When someone breaks a leg, people “get” it. They understand it. They empathize with it. They’re compassionate about it. The same thing is true when people get cancer or undergo surgery for a heart condition or even get the flu. And yet when someone has a mental illness, people just don’t “get” it. And in spite of spending more than a decade educating about my mental illness, bipolar disorder, sometimes I feel like they never will. This tends to make people with mental illness feel alone.
People Identify with Non-Neurological Illness
People identify with illnesses that happen outside the brain because people have experience with illnesses that are non-neurological in nature. Many people have broken a bone or know someone going through cancer treatment or have had the extreme displeasure of having surgery. People “get” these things because they have lived experience with them.
The thing about serious mental illness is that people don’t have lived experience with it. It’s almost impossible for a neurologically-well person to understand the concept of something misfiring in the brain. They just don’t “get” it because to them, they are their brain and their brain is them. And what could possibly go wrong with “them?”
People Don’t ‘Get’ Brain Illnesses Even Though the Brain is Just an Organ
But those of us with serious mental illnesses can tell you that your brain (and your bipolar thoughts) are not you. Your brain is just an organ. Your brain is just a fancy computer. And computers and organs break down and have problems just like hearts, lungs or pancreases. And I would suggest that due to the fact that your brain is much more complicated than an organ that simply secretes insulin or pumps blood, it has many more possibilities of something going wrong with it.
But this fact is lost on most people.
How Do We Help Others ‘Get’ Mental Illness?
A really effective way of getting a person to “get” mental illness is to give them lived experience with it. And no, I don’t mean giving everyone a mental illness, I mean giving them direct experience through means of storytelling. I tell my story of bipolar disorder to hundreds of people a year in person (and thousands online) and it really is effective in changing people’s minds about bipolar disorder and mental illness. Truly. If your average person with no experience with mental illness takes an hour to hear me talk, minds change. Of course, I can’t change every mind, eradicate every stigma, or make everyone treat us with dignity and respect, but I do make a pretty good impact where I can.
Can You Tell Your Story of Mental Illness to Help People ‘Get’ It?
I’m not saying wear a neon sign here, but can you talk about your mental illness in a real and honest way with people that gives them a window into your experience? Now, you’re probably not going to be like me. You’re probably not going to do it in front of crowds or with strangers at a wedding, but can you do it with one person in your life? Can you change one mind? Can you offer one person a glimpse of what it’s really like to have bipolar, depression, schizophrenia or another mental illness? Can you do it?
People Will ‘Get’ It If We Make the Effort
In spite of my earlier statement, I feel like I am helping people “get” it, on the good days. Sure, on the bad days it feels like I’m swimming against a tsunami, but on other days, I do see the changes I create around me and I know that there are effects that I will never know about but that are positive.
But we have to make the effort to make this happen. If accurate information hadn’t been widely disseminated about HIV and AIDS, for example, we’d all still be walking around afraid to shake hands with people. If people with cancer hadn’t spoken of their illness widely then we wouldn’t see early screening and detection for better outcomes. In short, if these people didn’t do the work, we wouldn’t “get” their illnesses either.
Now, I know it’s unfair to say to someone who is sick to make the additional effort. I know that sucks and I know that many people won’t want to do it. Really, that’s okay. But if you’re well enough, and strong enough, I do hope you’ll consider it because in the end it really is in our own best interest. People “getting” it is what will end the discrimination, prejudice and stigma once and for all.
Hi, Natasha,
Boy, do you ever “get it”!! Your articles resonate more with me than almost ANY others I’ve been reading over the years! Kudos to you; you ROCK!
It’s funny how personality gets all intertwined and imbedded with mental disorders. What I’m getting at is this: It is super hard to get …uh, obtain..an adequate/accurate diagnosis. Ee-GAD, what our mental health professionals must go through! If you can find one who cares enough to “keep up”–as in, w/mental health seminars, journals, etc.
