Abuse

» citywoman1106 - addiction and mental illness

Thank you for a good article. The notion that we are not to blame for what we might stumble into--but we are responsible once we understand the nature of our illnesses--are valid points. I come from generations of addictions/mental illness and have been fortunate enough to get help, have medicine to allay some of the affects of mental illness, and just live in an era where the stigma is not as dire as it once was. The very fact that we have a choice now--to know that we are ill or to ignore it--means so much. Forty years ago, nice women didn't go to AA, psychotherapy was only for total lunatics, and not much was really known about why some people are a bit more vulnerable to drinking, drugging, eating--or whatever substance is being abused. We're lucky we can communicate about all this now--and get help and understanding.

-- posted by citywoman1106