Dr. Hershey, I didn't mean that we should not try to tend to mental illness. Functionality is the key, don't you think? Many will never be "cured" but they can work with doctors to become functional in life and even better, independent!

Mental illness is like living with other chronic medical conditions, like diabetes. It needs to be managed.

Because of the stigma attached to mental illness, many feel that they are too abnormal to participate in society. Many find it too hard.

Finding treatments and techniques that help to make one feel better is definitely the key.

Sometimes people need some help/support when it becomes overwhelming...and yes, they may not seek it out due to the stigma. However, mental health treatment can remain confidential. A person does not need to reveal all their life's details to their friends and family.

I agree that one would seek treatment for a medical condition, why not seek treatment for a mental health condition....it is sometimes the mental health condition, if left untreated, that can lead to medical issues.

I'm one of those.

I had to withdraw entirely from society.

Ironically, my biological ' brothers ' were the only ones who kept attacking me because I was so dependent upon my parents and live-in Uncle from Europe.

If I was strong enough to leave my family completely and live in another locale -- no one would ever had to know that I was treated for mental illness.

My parents thought that they did something wrong.

It was more genetic, but my brothers kept hammering me and keeping me believing that I was mentally ill, so I gave up.

I'm peaceful, but bitter for a wasted life.

Oh well, stuff happens.

-- Burt B.

I'm so sorry Burt.
Glad you are in a much better mental place now.

I don't feel a sense of stigma - i will talk to anyone about mental illness. I feel like it is my job to help normalize by treating it like any other illness.

I refrain from participating in regular society for a different reason - I find it draining, exhausting...not enjoyable.

Thanks Dr. Hershey !

Yeah, much better now... especially when I can express myself here.

I find it interesting that you consider your life journey a "wasted" life when, in fact, you've been doing a lot of living, a lot of experiencing.

Dear Burt,

A lot of people consider me a :flake:.All my life was lived in anxiety,panic attacks,and until the age of 61,a form of anxiety trying to destroy what I had gained was there every second of my life,I called him my MOMSTER.
Those who never knew what you,Jilly and I went and are going through can sympathise,but cannot really understand what we lived,living.

I Understand you,I have Compassion for the 3 of us.

With brotherly love
Normand/loongdragon

With all due respect, loong, I/we may never truly understand anyone else's plight because everyone has his own perspective and the way he processes everything is his own as well.

I may never understand you or anyone else. I do sympathize and have compassion.

But on the other hand, you do not know what I myself have gone through either.

To Lori,

You are entirely true,and if I have offended you ,my deepest sincere apologies

loong