I was brought up to believe strongly in "keeping up appearances" and to "never air your dirty laundry in public". People with mental illness were viewed as "unseemly" if their problems were known to anyone beyond their immediate inner circle. One reading my mother covered up my father's years of serious mental problems. A big reason why I have tried to cover up my own.

So, some of the many questions I have struggled with - is it immoral to be mentally ill? Is a character flaw? Does it reflect badly on you as a person? On your family or friends or co-workers? How should people who find out treat you - with scorn or kindness?

What in thought I knew two years ago has proven wrong. I actually think a lot of the people I have met on this journey have a great deal of moral character - you have to to survive not only the condition itself, but also all of the crap society desks out to you over the condition.

I think if " normal" people knew just how hard it can be dealing with a mental health issue both medically and sociologically, they would respect us a lot more and ridicule us a lot less.