A tough question. I may have been unaware that their actions were distressing or even harmful to others. If I later find out how they felt I may feel guilty and ashamed. It can be especially difficult if those around me seem afraid or hostile.

You bet there is stigma for mental illness. If you are married and your wife or husband has a "breakdown" and winds up in a funny farm for a while count on losing all your friends, money and sleep. The nightmare generally lasts two years until the two of you finally accept that both have changed and are no longer interested in rowing one boat together. In most cases the defective person will blame the partner for his or her problems. In a rare "Love Story" case the defective person will leave the well one feeling that he or she deserves a chance for a normal life that he, or she, cannot provide by going off all the time and leave out of love. Rare though it may be this does happen.

I just be patient and supportive and honest