My mind has been many things to me. A few years ago, it was a scary carnival movie filled with magic mirrors and rides that constantly flirted with death. I wanted it to continue because it seemed so exciting. The sad truth is, I was the only star in this movie, and I had no clue what was really going on. In the end, I lost complete control of my behavior.

My sanity is the most important thing to me now. I have lived through the worst of mental pain and nearly everyone's worst fear--becoming insane or "losing one's mind". I can hear people casually say "I'm going crazy," or "you're insane," and see advertisements like "Manic mania! We must sell everything now!" I don't expect people to become mentally ill like me, for this is impossible, however I do ask for some compassion.

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Maybe the next time you see someone on the street talking to an "imaginary friend," or find out someone you know has "lost their wits," you can try to look at them in a new way. I still wonder why people with mental illnesses are often ignored. Pure fear, I think. I too was afraid until it happened to me. I was locked up for two months, and only recently have gotten over the shame. So, next time you look in the mirror, think twice. Do you really see what you think you see?

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