THE ONLY SIDE EFFECT — Bill Richards
Copyright © 2026 Bill Richards | VetACon Productions
Anxiety and emotional pain affect everyone differently. Some people turn to marijuana or alcohol to numb what they feel. Others misuse medication, bury themselves in work, disappear behind a screen, lash out in anger, or hide everything beneath a practiced smile.
“The Only Side Effect” is about recognizing those different struggles without judging the people experiencing them. There is no shame in asking for help or receiving legitimate medical treatment. This song focuses on another path available to us—the creative arts.
For me, that path is music.
Give me six strings, a worn-out pen, a camera, a canvas, or a story waiting to be told, and I can take the fear and anxiety inside me and transform it into something with meaning. I do not create to pretend the pain never existed. I create to give that pain a purpose.
When anxiety takes hold and the night feels endless, creativity can help us find our way back toward the light.
The only side effect is coming back to life.
Original song and concept by Bill Richards
Presented by VetACon Productions
VetACon uses the creative arts to help veterans rediscover purpose, express what they are carrying, and share their success with the world.
We would rather hear your success than ever read your obituary.
We will never leave a veteran behind.
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