I agree, Moose. I think that there is a certain, deeper sense of "knowing" among us on many levels, that people without our experiences can never share. At the same time, when we are well and see another going through their struggles, it can be a little scary to be reminded of the depths of despair we are capable of. And I have to admit, there's even a hint of jealousy or longing when I see someone who is happily hypomanic or soaring on the wings of a full blown euphoric mania.

Sometimes you can see it in people's eyes and know you're sort of a kindred.

And Venus and Charlie, I agree with you about our experience here in this life. It does result in our being somehow deeper on an existential level. Not that I'm particularly better than anyone else per se, just...different...more aware. I tried explaining it once to a therapist a long time ago. She told me to "come down from the mountain", lol. She didn't understand, and I think on some level she may have felt a little left out, actually, leading her to make that snarky comment.

Sometimes it feels like one of those optical illusions where you initially see a vase, but then something shifts and you see two profiles of people's heads. Not everyone sees the heads, but once you do see them, you can't not see them...now you know and there is no unknowing. We know.