I've not thought about myself as being mentally ill until my bipolar diagnosis three yrs ago. I knew I was clinically depressed, which at age eight I didn't think of as mental illness. Alcoholism, when that label was added in my mid-thirties, was an addiction--again, considered disgraceful but I don't remember mental illness being mentioned.

But when I was diagnosed bipolar, I was in the psych unit of a local hospital. No missing the mental illness connection then! It's additional complications on my already-complicated life. It's added responsibility, in that I have re-evaluated my commitments to friends--even to pets. I've reassessed my living will and other legal papers. I've had to make some clear decisions, when I am in a "good mind" about when I do and don't want to make certain decisions for myself--& who will make those decisions for me, when I cannot.

Acknowledging my mental illness & the consequences has turned my life inside out. It's been the most difficult thing I have ever done. I'm amazed I actually faced it & did it all.