I had a conversation with my family this evening about mental illness. I told them that I viewed mental illness just the same as any other illness. I compared it to having diabetes. They disagreed with me. I tried to explain to them that just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. A person with mental illness lives a hell in their head everyday. I think it actually may be worse than some conditions because when the problem is visible, more people are willing to give support. With mental illness, you not only have to live in your own prison, but alone and questioned. Then the topic of drug addiction cam up and they said it was a choice. I told them that I believe that there has to be something missing to seek out and habitually use drugs. If the good feelings you have ever felt are by a narcotic, many people with mental illness are prone to use them. A person with BPD always has a sense of emptiness and something that feels good will fill the hole. People do not understand this concept and I don't guess that they would unless they have ever experienced the loneliness and imprisonment a person can feel. I think that the illness that you cannot see or "prove" to someone is the worst. Its lonely and hard enough dealing with yourself, let alone defended it. Rant over!