I am reading “Born to Be Posthumous”, Adler’s bio of Edward Gorey, (whom spellcheck doesn’t know and you may not either), and as I read, I keep seeing myself. Although I’m a “straight female” and live in Mississippi, I’ve spent most of my life on the west coast, yet never really felt that I fit in anywhere. My family always considered me a bit “peculiar” and spoke always of my seeming to be “on a cloud”. Born in the ’50’s south, I was convinced that the stork dropped me in the wrong decade, AND in Mississippi! No one understood or seemed to
care about ANYthing I was interested in, and I have to say the feeling was mutual. Having to go to an event, or anywhere for that matter, in a scratchy petticoat and a frilly dress and tight shoes was just an example of my perceived torture. I’d much rather be in my little T-shirt, jeans, Davy Crocket hat, and little tennies, watching cartoons and playing with socks on my hands as puppets. Or drawing and “making things”. I was an AVID reader, too, from the time I could hold a book on my lap absorbed in the pictures. My mom would look for me and find me. “She’s in her room with her nose in a book,” she’d say. Playdates were not successful, since I preferred solitary endeavors. I’ve always been a bit anxious, and it got really bad as I got into junior high school. Of course, back then talking about things like even pregnancy (she’s “in the family way”,”expecting”, etc.) was tenuous at best, let ALONE mental illness!!
(This seems to be going on and on)
The point is, I have so far been diagnosed with “Bipolar II, controlled w/attention deficit disorder, inattentive type” since the mid eighties; (silly me, I thought it was just two girls and early menopause, my bad). I, too could write a book because I have tried to be a compliant patient and a knowledgeable advocate in my own healthcare. I’ve read and learned a lot about mental health…or the lack of it! Not to mention I worked as medical biller and coder in CA, and my late husband (who died early, pardon my black humor) was an nuclear/”unclear”med/ultrasound technologist, too. Good thing I kept drawing and “making stuff” for hobbies.
Currently, I am dealing with a hypomanic-only-I-hope mood change and haven’t been able to reach my doc, since it is the holiday. Naturally. It’s Mississippi, and it’s not an emergency. So I’ve been reaching into my bag of tricks like a witch doctor and so far I am not feeling like the drowning man yelling, “Self-help! Self-help! anymore. Writing is one of those tricks for me, as well as listening to Dan Fogelberg and Steely Dan and other favorites. My husband (the “early” present one) is so sweetly supportive and has been a real trooper; he is a carpenter and I give him lots of printouts like your articles, since he is red-white-and-blue-collar w/a twist. I’ve already “called a friend”, “spent time outside”, and “done some reading”. (Your book is on my list for a later date) “Call your therapist”done that…whatever….
Thanks to whomever reads this and thanks again, Natasha, for being there because we all need someone like you to help us know that none of us is alone in this ghastliness!
Much mushiness,
Shirley Tracy
People understand my past bouts of mental illness when I tell them the truth; that I was abused by both my parents as a child and then suffered from the horrific side effects of psych drugs. People totally get it when I explain it to them. Maybe you’re not being clear enough in your explanation.
Sadly, unless people have experienced mental illness themselves, they don’t get it. My mother said the other day to someone within my earshot “Life’s too short to be depressed”. I wish I had thought to counter with “Life can be short, if you are depressed enough”. I have bipolar 1 and panic disorder. Nobody, not even mental health professionals, gets it. Why would they? Might as well ask a cat what it feels like to swim in the marinaras trench, or the same cat what it feels like to walk on the moon.
Well, I’ve done all I can do; explained, educated, calmly described, screamed from the top of my lungs, all to no avail. They. Still. Don’t. Get. It. What’s most disturbing about this is that has occurred within my immediate family (mother, brother), two people who, respectively, have been on Prozac for 20+ years and should have SOME inkling about this, and a mouth-breathing moron who still thinks the earth is flat………funny how the ones you think will get it, don’t ….and the ones you don’t think will get it, do. While I know if you don’t have BP it’s hard to understand, but there has been no effort on the part of my family to read or educate themselves in any way about this disorder. So, short of cutting them out of my life (which could happen at any time), I’m very mindful of what I tell them anymore…..tired of the stupid, uninformed comments (“everybody’s bipolar to some extent”, “everybody get’s tired”, “get over yourself”, etc.) Can’t make chicken salad outta chicken sh*t, can ya ? Oh well, as they say, “onward and upward” (I’ll try, but……we all know how that can be !)
I am a full blown manic and have been diagnosed for 7 years now. My mother and sister and majority of others will say they understand my disorder while im not in an episode. The moment i have an episode i have my family rushing to my house to scoop my kids up to leave me isolated. Their logic is keeping the kids safe and whatever decision i made i made it by myself. My husband deals well with my bipolar occasionally but refuses to educate himself for my sake. I have a hard time staying on my meds and i am constantly being called “crazy”. I am 29 and just graduated with my asssociates in business, how would a crazy person do that? I can be very violent but i can usually at least warn someone to stop or they will get hit. They choose to keep pushing. I am alone, like i felt at 15 in the mental hospital, or when i wanna cut, i feel these people will not budge and expand their knowledge. I feel this puts me in a downward spiral. If only i could sot and talk for hpurs to at least 1 person and get it all out, someone who really gets it.
