Starbuck,

When you think about the way those with mental disorders were treated a hundred years ago, this planet has indeed come a long way. But not far enough. I think it's important to not acknowledge your disorder in most social situations because too many people still believe that any of us are capable of grabbing a gun and killing everyone in sight if someone as much as says the wrong thing to us. Talk about walking around with blinders on! Of course it doesn't help that when a person with a mental disorder does commit a crime, the press harps on that fact and reinforces that negative thinking that much of our society already has. They don't understand that we are simply trying to survive, one day at a time.

The key, as far as I'm concerned, is education. If we educate our societies about mental health issues, we can begin to remove the stigmas that foster the fears that we (those of us with mental disorders) have to face everyday. As I've heard said before, If I had cancer I wouldn't be socially unacceptable. I didn't ask to be Bipolar, why treat me as though I did?

Good question Starbuck, and a topic I've always been very interested in.

Be well,
Greg