Facebook

Facebook's Psychiatrists Chair


Recently, I have noticed a strange albeit positive evolution on the social networking website, Facebook. Initially, I was skeptical of the revolutionary ability to connect with friends and people who share the same interest. Overtime, I have noticed it consumes my time and attention with no regard for who is in front of me. I am constantly checking my phone or laptop for updates in order to respond to as many people as possible. While I acknowledge that it may be a waist of time, I wanted to find anything positive in it. The only rational conclusion I could draw is the ability to locate lost friends. Since becoming a member in 2007, I have found old Army buddies, high school sweethearts, and childhood friends/ relatives who have moved away. I have also managed to make people angry with my statements, and tried to correct them. Character flaws are at the forefront of my consciousness before I post a religious or political statement.

Then, I noticed that people would request me as a friend only to express how they feel as a person. Ironically, I have always been considered insightful, and vain in the same breath. I remember reading my high school yearbook signatures, and an overwhelming amount of opening statements being "At first I really didn't like you but..." I have been criticized by several people for "displaying my business for everyone to see." I have even lost career opportunities because my potential employer read my facebook info. I am controversial, loud, and animated when I talk, but gracefully truthful. I have no problem correcting myself and learning from others. Since childhood, I have always told everyone what is going on in my life whether positive or negative. I like people to see the problems I'm going through and watch me hurdle them. I even enjoy a nice fall in disgrace, it is what builds my character. I hope people can learn from my trivial problems; what to do OR not do. I hold no secrets. If you have not heard something about me it is because I have not told you personally, but rest assured I have told several others. My policy in life is to disclose everything. If I tell you what has happened in my life, how can an enemy use it against me without the element of surprise?

With that being said, I have found that many have followed suit. I asked myself why and it seems simple, everything with intake needs exhaust. Peoples feelings are input by something in their lives, if you let an emotion settle in your body it will eat you up from the inside out. Like acid, it will burn through until free. That is a beautiful thing about emotions. Whether it is love or hate it needs to be expressed or exhausted. I have a dear friend that rarely talks, he is self-kept, and doesnt like to express himself. Recently, I have noticed the set backs in his life, and his inability to deal with them. He strikes me as someone who would walk into a bank and shoot every innocent person until his pain went away. The inability to cope could destroy his health, and even his sanity. This is not speculation, recent studies conclude that a humans premature demise can be attributed to stress.
Here are a few not so fun facts:
An estimated 1 million workers are absent from work on an average workday because of stress related issues.

• 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress.

• Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, accidents, lung ailments, infertility, and even suicide.

• 70-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related issues.

He is not alone, overtime I have noticed other posts that are not so positive but a cry for help. When I see friends posts that indicate sadness, I listen. I have had counseling when I was younger, and went into it with a positive attitude. Most people do not know a psychiatrists job is to listen and let the patient draw there own conclusions. I came out of it a much better person, and it has impacted my life like nothing else. Talking to anyone who will listen is a great tool to keep us sane. Taking ANYONES advice is quite the opposite. You are the master of your domain, you create your own path, because no one can walk it with you... not even if we wanted to. This social network has become a virtual psychiatrists chair. It has offered people like my friends a chance to express themselves to all their friends, without opening their bashful mouths. That is positive, and people can relate to problems because we all have them. Their cry for help is just another assurance that they are not alone. They are NOT alone; pain is a part of life, but suffering is an option. They have taken the first step that most people miss and choose not to suffer. Congrats my friends, you are a better person, and you have my attention.

Time's up.

My Father

Democracy's Whisper

I wanted to take some time out to address my father, Cesareo Guadarrama 
III’s recent retirement. Looking back I recall a particular scenario when my 
father served on the school board that I wanted to share with the community. In 
adolescence, I was always on the wrong side of "“right & wrong”. One of the many 
times I was in trouble at school, my father was called to pick me up. He had a 
disappointed look on his face, but did not speak on the matter. We drove to 
Seguin High School, and walked into the principal’s office. At that time, 
George Mercer was the principal and I remember being intimidated. There was a 
boy in the office that had recently been in a fight, and my father and Mr. 
Mercer were talking about the cause. The boy had been teased for wearing the 
same jeans to school everyday and decided to act. After the meeting we drove to 
JC Penney, which was ironically where the Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center is 
today. My father and I still had not uttered a word to each other as we picked 
up a few pairs of jeans for the high school boy. I finally opened my mouth and 
asked why Mr. Mercer and my father were buying jeans. He looked at me and 
said, “Because they are all of our children; they have needs just like you do.” 

I will never forget that moment; because it was at that moment that I 
didn’t mind sharing my father with the community. I understood why he was late 
coming home; why he was the first to leave the house, and why every great man & 
woman I met in the community considered him great. Men like Vincent Patlan, 
Buster Blumberg, Roland Rico and many more who have passed on. Although he will 
never admit his own mortality, holding the communities concerns on your 
shoulders for 25+ years wears the strongest men & women down. I am glad that 
the responsibility has been passed on, and the people’s voices were heard. The 
most beautiful thing about this country is democracy. She is the mother of all 
the great community leaders in our nation. Tuesday night, democracy walked in 
to the democratic headquarters placed her hand on my fathers shoulder and 
whispered in his ear. In fact she made that trip around the nation. I wish Mr. 
Kutscher the very best, and wish that he leads with the same zeal my father had 
at his age. I don’t think my father is capable of the adjustment, but if he IS 
retired, I ask the community to never forget him. He sacrificed time with his 
family to help build a Utopia for all. We still have a long way to go. With 
that being said, I would like to take this time to thank all of the community 
leaders past & present for your service. Many have no idea the amount of 
empathy it takes from loved ones. Without sounding cliché he is the best dad 
I, or the community could ask for. Thank you dad for your service; and thank 
you community for bringing him back in one piece.