I always suspected that the people in your life can play a key role in your mental health. That is not to say they are to blame, or should bear the responsibility of 'fixing' you. Just that by being there and going through life with you, they can help.

This was just a theory of mine for a long time, seeing as for the most part I went through life alone. I lived with my immediate family (both parents and 2 brothers) for years, but we each were alone even when together. At times I had friends who I hung around, some of whom even did really nice things for me, but I was distant because I had walls up protecting me in case they turned and hurt me like so many others had before.

I alone fought the battle in my head. I alone attempted to conquer my demons. Ninenty nine point nine percent of the time I never vocalised what I was going through to anyone - not even to doctors - unless I had already dealt with the situation myself or years had passed so that it wasn't quite so revealing to share the pain and suffering.

Now I am fortunate enough to be in a loving relationship. For the first time in my life I feel completely comfortable around another, and whats more being around him seems to help my mental health. It's nothing something he does specifically, and most certainly not what he says because he doesn't really understand my illness and tends to keep his mouth shut when he doesn't get something 'I have nothing to say'... just somehow being around him makes things easier.

Now please note that I said 'easier'. He does not 'cure' me, and I still have dips... they are just less impactual and being around him I feel more in control of my mind. Perhaps it is because being alone I delved into my mind, my imagination, in order to cope with the real world which was too large and confusing for me to handle - thus when my mental illness reared its ugly head and I felt paranoid I'd try to go to the 'safe place' of my mind and that only exasperated the problem. Being with my boyfriend I fight the urge to go into my mind, instead staying with him, and I'm no longer sitting right bang in the thick of it. I'm actually swimming as hard as I can against the tide, instead of riding the tide into the sucking whirlpool and wondering why nothings getting better.

Not sure if any of that made much sense to anyone bar myself... however the point is that when you have someone who will honestly go through life with you, who loves you in spite of your flaws (he doesn't pretend that they aren't there, or even pretend that he loves them - which I'd find hard to believe cause I hate that part of me too, but instead he battles it out with me), and that you can feel truly comfortable and safe around then mental health does indeed get a lot easier.

If only we all had such people in our lives... I know I would have benefited from such a relationship with one or both of my parents... but such is life and I have it now so I mustn't complain. Who here has someone they share life with completely? What little innocious things have they done to help you?