DUEL with the DEVIL
Viewing comments for Chapter 43 "DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 43"The problem of creating a non-addictive painkiller
18 total reviews
Comment from tfawcus
An intensely realistic chapter. I imagine that anyone who has suffered severe depression would be right inside Brian's head right now. This is a lot for Jules to deal with. I hope that it's not too much.
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2024
  |
An intensely realistic chapter. I imagine that anyone who has suffered severe depression would be right inside Brian's head right now. This is a lot for Jules to deal with. I hope that it's not too much.
Comment Written 15-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 16-Oct-2024
-
Having been through it a few times myself when I was younger, this chapter required no research on my part. I hoped to get across that his duel with the devil was more than just with addiction. This was a very emotionally challenging chapter to write.
You're very kind with another 6 here.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Fortunately I haven't had a loved one with drug dependence but you really showed Jules strength and love for Brian in the opening paragraphs and then his downward slide into depression. An emotional chapter Jim, well written.
Valda
reply by the author on 03-Oct-2024
|
Fortunately I haven't had a loved one with drug dependence but you really showed Jules strength and love for Brian in the opening paragraphs and then his downward slide into depression. An emotional chapter Jim, well written.
Valda
Comment Written 03-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 03-Oct-2024
-
Thank you so much, Valda, and for the 6 stars too. This chapter is authentic and needed no research on my part to write it. I was very fortunate to have a loving wife, just like Julia, to help me through a very trying time. I was able to escape from it, and let's hope Brian does too.
Comment from T B Botts
Hello Jim,
boy, can I ever relate to Brian about the depression issue. In the realm of spiritual warfare, the enemy is there constantly trying to convince us of our worthless state, how we'll never amount to anything. He's certainly blessed to have Julia in his life. Hopefully he can overcome the addiction and start working on a better mindset, with a future in mind for them both. Well done Jim.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
reply by the author on 03-Oct-2024
 |
Hello Jim,
boy, can I ever relate to Brian about the depression issue. In the realm of spiritual warfare, the enemy is there constantly trying to convince us of our worthless state, how we'll never amount to anything. He's certainly blessed to have Julia in his life. Hopefully he can overcome the addiction and start working on a better mindset, with a future in mind for them both. Well done Jim.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment Written 03-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 03-Oct-2024
-
I can too, Tom. This was me a few times during an unfortunate period in my life a number of years ago, and I was lucky enough to have my own version of Julia. I needed no research for this chapter. Somehow, my wife knew just how to handle me to help me through it, and I am forever grateful to her for that support.
Comment from lyenochka
You show us that the only way to conquer the demons of drug addiction and depression is to have determined, deeply loyal loving support like you show us in Julia. I like the realistic description of depression here and the chemical imbalance involved. Perhaps in this frame of mind, Brian can develop a natural course of action to change behavior to deal with pain and addiction instead of another drug as he originally planned.
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2024
|
You show us that the only way to conquer the demons of drug addiction and depression is to have determined, deeply loyal loving support like you show us in Julia. I like the realistic description of depression here and the chemical imbalance involved. Perhaps in this frame of mind, Brian can develop a natural course of action to change behavior to deal with pain and addiction instead of another drug as he originally planned.
Comment Written 01-Oct-2024
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2024
-
I can vouch for what you've said here, Helen. This chapter was largely autobiographical and describes what I experienced at a troubled time in my past. I'm not sure I could have come out of it intact without the loving support of my wife, Elise, when it happened. I modeled Julia after Elise in many respects.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
Brian seems to be sinking into irrevocable depression that will take a lot of effort to escape. Julia is likely to be feeling a little of that by now also, as he sinks further and further from her. I think you may have a big problem to solve this problem with their psyches.
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2024
|
Brian seems to be sinking into irrevocable depression that will take a lot of effort to escape. Julia is likely to be feeling a little of that by now also, as he sinks further and further from her. I think you may have a big problem to solve this problem with their psyches.
