“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” Glenn Close

Myth #3: Mental illnesses are just an excuse for poor behaviour.

According to The Canadian Mental Health Association[CAMH] believe that people’s behaviour’s do seem strange when suffering with a mental illness.

I did not choose to suffer with mental illness and sometimes my behaviour may seem weird to others at different times. There have been times while having someone visiting that I totally blank out and have to ask the person what we were talking about. So, I just chalk it up to mental illness.

I have a relative who suffered with schizophrenia and there were many times that the person would do something strange that was not part of the current situation. There were times that a statement would be made with no connection to the current conversation. It wasn’t their fault it was the illness. When they would stick to their medication regiment they would show nothing strange. Also housework and hygiene would change without the medications.

I now can see the importance that was stressed while in treatment about taking a shower or a bath. Getting dressed each day, keeping your clothes cleaned. All these things to help you maintain a regimen in your daily life.

So dear reader, mental illness is not an excuse for poor behaviour!

© d. m. bourne

Twitter: @BipolarRts