| There are many trends today in the | | | | sentences, without running through the |
| blogosphere. From "Bitch Blogs" to | | | | town square shouting gibberish, we |
| having cartoon women in your blog | | | | automatically assume the person to be |
| header, as well as many others. One such | | | | "sane". |
| "trend" as it may be called by some is | | | | But with the introduction of the |
| not in fact a trend at all, but an | | | | internet and blogs - people who, if you |
| interesting societal statement. | | | | lived with them on a daily basis, you |
| So-called "crazy blogs", coming from | | | | would know that there is a serious |
| those with mental illnesses of every | | | | mental health problem can actually |
| variety from manic depression to | | | | "hide" their illness quite well over the |
| multiple personality disorder (MPD), | | | | internet. With the use of the backspace |
| seem to be popping up all over the | | | | key, editing, and re-thinking what they |
| place. How many times have you seen a | | | | write, people can appear to be whatever |
| blog themed with the blogger's own | | | | they want to be on the internet. And |
| personal mental disorder? | | | | with the help of the right combinations |
| Are these people faking their illnesses | | | | of psychiatric medications and regular |
| because it is the trendy thing to do? Or | | | | therapy, the person can appear to be |
| is there more to these blogs than meets | | | | quite normal to casual observers. |
| the eye? | | | | So are these bloggers lying about their |
| Interestingly, the National Mental | | | | illness for readers, or because it is |
| Health Association (NMHA) reports these | | | | "trendy" to do so? Likely not. In fact, |
| statistics: | | | | every single blogger I know who has a |
| * More than 54 million Americans have a | | | | mental illness and posts about it in |
| mental disorder in any given year, | | | | their blog has a serious illness which |
| although fewer than 8 million seek | | | | they and their families have to deal |
| treatment (SGRMH, 1999). | | | | with and cope with on a daily basis. |
| * Depression and anxiety disorders - the | | | | Most likely we only know the "face" that |
| two most common mental illnesses - each | | | | is presented to us, and not the person |
| affect 19 million American adults | | | | behind that public image. Mental illness |
| annually (NIMH, 1999). | | | | of any kind is a problem that seriously |
| * Approximately 12 million women in the | | | | affects not only the person with the |
| United States experience depression | | | | illness, but their relatives, friends, |
| every year - roughly twice the rate of | | | | spouses, and community. We should be |
| men (NIMH, 1999). | | | | helping them and being considerate of |
| * One percent of the population (more | | | | them - not judging them or excluding |
| than 2.5 million Americans) has | | | | them. |
| schizophrenia (Schizophrenia Bulletin, | | | | This entire post has been written by a |
| 1998). | | | | diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic with |
| * Bipolar disorder, also known as | | | | borderline personality disorder, PTSD |
| manic-depressive illness, affects more | | | | and clinical depression - all which I |
| than 2 million Americans (NIMH, 2000). | | | | have had since I was 12 years old |
| So it would stand to good reason that if | | | | (except for the schizophrenia which it's |
| 54 million Americans have mental | | | | onset was at age 20. I am currently 27 |
| illnesses, quite a few of them are going | | | | years old). I write pretty well for |
| to be blogging about it. So if these | | | | being "nuts", don't I? Would it surprise |
| illnesses are real, why are people so | | | | you to know that I have my own business |
| skeptical? I personally believe that | | | | where I make handmade candles and |
| when a person says they have a mental | | | | incense - so that I can earn a living |
| illness, immediately the person hearing | | | | but don't have to come in contact with |
| that statement looks for "signs". | | | | the public? Would it surprise you to |
| Obviously, when a person has a physical | | | | know that I'm a married woman, and my |
| illness, it is often noticeable to the | | | | husband helps me deal as best as he can? |
| naked eye - a broken limb, a cut or open | | | | Would it surprise you to know that you |
| wound, an amputation. When a person is | | | | see people like me all the time, at the |
| mentally ill, often with brief meetings | | | | grocery store, in the bank, at the |
| or over the internet, there are no such | | | | restaurant? Would it surprise you to |
| "signs". If we notice the person is | | | | know I have a blog...? |
| speaking coherently, in complete | | | | |