Thank you ((((Hank)))) for your kind response. I was afraid after I posted, I would get a lot of negative responses and angry notes. Since I posted, a memory of an incident came up that I hadn't remembered in ages.

I must have been 14 or so..close family friends of our parents came to the house for a visit. I had been told in advance that the son, whom was coming over, as well, had a mental illness and could be a bit aggressive, so to be aware. When they arrived, we were all together in the living room chatting, enjoying hors d'oeuvres...then, we moved to the dining room for a nice meal and more conversation. I was simply trying to be gracious and welcoming, making conversation with everyone, not focusing on the young man's MI....just being myself. At some point, as usual during these things, everyone went off to do things ... the men staying at the table to chat, the ladies around the kitchen cleaning up. I went back to the living room to hang out and the young man was there...at first, the conversation was benign and then he sort of flipped a switch and wanted to hug me. I felt torn because I was afraid by his switch in behavior, but at the same time I didnt want to anger him, because I didnt want him to hurt me (I had that warning in the back of my mind that he could be aggressive). So, I tried to change the subject, talk about school, events, activities, etc, but he came to hug me anyway. Once he had me, he started becoming more forceful, aggressive. I was scared too death. Thankfully, the adults were able to intervene and they left soon after. We never saw them again.

I dont recall my parents comforting me or acknowledging it must have been scary or reassuring me that I was safe. I just remember them saying something about him being gone and wouldn't be back.

I dont know where exactly I am going with this... sorry.