Comment Written 30-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2024
-
It will definitely take a lot of effort to escape it and will require continued support from Julia. Let's see how they both deal with it in the next chapter.
Comment from jmdg1954
Oh boy... Brian is certainly falling down a rabbit hole of self confidence destruction.. not believing in himself and or Julia's love, commitment and devotion to him. I'm looking forward to what and where you're going to take this.
Note, and this is only my opinion. In the very last line, I would change the word fuck-up to screw-up or something else. There was no profanity in the entire chapter and to me, the use of fuck-up seemed out of place. Again, my opinion.
Hey, still six star worthy...
John
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2024
|
Oh boy... Brian is certainly falling down a rabbit hole of self confidence destruction.. not believing in himself and or Julia's love, commitment and devotion to him. I'm looking forward to what and where you're going to take this.
Note, and this is only my opinion. In the very last line, I would change the word fuck-up to screw-up or something else. There was no profanity in the entire chapter and to me, the use of fuck-up seemed out of place. Again, my opinion.
Hey, still six star worthy...
John
Comment Written 30-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2024
-
I will tell you that this chapter is largely autobiographical and required no research on my part. This is very close to what happened to me in my younger years (but for a different reason), and I was lucky enough to have my own Julia--my wife, Elise--to help me through it.
Thanks very much for your great review and the 6 stars, John. Much appreciated.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Another excellent addition to this story. You'd kept us hanging on to see if Julia changed her mind about Brian's disastrous "fuckup" but, no, not only is she selflessly there for him, but she's building him up already with reinforcements that all his lapses were accidental and not intentional. It's Brian who has self-doubts and they could still be critical to his recovery. None of this is going to be easy and it will be a true test of their relationship. Well done, Jim, and a virtual 6 from me with apologies. Debbie
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2024
|
Another excellent addition to this story. You'd kept us hanging on to see if Julia changed her mind about Brian's disastrous "fuckup" but, no, not only is she selflessly there for him, but she's building him up already with reinforcements that all his lapses were accidental and not intentional. It's Brian who has self-doubts and they could still be critical to his recovery. None of this is going to be easy and it will be a true test of their relationship. Well done, Jim, and a virtual 6 from me with apologies. Debbie
Comment Written 30-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2024
-
Thanks so much, Debbie. Your thoughtful reviews always mean much more to me than the stars. I understand how that goes. It is so gratifying to me to have readers, like yourself, who really understand what I'm trying to communicate.
This was an easy, though painful chapter for me to write, which required no research on my part to get an accurate picture of depression. It's something I've personally experienced several times many years ago. Fortunately, I had my own Julia to help me through those episodes, and I patterned her behavior and thought processes after my own wife, Elise.
You're right, though. Brian has to overcome his own doubts to be able to recover, and his success or failure will depend on that.
Comment from Wendy G
This is very fine writing, and a very realistic chapter. Brian's thoughts are portrayed with excellence and insight. Yes, he has fallen, but each time it was not a deliberate seeking out of the highs of the drug. Julia is wise and caring, and it is good that she has grit and determination, and her love and marriage mean enough to her that she will help him overcome. VERY well done.
Wendy
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2024
|
This is very fine writing, and a very realistic chapter. Brian's thoughts are portrayed with excellence and insight. Yes, he has fallen, but each time it was not a deliberate seeking out of the highs of the drug. Julia is wise and caring, and it is good that she has grit and determination, and her love and marriage mean enough to her that she will help him overcome. VERY well done.
Wendy
Comment Written 29-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2024
-
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Wendy, for this awesome review and for truly understanding all the nuances of the story as well as the characters and their motivations. You are very perceptive that way. I appreciate the 6 stars, and your very kind words.
