And it really is illness at times. I realize not everyone in therapy is there dealing with mental illness; many are there for other reasons. But unfortunately, some of us have an all-too-clear understanding of why it is called a mental illness. The severity of symptoms can go far beyond anything therapy alone can handle at times, and that can absolutely be life-threatening. Some people are so debilitated by their mental illness that they are unable to work and unable to care for themselves at times; for others it is such a chronic problem that they truly are disabled by their mental illness.