I sometimes don’t “get” my own mental illness even. It’s very frustrating when people tell you just to “cheer up” or otherwise indicate that you are weak or flawed in some way. I called a new doctor to make an appointment. When asked why I needed to be seen, I replied, “severe depression, and possibly an ear infection.” She then said, “You might want to use our urgent care center tonight for your ear infection. We can schedule an appointment next week for your depression.” I didn’t go into details with her (I was very suicidal, I’m bipolar, and had a previous attempt eight years ago that left me hospitalized for two months). I feel like my days are numbered. I am only “calm” at this point because I feel like I need to get things in order so that I don’t leave a mess for my family.
I agree totally that the brain is an organ like heart, liver etc and can malfunction. I also know it is the seat of higher order functions like cognition and emotions so when things go wrong there it has very serious ramifications for the individual afflicted. But psychological reactions like excess stress can trigger or worsen symptoms. Medication can and does help manage but usually not cure the illness. I have major depressive episodes along with some hypo manic episodes in my history. I’ve had psycho therapy and meds as treatments and feel the meds are more helpful and without them psycho therapy provides to talking cure or even substantial relief.
I thank god and medial science for psychiatrists and am very grateful for them, imprecise as their medical practice is. I only share fully with my doctor and psychologist only- others only when i consider it safe- close friends or other consumers- employers very rarely if ever. Stigma and lack of understanding remain a serious societal problem. I consider depression a very serious medical problem and the enemy. It’s been a long battle for me and i wish more people “got it”
What gets to me is: it’s not only your family, friends, neighbors and potentially co-workers who primarily do “not get it” but it’s also the MEDICAL world, and those who work, study, and dwell within that also have many who just do “not get it.”
I have seizures. I’ve had them since early 2008. I’ve been seen by 2 Neurologists and 2 Resident Neurologists, for a total of 4 “garden type” Neurologists (their words, not mine). All 4 of them, with no medical definitive test to show proof of, have diagnosed them as Psychogenic (aka psychosomatic).
We discuss meds. All 4 of them have said, and I quote “there is no point in prescribing you any meds because from what we can tell, you are not having seizures.” they went on to say “if we give you meds and you do not actually have a biologic illness, the meds can be very dangerous to your health, produce very serious side effects and could potentially kill you.”
2 of them, both the actual MDs of the lot, I giggled and laughed – in response.
Those 2 wanted to know why I was laughing and what did I find so funny?
I told both of them: “You do realize what you are telling me, don’t you? You are telling me that if I do not actually have a biologic illness, the meds you would prescribe would be dangerous and un-healthy to me and potentially even kill me. You do realize what you are saying, don’t you?”
and they had incredulous looks on their faces… I continued “You realize that most of these meds that you use for seizures are also used in psychiatry. The Depakote, Lamictal, Tegretol, Trileptal, Lyrica, Xanax, Ativan, Valium to name a few are used in psychiatry and prescribed for years and years. So, are you telling me then that psychiatry is NOT a biologic illness?”
Neither of the 2 would say…
THERE IS bias against the mentally ill within the Medical world of practitioners. The NP for the last Neurologist I saw, just earlier this month noted “well, maybe they are just mood related. You do have a mood issue.” to my questioning as to what may be causing the seizures to occur?
I had one of the Resident Neuros tell me “well, just in case they are real seizures and not fake ones… “
Actually, the National Institute of Mental Health, The World Health Organization and even the American Psychiatric Association disagree with you.
Not one doctor has even, under any circumstances been bold enough to make the claim that “all perceived mental illnesses are caused by genetics or chemical brain abnormalities.”
Not a single one.
In fact, the current prevailing theory isn’t even genetics or chemical imbalance but environmental distress caused by a lack of social justice and coercion into victim blaming encouraged by authorities (including… PSYCHIATRISTS!)
Secondly, I notice you keep using a persisting type of lie on your blog posts.
These lies have a technical name and are used in Science. They’re called “formal fallacies” or “logical fallacies.”
