Dad......

I was diagnosed with Manic Depression (now called Bi-Polar Illness) when I was 17 years old after my first of many suicide attempts to come in my life. There is no way to explain the sudden feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, fear etc. that come over you and sometimes you just feel you can't live like this anymore and attempt to end your life. You have to live with it as a major part of your life to even begin to understand the feelings of I'm worthless, I don't belong here anymore, I'm just making everyone's life miserable for everyone around me and they would be better off if I was gone. I'm 56 now and have fought this illness my whole life even while getting married and having my two great kids. (marriage didn't work for me, it didn't last very long.) I fight harder than ever now for my kids and grandkids and they have come up with new drugs that have helped me. My heart goes out to anyone living with mental illness or depression.