SMALL JOYS, BIG DIFFERENCE: OVERCOMING DEPRESSION
In the U.S., 21 million people report having at least one major depressive episode, while 17.3 million adults live with major depressive disorders. When someone feels depressed, there isn’t much anyone can do to help them. However, someone suffering from depression can do a few things to help ease their symptoms. No. 1: Be gentle with yourself. When you feel depressed, you’re not going to accomplish the same number of tasks or be as productive as you usually would — and that’s okay! Be open and accepting of your current state, and take pride in your progress that day, no matter how small. No. 2: Take a walk — literally! Research shows that for some people, even a little bit of exercise (like a short walk) not only reduces their current symptoms but can also prevent future depressive episodes. Even if you can only walk around the block, it will still help your mind and body. No. 3: Do things YOU enjoy. The fatigue that depression brings can feel more powerful than your desire to enjoy your hobbies. Push back against this as much as possible and do something enjoyable, even if it seems minor. This will boost your mood and motivate you to continue engaging in activities.
THIS DRAMATIC HEIST FILM IS WORTH THE REWATCH!
Whenever our team sees a movie featuring a traumatic brain injury (TBI), we can’t tear ourselves away from the screen. After representing so many clients with TBIs, seeing similar stories in Hollywood is fascinating — and “The Lookout,” a heist film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is an excellent one! “The Lookout” tells the story of a hockey player named Chris. He’s wealthy and popular — until a devastating car crash turns his life upside down. Chris survives the wreck, but the impact leaves him with a brain injury that triggers anterograde amnesia, anger management problems, depression, issues with sequencing events (things like trying to make coffee without grinding the coffee beans), and a host of other symptoms. Chris ends up working as a small-town bank janitor — and before long, an old high school classmate ropes him into a bank heist!
“The Lookout” is dramatic, action-packed, and full of jaw-dropping twists. We won’t give away the ending, but we can share one of our favorite parts of the movie: Joseph Gordon- Levitt’s acting. According to Hollywood lore, Gordon-Levitt put a lot of effort into portraying Chris accurately. He sought out people with TBIs, asked them about their experience, and even read “The Man with a Shattered World: The History of a Brain Wound” by Alexander Luria. That commitment showed. In the movie, Chris is constantly writing down things he doesn’t want to forget — which lines up with anterograde amnesia, a condition that keeps people who have it from forming new memories. Journaling and note-taking are two of the most common strategies people use in real life to manage anterograde amnesia, and it was nice to see that represented in the film.
Overall, “The Lookout” wasn’t perfect at portraying anterograde amnesia, but it did include a lot of accurate TBI symptoms. It’s definitely worth watching (or rewatching)! “The Lookout” is also a good reminder of how serious TBIs can be. If you know someone struggling with a TBI after a car crash or workplace injury, send them to our firm. We can assess whether they have a case and, if they do, help them secure the compensation they need to manage their symptoms.
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