In Epistemology (the Science of Validity), one can never assume something to be a case and then just call it a fact.
Using any number of cycling assumptions and them proclaiming the concept an array of “facts” is actually anti-science.
Science exists solely to weed out assumption. That’s the only point of it. There is no other point.
The fact that you keep using these super-specific and already known incorract forms of assumption kind of bothers me:
1.) Inductive fallacy
2.) Mind projection fallacy
3.) Personal incredulity fallacy
4.) Optimism bias
5.) Dunning Kruger bias
6.) Argument from Authority
7.) Argument from Popular Testimony/Opinion
etc…
I think you need to learn about the Socratic Method, Epistemology and everything else, because you’re just clearly clueless and parroting authoritative talking points.
It’s as if people in lab coats could tell you anything and you’d believe it if they made it sound intuitive enough.
Prometheus
Thank you for your dictionary definitions and cut and pasting’s of your thoughts as it pertains to the issues of mental health causes.
I don’t know where you obtained the quote “all perceived mental illnesses are caused by genetics or chemical brain abnormalities” from as you didn’t reference the source. While I don’t necessarily agree with the use of the word “all” I’ll point out to you the incorrectness of your statements in one example and ask you to reference once again where you obtained your information to substantiate your thoughts quoted below:
“Actually, the National Institute of Mental Health, The World Health Organization and even the American Psychiatric Association disagree with you.
Not one doctor has even, under any circumstances been bold enough to make the claim that “all perceived mental illnesses are caused by genetics or chemical brain abnormalities.”
Not a single one.”
I have taken the time to list below but one example to refute your broad stroke statements. The quote is from NIMH:
“What causes depression?
Most likely, depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.”
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml
After 5 decades as a mental health caregiver, activist/advocate and a number of other hats worn I’ll opine we still lack definitive answers as to the causes and nature of mental health issues but I certainly can agree with the NIMH quote cited above not only relating to depression but many of the other mental health diagnosis and less so to your research and conclusions.
Sincerely,
Herb
http://www.vnstherapy-herb.blogspot.com
http://www.vnstherapy.wordpress.com
Claiming “likely” = “all” is a lie. [You clearly are aware of this, yet claim it refutes my claim. It does not.]
So you actually proved me 100% perfectly correct.
Claiming there are genetic and biological tests for mental illness is a lie.
Claiming distress isn’t natural, normal and therefore a an illness is a lie.
Claiming there are methods aside false-correlation DSM mapping for labeling people as “ill” is a lie.
That COMPLETELY defeats your simple and incorrect argument.
Here are some more corrections:
Claiming some humans get to determine the validity of the distress of others based on personal incredulity is a Epistemologically irrational and can only based in extremist and delusional egotism.
Claiming distress isn’t normal in a society plagued with double standards, injustice, accusatory thinking, social division, social stratification, abuse of power, peer bullying, arguments from ignorance, denial cycling, etc…
…and that’s without the need to mention war, political fervor, economic issues, the failing school system, the failing justice system, etc.. is a lie..
Claiming anyone can suggest even one person should ever be diagnosed and labeled, drugged, segregated and treated different based on non-criminal behavior is itself criminal in nature. It’s an ad hominem attack.
On a fun side notes:
1.) The inventor of A.D.H.D admitted to fabricating the entire thing for economic reasons.2
2.) The editor of the DSM stated he doesn’t believe it in anymore, and psychiatrists and psychotherapists are clearly fabricating illnesses, symptoms and research.
3.) The NIMH (whom you cited) actually reject the DSM V. It’s a fact.
4.) Correlation does not equal causation. This is fact.
5.) Behavioral inacceptance is more antisocial and irrational that non-criminal behaviors that annoy control freaks.
6.) Iatrogenic Stigma and Identified Patients are actual things.
7.) Argumentum ad populum, the basis for psychiatry and psychotherapy… are known formal fallacies rejected by scientists and epsitemologists.
8.) In fact, every drop of psychiatry and psychology violates the scientific method.
9.) Both molecular psychiatry and neurological psychiatry are minor fields not supported either by data nor the consensus.
Prometheus,
Shish, instead of all the verbiage how’s about your simply stating your “Anti-Psychiatry”? I can accept your position; although I don’t agree with you on all issues.
What I also don’t agree with are your many undocumented statements.
I don’t know who you are talking to when you keep stating “Claiming”. I haven’t claimed anything other than to illustrate in one instance NIMH thoughts on depression which obviously differs from what I would now refer to as your dogma.
