Novel Mom

There is a stigma attached to mental illness.  No seriously, I didn't just make that up.  There is. A stigma. Attached to mental illness. Apparently, people don't see the entire phrase of mental illness . It's not mental weakness, or mental laziness, or mental irresponsibility.  It's mental illness.  And it's not a dirty word.  It's an illness, like other illnesses...diabetes, heart disease, asthma.   People don't want to talk about it; certainly not in polite conversation.  Nothing stops the fun at a party quicker than, "hey, I've got depression."  People don't always understand and so they turn away from the unpleasantness.  Because of that, people suffering from mental illness don't always speak up - thinking they will be ridiculed for their symptoms, that people will find them weak, that they will not be taken seriously.  But here's the thing.  WE can end the stigma, we can help our friends, our neighbors,...

I am not sure why I keep writing here, because I am pretty sure, just like in my life, that nobody is listening, or reading, or whatever.  That should probably make me quit and just give up and say what's the use.  Eh. Sometimes I think about it.  But then, honestly, remembering that kind of makes me want to write more.  Read, don't read.  Listen, don't listen.  Respect, don't respect.  I don't really care anymore.  You do you.  That's not mine, by the way.  The you do you.  That belongs to a teacher my daughter had this year who actually not only believes in individuality but encourages it.  Well, huh.  Amazing lady who spends lots of time talking about her beautiful children, is kind and empathetic, and seems to be fairly good natured most of the time.  How lovely. :) Anyway, my daughter loves the show Chopped.  You've seen this show on Food Network, right?  Four chefs, or sometimes not chefs, come tog...