I was gonna start a new thread for this, but then as I was naming the thread, this one came up, and there's just so much great content in this thread that's worth revisiting, that I wanted to put it here.
The virtuoso shares his struggles with depression, alcohol and tinnitus – and how a lifelong love of guitar playing and music helped him through it all
www.guitarworld.com
Andy Timmons, as you may have heard from me and others, is an absolutely brilliant guitarist. Yeah, he's got chops, but it's his feel, phrasing and TONE that set him apart from so many others. He talks here about his own struggles all his life and it's just a frank and open discussion, as it should be.
As he says, a lot of people from our generation (yeah, I'm closer to his age than Syn's age. PG is still the old-timer) grew up with mental health and depression being taboo topics for discussion, and a lot of people who didn't need to suffer and die... Did. Getting to a place where it's not taboo is huge progress. I've just started some medication for depression and anxiety, which is a new concept to me. I didn't even realize it was there until it really started affecting me physically, and the last few years have been a long, hard journey.
I don't talk about it because I feel so fortunate in so many ways, it seems petty to get into my problems, but it doesn't really work that way.
Anyway, have a look at the article. Go listen to some Andy and play some guitar. Be well, friends.