Comment from Amelie Johns
I enjoyed reading this chapter and I am left wanting more. I want to know what happens next. I am drawn to the characters. Julia, for sticking by Brian and the level of empathy she is exhibiting. It is remarkable. And Brian for all that he has done to get better. Some might view him as weak because of his problems. While the relationship might seem off balance, it doesn't mean she should leave him. You can almost imagine the way this story would typically go. He is the bad guy and she moves on to better things. Isn't that how the world operates? When someone is down they are viewed as weak. I can relate to this and the character of Brian. I have married a 'Julia'. I feel weaker. Society would certainly perceive me as a weaker person because of my issues. What people fail to see is the strength it takes to keep going and persevering. The thing is that while some people are 'strong' and are lucky to get through life steadily enough, we all get knocked at some point. And we all need another person to help us get through it. Brian is not a weaker person. He was just dealt a certain set of cards. You have to admire his perseverance. I'm very interested to see what happens.
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
|
I enjoyed reading this chapter and I am left wanting more. I want to know what happens next. I am drawn to the characters. Julia, for sticking by Brian and the level of empathy she is exhibiting. It is remarkable. And Brian for all that he has done to get better. Some might view him as weak because of his problems. While the relationship might seem off balance, it doesn't mean she should leave him. You can almost imagine the way this story would typically go. He is the bad guy and she moves on to better things. Isn't that how the world operates? When someone is down they are viewed as weak. I can relate to this and the character of Brian. I have married a 'Julia'. I feel weaker. Society would certainly perceive me as a weaker person because of my issues. What people fail to see is the strength it takes to keep going and persevering. The thing is that while some people are 'strong' and are lucky to get through life steadily enough, we all get knocked at some point. And we all need another person to help us get through it. Brian is not a weaker person. He was just dealt a certain set of cards. You have to admire his perseverance. I'm very interested to see what happens.
Comment Written 29-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
-
The next chapter will be out on Wednesday, so you'll be able to see how both Brian and Julia deal with his depression.
I'm delighted you found this chapter and enjoyed it, Amelie. Your perceptions of the characters and the situation is spot on and exactly how I'd hoped readers would interpret them and their actions.
It's very true that when someone is down, some people view that as weakness, but it isn't necessarily. Depression and weakness are by no means synonymous. I don't even think there is a very good correlation between the two. People who have never experienced true clinical depression have a hard time understanding it. This chapter was somewhat autobiographical and needed no research on my part, but only a representation of the things I felt during a turbulent period in my life. Fortunately for me, my wife was just like Julia.
We're pretty near the end of the story, but you may still enjoy the last few chapters. Thanks for your wonderful review and sharing your own experience.
-
Fantastic, I look forward to reading the next chapter :) And I'm so glad you married someone just like Julia. That is what true love is, being there for someone come rain or shine.
Best wishes,
Amelie
-
I agree with you there, Amelie. That's part of the marriage vows--"in sickness and in health..."
Comment from royowen
There's no such person as a loser, unless they act out the loser process, none of us was meant to be as that is. Don't worry i understand, but depression is brought on by the and exacerbated by the confession, I love proverbs, "The power of life and death is in the tongue, and those that love it will eat its fruit.i dint think we know how much power to control is in confession, " Proverbs 18:21, even experts on positive motion will agree with that, beautifully written blessings Roy
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
|
There's no such person as a loser, unless they act out the loser process, none of us was meant to be as that is. Don't worry i understand, but depression is brought on by the and exacerbated by the confession, I love proverbs, "The power of life and death is in the tongue, and those that love it will eat its fruit.i dint think we know how much power to control is in confession, " Proverbs 18:21, even experts on positive motion will agree with that, beautifully written blessings Roy
Comment Written 29-Sep-2024
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2024
-
Yes, exactly right, Roy. Brian feels like a loser because he sees his drug as a failure and thus himself, and because he was unable to resist the pull of the potent narcotic when it was available. But he was able to stop himself from making more, which says a great deal about him. That action shows he wasn't "acting out the loser process." We'll see more of this in the coming chapters.
He's depressed now which makes you very hard on yourself. I know this well because I have experienced it several times when I was younger. And you need the support of someone like Julia to help you get through it. Fortunately, my wife was such a person for me.
-
Yes I had it bad when I was 19 my best mate had committed suicide, 18 months I was sick of it, and wasn't anymore. bless you