Posted by Cam W. on March 27, 2001, at 7:24:51
In reply to Re: I envy your succesfull treatment » stjames, posted by ShelliR on March 26, 2001, at 8:25:42
Shelli - Many of my friends have, or have had, a mental illness at some point in their lives. Many of my coworkers also have had mental problems that have required professional help. Since epidemiological studies show that 1 in 4 people will, at some point in their life, have a mental illness that will require professional treatment, I don't feel so alone and definitely am not ashamed by my illness. This fact of 1 in 4 people having a mental illness at some point in their life has been proven in several large epidemiological studies and seems to be ubiquitous (with some slight variations, due to cultural factors).
I think that the reason that myself, James and our friends can say that we have a mental illness, is because we have overcome our fear and inanity of being stigmatized by our illnesses; that not so many years ago, we may have hidden in our closets with the other skeletons accrued throughout our lives. We have illnesses and we are working hard (in many cases) to learn to live within the boundaries that the illness has set.
Sincerely - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:57231
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/57653.html