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EVERYONE Over the last five months, I have experienced a battle that I would not wish on anyone. In mid-March, I was diagnosed with a combination of exhaustion and depression that probably had been developing for the previous six months. As I have discovered during this period, not only have I not been alone but people I never would have dreamed have encountered similar challenges. The exhaustion has been as a result of considerable stress and the reluctance to say "no" to frequent requests to deliver broadcast or off-broadcast video projects over and above my regular responsibilities as professor of broadcasting at Union University. That inability is already changing into a newly-found ability to utter the word "no." The depression was a slow erosion from the exhaustion and consistent lack of peaceful sleep over a nine-month period. Any of you who have ever experienced depression---or have family members or friends who have---are quite aware of the toll it takes. Emotionally, one is constantly drained. Often, that occurs as a result of physical exhaustion, insomnia or near-insomnia, excessive stress, or a combination of all of the above. I will talk more about my experience in days to come. Today, I only want to offer this: if you have the warning signs of depression, please do not try to overcome it alone. Get help from a competent and qualified doctor. Not all of you have the advantage of a great psychologist in Dr. Joanne Stephenson, who declared an "intervention" with me immediately after one of our daily local "Jackson 24-7" newscasts (and, trust me, Dr. Joanne would leave Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz at the starting gate if she had the right agent). The spring and summer have been periods of adjustment and life alterations. Learning all over again to take things one day at a time, sometimes an hour at a time, and re-learning the value of appreciating the daily important things in life have been crucial. Further, appreciating the emotion again of humor has been imperative after many days where even a smile required an expenditure of energy. Fortunately, the corner has been turned and days are getting much more enjoyable and happier. One thing I have been encouraged to do is to take at least a small amount of time in each week and do a creative thing I enjoy. The Game Show Fix will be that outlet. No, we aren't going back to the overwhelming diet of constant daily news updates in the era of TVgameshows.net. However, an opportunity to maintain a sensible blog with comments on what evolves in our favorite genre will be a part of it. My hope is that I can offer this at least two or three times a week except during the heavy season of my TV college basketball responsibilities in the late fall and winter. Perhaps once a week during that period will suffice. You won't agree with everything but that makes for healthy dialogue with people who offer responsible, thought-provoking alternative views. Over the next few weeks, we will be transferring some selective previous items from TVgameshows.net to TheGameShowFix.com. One that is already there is our tribute to one of game shows' all-time greats, Jack Narz. Another section available is our profile of Four Forgotten Emcees, a sociological look at how---as generations pass---significant contributors to the entertainment genre are dismissed and abandoned. We are also developing a tribute section to the late Art Linkletter, who just recently left us. The blog is now up and running and we are now linking to previous posts in the righthand column. Thanks for coming along for the ride. TheGameShowFix.com is a non-incorporated news website. The material used is the creation of the webmaster, unless otherwise noted. Use of stillframes from broadcasts is part of fair use news arrangements. Any reproduction or other use of the accounts published here without the expressed written consent of TheGameShowFix.com is strictly prohibited. At no time has TheGameShowFix.com or its predecessor, TVgameshows.net, ever been offered for public sale, such as in a stock offering or any financial transaction. Any attempt to engage in such practice is illegal and strictly forbidden. |
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