Feb.11/12

Good Evening All...
   I trust that you are all doing well this evening. So I was talking to a friend today who is Bi-Polar. She has started to write a book that she says she wants to write so that people can understand what is going on up in her head. She forwarded me a sampling of the book, actually all that she had written. After viewing last night, I had told her today that I read it. Of course, she wanted my opinion on it and I told her. I told her that if she was writing for a guy like me who deals with a mental illness or someone who knows all about mental illness via a family member, then her book would make total sense and not come off schizophrenic or crazy. But that if she was writing that same book for the average joe, I think that they might think that it was crazy and not continue reading it.
   After telling her that, I basically told her that she would need to "dumb" it down for the average joe to get it. Of course, she is like me and just wants to tell her story in her own way so that you, the average joe or joanne as it were, can understand what she or I or anyone with a mental illness goes through. And I guess that this is the point of tonights blog. Most or all of you reading this are VERY supportive to me and my family. I have had no negative comments on this and everyone is applauding me in my bravery and courage for writing this blog. While I fully appreciate all and every positive comment made to me, I too am just an "average joe". I too have relationships, children, money problems, stress and grey hairs. I too can catch a cold, have nausea, sore muscles and get the odd zit.(I thought those were supposed to go away after the teenage years.?.?)
   So what makes you different from me? Besides the fact that I am incredibly good looking? lol. Seriously? Nothing. Oh, nothing besides the white noise that goes on in my brain. Nothing besides the fear of losing control and allowing my anxiety to take over. Nothing besides freaking out when I can't seem to get a nice deep breathe going. Otherwise, I am just like you. Why do have such a hard time as a society understanding mental illness? This is a blanket statement. I think quite a few of you have a pretty good understanding.  I don't know if I have mentioned this already, but before I got my anxiety disorder; I was the guy snickering at the grubby guy walking down the street talking to himself. I was the guy who thought that there was some humor in being schizophrenic. I sure don't anymore.
   Why did I find this funny? Because I didn't understand it. At all. I think that it will be a long time coming before we as a society finally understand the nuances behind mental illnesses. I think that we are making our way there but that we have a long way to go before achieving utopia. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading this, supporting me and sending me encouraging comments. I thank you all for "understanding" me and what I go through on a daily basis. Just remember one thing, I'm just a regular, average joe.