Unlike you I do not see life and especially issues relating to mental health and the brain as a nice neat packaged book of exactitudes and definitive statements of your perceived logic. I see substantial grey areas requiring continuing substantial research. The definitive answers I would look for I strongly doubt I’ll ever see in my life time.
Then again, who are you to say genetics, bio-neuro-chemical malfunctioning of the brain, environment, nurturing, trauma and/or any combinations thereof etc. are not the causation for many of these mental health issues?
“Likely” is as good an answer at the moment.
Most all psychiatric professionals we have enlisted through 5 decades more often than not have stated “We simply don’t know.” This statement I find more acceptable to me than what I perceive as the rage in your writing.
I’ll continue to read the medical research coming forth, naturally with my inherent skepticism, while respecting but not agreeing with the Anti-psychiatry folks upon many issues.
Thanks for the dialog; I’ll move on from here.
Sincerely,
Herb
http://www.vnstherapy-herb.blogspot.com
http://www.vnstherapy.wordpress.com
About a month ago, I disclosed “my illness” to my HR rep. I’ve not heard a word in response or return. I’ve seen no requests for a doctor to go through my job description (which doesn’t even portray what I actually do) to check off which item he/she would feel is “too much” for me to handle. You know, all the things HR tends to have the “victim” uhm, employee do immediately upon disclosure.
I’m figuring that will come when and if, I seek an accommodation and see, this is the thing: I haven’t sought a accommodation. I am merely informing ahead. Course, I also applied for a job promotion about 6 weeks ago. Would you wonder why I hadn’t heard a word about that, as well?
As for someone without MI to “get it”, the few that I have “lived” with or engaged time with… do not want to “get it.”
It’s simpler if everything is just personally blamed upon me, then it is to understand that some things are truly true to my illness and not because I’m the bitch they tend to call me. That I’m worthy of another invite, maybe in a few days, and not just that I don’t want to bother going or being somewhere.
Then there are those “others” that are adamant that they truly do GET IT and understand IT and know all about it MORE than the one with it.
They have read countless books on the matter, asked their loved one’s clinical team untold amounts of questions and have lived with their loved one for so many years and now… they are experts at their loved ones illness. Thing is; they often miss the mark entirely.
I knew of someone who insisted she was fully versed in all things Bipolar, because her mate had it and she had been with him for nearly 20 years.
She proceeded to inform me that she knew we Bipolars had absolutely NO INSIGHT into our illness, weren’t aware that we had no insight, and that every moment of each day was us living through our symptoms and not realizing reality one bit. Not a thing could or should be trusted with us and that we were prone to “fly off” at any given thing.
In essence; we are just cra cra all the live long day and had no ability to make decisions for ourselves or handle anything for ourselves because we had no insight into our illness or it’s manifestations. We can’t learn to decipher our own mood swings and such, so she had to learn how to decipher it and tell her mate.
I thought to myself “whoa, this would be a scary relationship. I’d be angry at her for patronizing me, she’d take it as a symptom of my illness and totally disregard it and then inform me that I’m being symptomatic and need to take a pill, to chill. I’d be further incensed and she’d tell folks what a bitch/bastard I am but that I’m cra cra so, it had not a thing to do with anything in reality.”
Kinda like the docs that think many of us go off the meds because we miss and crave and desire the “highs” of mania. Uhm, my manias have NEVER been that awesome.
My manias, when they get that high, are horrendous nasty filthy crazy squirreleness and I can’t stop and I can’t slow down and I can’t settle down and I’m not hitting the wall of the hamster box fast enough.
No no… I stop taking the meds because my eyes burn, I gain 40lbs in 6 months, I vomit repeatedly, my tongue swells, I come down with hives everywhere, can’t find my way to the bathroom cause I’m confused and disoriented so I use it wherever it happens (oh, yeah), sleep for 18 hours a day, I can’t go when I need to go because some med just cut off my bladder entirely, I shake and jerk and spaz… ya know, fun things.
No,I’ve never felt comfortable speaking in front of more than 2 people actually….
I’d more than likely enjoy reaching out to not only those afflicted w bipolar itself,but resident psych students……
I do believe,that psychiatry is not an absolute science…that they could learn quite a lot from even a mere 1/2 h
chat w me about my own personal life experiences w bipolar disorder.
