If you talk about how people are brutalized in psychiatric institutions as well as in prisons, you will be believed and not dismissed as probably exaggerating or confused – like most witnesses to such events would be. If you describe specific instances of how people have died from brutal treatment in both kinds of institutions, most people will probably believe that those events really happened and might even think that they should do something to try to stop them from happening.

These are just some random speculations – suggestions, sort of. I don’t mean to burden you with excessive seriousness, and I hope your depressive feelings from earlier this season have abated. I’m just throwing out ideas – “submitted for your consideration”, as Rod Serling would say (I think he used to say something like that). Anyway, I wish you continued courage and happiness.

Thank you.

If you haven’t done so already, please get going and do something on the PBS special. I thought it was well-intentioned, though it wasn’t as gritty as Stephen Fry’s bipolar adventure. Well, I guess it wouldn’t be.

I was particularly incensed by the use of Andrew Solomon, a gay man and obviously very wealthy New Yorker and published author, as one of the characters the documentary followed. Loving family, overprotective mother, lots of money, etc…and plenty of medications. Worse, not only did he have a boyfriend who lay on the bed next to him behind a magazine during one segment, but he had a *hosted dinner party* … with a PBS camera crew there. OMG, what arrogance.

I’m a librarian, and my bf and a friend asked me what else he had written, and I really had to struggle to remember a title. Remember, librarians don’t necessarily deal in plots, just in genres and the exchanges of books to please the taxpayer.

This show had enough marginalized people with depressive disorder in it to disaffect every element of the non-coastal parts of the country.

Please post this without my e-mail address, although I welcome any correspondence from you.

Regards,

John

Does this help you sort through your mid-life crisis or does it add to it?

The Dark sickness and mental Illness is about the only thing we have in common I’m afraid.

You have your career, some cred as our spokeswoman and your name in the New York Times.

Think back to where you came from, what had happened in your life and what you went through, and how far you have come since then and I think you would begin to realize just how far you have come from those dark days of hitting bottom. To help hammer this home I’m tempted to create a stark contrast by sharing my own story.

Lets just say I had never amounted to much in the past, my case is going nowhere and I don’t expect things to change anytime in the future. I’m basically a dead end. If I shared these things with you in greater detail they would serve you as a stark contrast and would help you better understand how far you had come since you had hit bottom.

You’re a fine example to follow in comparison to me as well as a better qualified representative and spokes person for the mentally ill then I ever will be.

BTW If kitten is the person I suspect she is she was told time and time again that she would never get out of the state hospital, that she would never hold a job, go to school, get married, bear children or have grand children.

If she is the person I think she is it took her a lot of hard work and effort on her part to get as far as she did but she showed them in the process of doing the things they said she would never do.

Mitch

This week if it wasn’t about you, it was about a woman and her child. You kept giving her advice.

One problem, one answer – time to move on.

I don’t even know if your new idea to help people is a good idea – it’s kind of boring actually.

Get on with it please – when I was first named in the NY Times, it was exciting but I didn’t go on about it. It’s just a story it’s become your life……….not a good thing.

Now that I’m finally on the same page as the rest of the world, congratulations on all the attention you’re getting and may you remain the Liz Spikol of May 11 for as long as you wish, and not forget that a lot of people were also tuning in to the Liz Spikol of May 10.

For me personally, I think the best article that you will write one day about your serious mood disorder will be your recovery and long-term remission. Until then I truly feel for you knowing the nature of your daily struggles only from a different perspective.

I too am proud of you and others that fight the battle and continue to do so on a daily basis and have survived another day. I too am proud of you for having “the courage to speak out” through your education, ability and writing skills to instill hope and encouragement to others.

Warmly,

Herb

VNSdepression.com

Unfortunately, wanting to be heard might actually get you heard. The consequences you already know. You’ve gone this far…. the rest will be easier. Just fight on good days.

[Stan, I am having many spam problems. If your posts don't show up, it's likely a result of that. -- Liz]

I have experience. Just ask me.

Kitty