Personal experience is often required for some individuals to acknowledge a different life path. An old Washington Post newspaper article reported that England's Prince William stepped out of his privileged life one Christmas Eve and fed the homeless at a British youth center. He is quoted as stating, "I can't, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep on the London streets night after night." As a psychiatrist, it is common to hear the struggle for unconditional acceptance of a mental illness.

Why are the symptoms of mental illness so hard to accept? Ignorance about the illness and fear of the unknown quickly come to mind. People ask how mental illness can be in their family. The answer is easy. It is a reality that mental illness is an equal opportunity illness. The disease crosses all levels of social, economic and racial barriers. Could mental illness be a family curse or punishment for a legacy of misdeeds? Despite the scientific data, many still believe mental illness is just bad behavior and poor moral values. A segment of our society assumes that the symptoms of mental illness are just manipulative games played in order to avoid responsibilities.

Our society's limited acceptance of mental illness can pose barriers to individuals developing their necessary support networks. This process of identifying an emotional support system can be painful. The person or groups identified for emotional support should accept your illness unconditionally. Those you can guarantee will trigger your self doubt and insecurities about your emotional well being should probably not a have a number on your cell phone speed dial.

If you had a heart attack and needed a support system, who would you ask for help? This is the same concept of support needed for your brain disease. What is good for your heart is good for your brain!