The Asylum

Mental illness is defined as: 1) Any disease of the mind, the psychological state of someone who has emotional or behavioral problems serious enough to require psychiatric intervention. 2) Any of various psychiatric disorders or diseases, usually characterized by impairment of mood, thought or behavior.

Statistics claim that roughly 1 in every 4 adults each year suffers from some form of mental illness. Anxiety and depression being the most common. Mental illnesses are biological based brain disorders and can strike any individual regardless of age, gender, religion, nationality or income.

Among the many things that make me fabulous (trust me the list of things that make me fabulous is endless), is my vast knowledge of mental illness and it's treatment. In my little bag of tricks I hold many bits and pieces of information. I know about the latest treatment modalities, newest medications, current mental health fads and all sorts of verbiage related to being/feeling crazy, out of sorts, not right, depressed and so on ... you can fill in any other labels here.

I came about this wealth of knowledge through two routes, formal education, yes my little huckleberries back when I had a career it was in the mental health field, and through personal experience. My family, those near and far come with many "mental issues". For some reason albeit whatever gods exist or perhaps it was just the way of the universe, I am a designated therapist to those I love and to those I know and to those that just happen to find me. My profound loyalty to family has made it impossible to ever turn a deaf ear to those in mental pain regardless of the cost to me both financially and personally. My strong belief in the strength and possibility of healing the mind, leading to a happy life, keeps me researching treatments and, medications. Constantly studying human behavior and it's effects on the mind.

In recent months I have been coping with the mental illness of a couple people near and dear to me. In fact, my emotional bond to these 2 is stronger than super glue. It has been difficult to see their pain, to witness bits of self destruction, to worry about side effects to new medication, to get completely encircled by depression, suicide, aggression and to be limited by their cognitive disabilities.

So why this post, I don't really know, as I do feel like I am just babbling. If I had a point (and I am not sure that I do) It is that sometimes given all the right tools, sometimes vast amounts of knowledge can't always help those you love. That sometimes wanting to save someone can cost you more than you were willing to pay. But you pay the price because you refuse to give up, because you can't lose faith that with time somehow, somewhere answers will appear and the mental anguish of those you love will ease it's self into a calmness that will allow them to live a happier life.

So my little huckleberries if you find yourself feeling a tad "crazy", if you are experiencing extreme bouts of melancholy, if you feel suicidal, alone, in despair, know that you are not alone. Know that millions of people all over the world are feeling the same thing right now, even as you read this. Know that there is hope, there is help. Know that your strongest asset is your ability to heal and live a better, happier life. Know that joy is around the corner, even if you can't see it right now. Know that somewhere on a tropical island someone wishes you well, wishes you a heart full of hope, a good nights sleep and above all ... a little mental health.