Next time you're in a lecture hall, or on a bus or in the grocery store, look around. Count off people in fours. Now everytime you reach four, pause on that person, not too long, just a monent then go on the next four.
Why am I asking you to do this exercise?
One in Four adults WILL have a mental illness or psychiatric disorder in their lifetime. What does this mean? Well, look around, I bet you have atleast three freinds, this means it's liekly one of you (and yes it could be you), will have a mental illness at one time or another. it may not be the type that you have for a lifetime, it may not be extreme, but it will be a mental health issue none the less. These illnesses do not discriminate, it doens't matter where you live, how much money you have, how much money your parents have, where you go to school, whether you're male or female, black, white, hispanic, east indian, martian etc, it doesn't matter what state you're from or the language you speak, or the position you hold at work.
What illnesses may be effecting people you know? Here's the short list:
Mood Disorders
Depression, Bipolar
Anxiety Disorders:
PTSD, Panic disorders, Phobias
Eating Disorders
Anorexia, Bulemia
Personality Disorders
Borderline, Histrionic
Dissociative Disorders
Depersonalization
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
Keep in mind this is the short list.
For more information:
www.NAMI.org
www.manyvoices.com
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