I reach out to the world through this little page.  I hope for some love, some acceptance, and some thought.  If we see people in pain and lashing out we have to help them, not by finding fault or making assumptions about intent or trying to label as though they were in full control.  Control is the thing that escapes those of us with mental illnesses.  When we have problems or get overwhelmed by things we say things and do things that strike those who do not deal with this as being mean or cold or even threatening.

Mental illnesses are so severely stigmatized that sufferers have to try and hide it in all areas of interpersonal interactions.  Which in turn makes some illnesses even worse.  Leading to even more extreme behavior.  

I'd like to ask any of you who happen to read this a small favor.  When a person you know to be bi-polar or manic gets beyond the ability to control the words the they may say, try to understand that it is the illness and not the person.  Don't fire off angry  words of your own, try to understand that people with mental illnesses have a real problem, one that must be treated.  If the words come from a friend please don't shut that person out or make them feel even worse because, speaking for myself, I always know when I've been horrible to people.  I want so much to make things better.

Maybe what we need is just compassion.  Knowing that we won't be abandoned by our friends helps us to regain control and keep these illnesses in check.  Knowing that we will be forgiven for being ill helps too.  No one holds a victim of a disease like cancer or even the chicken pox accountable for the things they do while ill.  We are able to let them be cranky, tired or just in  a foul mood and we don't hold it against them.  

Mental illness is an illness.  We can be treated and we do get better.  So if you know a person who has a mental illness and they behave in ways that are out of character or just different, try to understand and try to help, even if that means ignoring some words or actions that you find to be offensive.