by Mike on the Bottom

As Rodney Dangerfield liked to say, it ain't easy bein' me.

Like the late, great, Rodney, I've battled depression my whole life.

One of the things that led to my becoming friends with V-Grrrl is that the two of us have this in common. It can obviously be a burden, but it can also be a blessing in terms of insight and empathy

Because of this, I'm always looking for things that can help me--and help others afflicted with this disease. And it is a disease.

It may seem silly, but one thing that has helped me the past few years is the uplifting television series "Smallville."

 The show has connected strongly with teens and twenty-somethings suffering from depression because of the way it portrays young Clark Kent as an isolated figure who feels he can never be 'normal.' 

I had the opportunity to speak with Christopher Reeve about this not long before his death. Reeve, who played Kent and Superman in films, was proud of "Smallville" for that reason and was happy he had been able to make an appearance on the series toward the end of his life.

So I strongly recommend "Smallville" for those who even have periodic brushes with depression--and for those readers who have children with the disease. 

I also recommended the first soundtrack from the series, which is available at stores and as a download to iPod from iTunes. 

Especially inspiring is the Five for Fighting alternative rock song "Superman."

Michael Zitz Beckham, aka Mike on the Bottom, is not normal, and this is why he's a FOVG (Friend of V-Grrrl).