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