Dear Susan,

Thank you for sharing other well-known phrases that are commonplace and too well known and taken in by others--particularly we in the mental health community.

I agree that words hurt. Judgmental opinions hurt like all get out, but it is up to us to consider the source and know for ourselves what and who we are. Dealing with any illness is difficult enough without others sharing their opinions that we must be bringing it on ourselves, we lack discipline, we do not do enough.

We need to be listening to those who genuinely care about our well-being. We need to recognize for ourselves what is true or not about who we are rather than allowing another's opinion to become our own.

Choosing our own path is a good way to put it, and I thank you for that. God is powerful, and faith is too. If we are standing in our own integrity and doing our very best, who is left to judge? If you have not walked in illness' shoes, do not even think for a moment you know everything by perception. Perception is not the full of the reality.

Thanks, Susan.

Best,

Kimberly Tyler