I figured out how to write about what happened here.

[EFerrari]

Let's see if I can say it in English.

It's always seemed to me that the main obstacle or a main obstacle to getting mental health recognized as a community goal and responsibility is that those of us who are involved don't talk about it in a way people can consume. We're too tired or stressed or busy surviving and dealing.

So, in my first little book, I tried to present a snapshot of what our families manage every day.

After Doug left, I knew I had to write about it but didn't want the work to be reactive or negative or discouraging, so just waited until the right frame came along. Does that make sense?

This morning I thought, I can write about what it is like to uncouple when a family explodes -- it happens often enough. But I can write about the different steps we take in that process.

Then, it would also make sense to write the other "bookend" -- what it's like to learn a family member has mental health issues, and the process of learning about them, of becoming attuned, of restructuring the way you live or think about "family".

(As usual, my mind goes from the end back to the beginning. lol)

[knowbody0]

1. if only we could live like that.

starting at the end and walking in reverse.

I have good feelings for the book, that it will really help those in need of the insight only one who experienced it can give. Thanks for all that you do.

Hope you are well, you sound as though your energy is good.

I am kate

[Larissa238]

2. I always wanted to write a book about what I have been through

but there is so much bad in my life that I have not come to terms with. I'm also scared of offending my family, most of them have no clue of what I went through. I have though about writing under a pen name or something.

Kudos to you for being able to do that! Good luck with your new one.

[no name no slogan]

3. Where might one purchase one of your books?

Seriously, I'd be very interested. :D

[EFerrari]

4. Pm me, nnns.

:hi:

[Droopy]

5. I hear you, sfexpat

After going through the trauma of suffering from my symptoms for ten years, it took a little bit of time before I was able to adequately communicate what had happened to me during that period of time. Two years as a matter of fact. When I was finally able to set my words down on paper I still found it a difficult task, but the result, for me, was priceless. I was able to effectively communicate what had happened to me in a way that the average reader, one not even with the slightest experience in mental illness, was able to at least get a little insight into what mental illness is all about. I know this because I gave my essay to many of my family members and they all thought it was very good.

Anyone who would like to read the essay can pm me an e-mail address, or if there is enough interest in it here I might post it. It's 5000 words so it is easier for me to send it via e-mail. I have posted it here before, but it was a while ago and I've since done a little editing. Let me know if you want to read it.

[EFerrari]

6. I wanna read it and see the changes,Droopy.

That would be great!

[fed-up]

7. do you have any stats on how many people w/mental health issues seem to gravitate towards

one another?

Even those that don't know they have MH issues.

And what does one do when one finally realizes belatedly that their entire family (5 siblings) and their family's kids and their parents most likely have some degree of MH issues?

Now I know why one nephew just graduated from UC Davis as a psych major and one niece is at San Jose State as a psych major. :)

[EFerrari]

9. The first question makes me think of my favorite punchline -

"They all did."

lol

:hi:

To the second question, the only that ever worked for me was to learn as much as I could and to love up my family. Oh, and humor. Humor is a great dissolver of all that is negative. :)

[mdmc]

8. yes yes yes

write