Paragraph nine reads: "Earlier this week Brown said he continually played over the ferry incident. Four days before it he ran out of his medication for depression. He said a telephone conversation with his girlfriend while travelling on the ferry had upset him."

SSRI Stories note: Withdrawal, especially abrupt withdrawal, from any of these medications can cause severe neuropsychiatric and physical symptoms. It is important to withdraw extremely slowly from these drugs, often over a period of a year or more, under the supervision of a qualified and experienced specialist, if available. Withdrawal is sometimes more severe than the original symptoms or problems.

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/violence-is-not-the-answer-declares-born-again-basher/

Violence is not the answer’ declares born-again basher

11 Jun 10 @ 10:04pm

FORMER Tasmanian boxer Grant ``Tassie’’ Brown says his world has been rocked since he was charged over punching a 70-year-old man on a Manly ferry in Sydney last November.

``This has really been a shock to the system and I suppose for a while I was on cloud nine thinking I was a bit of a high-profile identity, then I come crashing down and really face reality and find who my true friends are in all this,’’ he said.

``Since the incident it has really rocked my world and has hurt people close to me like my beautiful parents who have been behind me since day one and many family and friends.’’

That world fell further yesterday when he was sentenced to up to two years in jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.

Before appearing for sentence he spoke about his hope of receiving a suspended jail sentence.

Brown, who after quitting professional boxing became a promoter, was instrumental in bringing several high-profile identities to the state, including Roberta Williams, Roger Rogerson and Mick Gatto identities made famous in the Underbelly TV series.

Brown also played a small part in Underbelly, set in Sydney, and had hoped it would kick off an acting career.

He counts among his friends Australian actors Vince Colosimo and Nick Giannopoulos.

Earlier this week Brown said he continually played over the ferry incident. Four days before it he ran out of his medication for depression. He said a telephone conversation with his girlfriend while travelling on the ferry had upset him.

Before being bailed earlier this year Brown spent two months in custody in Sydney’s Silverwater prison which, he said, was ``intimidating and scary’’ a place he never wanted to return to.

He had no police record until this incident.

``I have never claimed to be perfect but I believe I am a good person of good morals,’’ he said.

``I am very embarrassed and saddened by everything I have caused to (victim) John Lane and his family and I am asking for a second chance.

``I have also found God, I have become a devoted Christian.

``I was baptised a couple of weeks ago and have been going to church for the last four months at (Hobart’s) C3, which has been great.

``I have found other avenues and different ways of thinking in life.

``If I come back from this, I want to give back to the community even more.

``I want to go into kids’ schools and talk about not only alcohol and drugs as I have in the past but that violence is not the answer. Acting out of anger is not the answer.

``I want to let the kids of Tasmania know you don’t want to go where I have been, it’s not a nice place and I never thought I would end up there.’’

On his own initiative Brown said he was doing a 20-week anger management course of which he had completed 13 weeks.

He wanted to use this ``bad time’’ in his life to do future good.