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quickly...i just want to say that looking to all possibilities to help ourselves figure out what we may be struggling with is not an extreme measure. If I see a late stage alcoholic who has never been educated in the least about what alcoholism is I might take a few moments just to tell him what my eyes see and that he may want to take a hard look at his issues.....

Of course, I know what late stage alcoholism looks like, as do many around here, but me knowing that and being able to get someone else to see or accept that is another story.

I see mental illnesses in much the same way. Some times symptoms seem as obvious as alcoholism does to many of us.....but people will not accept what they don't want to until they decide they might can accept it.

To me....the extreme measure comes from people suffering for years, decades and lifetimes with bipolar disorder and other illnesses...just b/c they were too afraid to accept that they may have it. That's what's sad to me. We have it whether we are too afraid to accept it or not, but only through acceptance and letting go of social hang-ups...can we start to learn how to be the best and happiest we can be.

Hugs,
Jenna