I think,if more of us were willing to volunteer for this sort of education for these eventual full- fledged graduates…
Maybe our extremely flawed mental health care system ( @ least here in Ontario) may have a chance for change.
Books,diagnostic materials have there place,but life experience….rules over all.
As for your very well written comment on your good days you feel like your helping ppl.
I feel the same,precisely…
As when manic,I’m like too chaotic,depressed,non functional…but for the bare necessities.
I also ( though kind of off subject) was not told / thus do not believe rapid cycling bipolar is cured w meds….
I believe it is managed,I believe one has to know & avoid their own personal triggers…..
If there was a magic pill,diet,book,cartwheel!!!
To totally put it in to total remission,I’d sign on…but doing my education,toughest form of BP to treat.
It’s easier to divulge slowly in a safe,non judgemental place…
Like The Burble..I,for one,am very grateful it exists & that I am not alone in my struggles…
Although our physiologies,etc etc all differ this is a place where there is no judgement…which is,a relief & refreshing…..
I will say I have one thing that really bothers me…
It’s ppl that think,oh,you have it easy,you work from home….
I want to scream & yell,BIPOLAR,CHRONIC SEVERE PAIN DISORDER,numerous other MEDICAL ISSUES …EASY? THATS A 24/7 JOB w NO BREAKS OR HOLIDAYS, EASY huh?
Plus trying TO DO household CHORES CARE FOR my BELOVED cat, KEEP ALL MED APPTS/ PRESCRIPTIONS
STRAIGHT,PAY BILLS,DO BANKING, NO CAR……..yup……DrWHO.
Sorry.
Ppl like that need a reality / IQ check…..
Irks me …triggered me.
So….TEACH…WELL…
Others…as my Dr said,you can try & try ….WASTING ENERGY THAT COULD be turned into SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE………Done…..Beddies Hr.
Peace.
Natasha,
I totally agree with what you say and have believed it for some time. I’ve e-published a book about my experiences with schizophrenia. The problem is that I’ve only sold 54 copies so far.
More productive has been trying to be more open to people I see every day in person. When people who have known me for a while learn that I have had problems with a brain disease it does change minds and educate people.
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for another great topic for discussion.
I “get” it although I’ve been at it a little longer than you, like 5 decades worth.
Many people don’t “get” it because they can’t visualize it. They see broken legs and arms, rashes, limps, lumps, bruises, blood and bandages etc. So they “get” it. And contrary to your thoughts they can visualize any number of the many neurological illnesses such as Parkinson’s, Multiple-Sclerosis, Tourette syndrome, epilepsy etc.
Mood disorders take considerable time, patience and careful observations before one can first visualize and understand the nature of mental health illness.
It takes people like you and others to come out (when ready) to share their stories, experiences and knowledge in order to help others. That is those who are seeking help and understanding for themselves or others to also “get” it.
I’ll remind you there was a time when you were a corporate employee that you were very, very careful not to divulge your mental challenges. I would also add in my personal opinion that if one were game fully employed to refrain from sharing one’s mental health information simply because stigma and ignorance surrounds mental health issues even in the highest of places. Then again, I doubt in my lifetime if these issues will, if ever, be overcome.
I am similarly reminded of the stigma and bigotry of Anti-Semitism. That’s only be around for several thousand years and once again raising its ugly head. So much for years of attempting to educate but the point is those of us who do know have to continue speaking out and sharing our experiences and knowledge.
Once again, thanks for your outstanding efforts and your ability to effectively convey your helpful thoughts in writing.
Sincerely,
Herb
http://www.vnstherapy-herb.blogspot.com
http://www.vnstherapy.wordpress.com
I think I was a bit manic when I quit smoking 28 months ago by using ecigs, and have frequented the massive ecig forum since then.
I woke up one morning, told my story there in minute detail and posted my picture with it. I really didn’t want to go back there and didn’t for a week. I knew I would be bombarded with BP and all the rest of what we all hear.
Out of over 300 posts and over 6000 views they closed the thread. Not one single person said anything negative to me and to say I was shocked is an understatement. Not one person
What did they say? “Thank God you posted, would you mind if I pm you.” “My sister has bipolar, I’m printing this out for her. ” “I’m on Seroquel and I still can’t sleep.” “You have been really strong.” “Thanks for sharing this raw, honest story of your life.” “I’ll pray for you.” “I think I get it now.”
Can you imagine thousands of ex-smokers being that nice and understanding? I still get emotional thinking about that.