your family. Keep on keeping on. I'm going to check out your new track now:):)
Really loving your dedication to Ren, there are so many facets and you are discovering them perfectly I feel.
Depression was in the past. We just talk about and air things more nowadays. Thanks for your reax, I like hearing your point of view.
Yours has been a really wonderful reaction. It has made me think about a load of important things and flow with many others which are not that important, in fact. Thank you.
Thanks very much for your comments bp u probably don't have a clue how much it actually means to me to hear that kind of thing especially from you who I watch all the time and just want to say that your freestyles are amazing and I no wot you mean about sometimes you just slay it like its your day and nothing goes wrong keep going your getting better rapidly
Thank you Robert. If we are anything we still feel pain.
Man is not a slave to time! Time is a slave to man! Its wat u d9 with your time that makes you feel content!
So glad I found your channel through searching Ren reactions, you’re the man!
You are a great guy, black Pegasus... thank you for all you bring to the table.
Appreciate and respect you for sharing all your thoughts. Really appreciate the vulnerability. Great reaction.
Watching my mother die in front of me in the car accident we got in when I was 3 and it’s still a vivid memory in my brain 24 years later... therapy, mental places for years. Got some coping skills. But the alcohol took over for years.. Star soccer player for years had college clubs looking at me. Tore my meniscus. Ruined that. I’ve been going threw so many roadblocks but I’m still fighting. Full Hip replacement in July this year. I’m still fighting. Staying afloat I should say. I’m trying and that’s what keeping me sane. If I didn’t have family I probably wouldn’t be here anymore.
You hit my key in life, time. Time is the ONLY thing in our possession. We can “give” our time, “spend” our time, “waste” our time, “take” our time. Weather it speeds up or slows down everything is measured in time. We all sell our time for a price. There is no turning back time. And at the end of it all we have no more time. Time is inevitable and inescapable, the most valuable asset. So yes time is the truth, imho 😉🍻
He mentioned he lost two friends by the age of 25, in "Dear God" and about his father he spoke in "Power" said his parents split and he hates to see his mom alone. Beautiful y and painfully put
"Late night crying
Get so high to try to silence sounds of fighting
Through the walls
I heard love dying"
Nice reaction! Highly recommend you get to Rens rap retakes, Losing it and Bittersweet Symphony are must do's.
Man thanks for this, really loved everything you said, not having anyone to talk to about this myself, this really helped
Damn Peg! You nailed this. I really appreciate you
Keep spreading truth..food is life. I like how you are spreading truth..great job
Ahhhh I had to be gone a couple days and I missed y’all fam!!!
Original content is 🔥🔥🔥!!!
For me depression is a constant with moments of levity,
Throw in a little anxiety and life is lovely 😂
Learning how to cope with it all is the hardest part, The drugs don't work they just make you feel worse . . .
Great Conversation! Thanks for sharing your story and the alternative ways to see things.
We learn to flow with it but protect our peace, allow people in but not too many. Trauma ya’ll. Causes mental and emotional damage that some of us have to learn to float with as we fight for our sanity and growth. Too never go back down . It’s work and pharmaceutical causes more side effects and sometimes more damage!! Tricky for sure!!
Great video and your reaction was great. How to deal with these stuff can't be put on a recipe but the discussion and openness is vital. And you bring a great part to the table as well with your histories.
Food as information - hadn't thought of it that way before. Makes a lot of sense, thanks 💞
Your reaction was so real and honest, thank you!
That was fantastic, I hadn't seen this one by Ren, I had to pause you and go watch it all in one go cos I wanted to see it all in one, then came back and watched your reaction. You really have touched on a lot there and I found your insight really helpful. I've gone from not watching reaction videos to watching loads, and you are definitely my favourite. I resonated with all of that. Thanks!
WELL SAID MY BROTHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS. GOD BLESS YOU BRO YOUR DOING SOMETHING GOOD AND HELPFUL WITH YOUR PLATFORM. MUCH APPRECIATED
Thank you for your honesty and deep, insightful reaction.
amazing show. happy I found you!
Thank you for sharing this one and your story! I can relate to losing a baby, my Zooey was on this earth for 5 hours, and it hits me differently at different times. We are generally happy people but everyone deals with depression at different ways and times. Hi Ren really helped me get out of a funk and I've been loving finding Ren and a bunch others after. You had some great thoughts on this one and correct in everything!
I freaking love this definitely poetry! I’ve been this deep for years and years 😢
The feeling that you can’t catch your breath and can’t control your emotions at all! It’s almost like I watch myself while my body just goes off on a tangent and up until now I didn’t know how to deal with but 2 years of therapy has taught me so much about myself! I’m still learning but I don’t think I would be who I am without everything that has happened in my life.
Big issue amongst males is not talking about depression or how they are feeling, brushed off to easy.
Really appreciate your calm and honest approach with this Pegasus, your a good soul.
Sadly suicide statistics for males is very high here in Scotland, more need to have a space they can talk or practical, creative opportunities for them to feel good about themselves or even just to express their feeling another way.
Thank you for sharing this tune in this way 🎶💛👍🏽
Most ppl consider me kind, funny and selfless... But that is what I choose to put out into the world because I really find life to be a struggle... I desperately try to make others not feel like how I do...
Happiness is like looking for pearls. All you can do is hope that you can find enough to make the heavy chain seem bearable... So I try to give ppl pearls even though I might be giving my own away at times...!
Top quality reaction and basis for discussion BP.
I was first diagnosed with AND medicated for depression when I was 9 yrs old, (49yrs ago). Over the years I learned, like Ren, that it is a pendulum. If I can keep it swaying towards the light, I'm ok. Sure, major negative life events have kept it in the dark at times but overall, once I accepted the fact that I would never win, my life has been fine. Took some time to understand that though.
Great advice, thank you! Love the song🖤 I've been depressed over half my life because my ADHD wasn't recognized until recently (finally got the diagnosis 2 weeks ago, will turn 30 in 2 days) and I haven't gotten the support that I would have needed growing up. I always felt different and wrong but I was good at masking so I was "normal enough" in the eyes of others. Maybe things will start to get better now that I understand myself better and know why I am the way I am, and maybe the meds will help too.
They will.... But it is hard to greive the years you "might" have had and self forgiveness.
Awesome talk!❤
Hi, the part where Ren says "that time never existed" he was referring to the golden age he was talking about just before. Great reaction though