Reply #179: Amazing [View All]

I hope that all of the people who are subtley hinting that mentally ill people should be treated as second class citizens read both your story as well as that of Bluerthenblue and the rest of the people who were gracious enough to post about their struggles. I went through a bout with a substance abuse problem. And while my issues pale in comparison to yours, I do remember the the "Just get your shit together" advice.

And you're right. If you are not a blithering, drooling shell of a person and actually possess some intelligence, then the feeling is that your illness is a defect of character and that something MUST be wrong with you if you can't straighten your issues out. I've seen many an intelligent person retreat deeper into their addictions because of that.

You and BluerthenBlue have my utmost respect.