[MoonLit Meadow]

Cheeba-I'm sorry for what you had to witness, with regard to the story you posted. I truly am. Nobody should have to go through that, and I can't begin to imagine the pain it must've caused you and those that you loved.

On the other hand, not everyone's situation is the same. Everybody deals with things differently. Some people have "better" ways of dealing with things than others. When I get angry, or depressed....I don't cut myself. However, some people do...and whether you want to believe it or not, it's not always in their control. As an outsider, I may think it's stupid...or selfish...etc. But I'm not in the state of mind where I would think that I needed to do that, so who am I to judge? I don't know what that kind of desperation feels like.

If something like what happened to you had happened to me, you better believe I'd be angry about it...but if somebody else found themselves in the same situation...maybe I'd try and help them, and share my story with them...so they could perhaps see what kind of damage and pain they would cause to THEIR family if they did it...I'm not sure I'd take my anger out AT THEM...

I don't know about Haunted's life, but I have to imagine that she feels the way she does for a reason. Just like I act out in certain ways about certain things for reasons only I know...or anyone else does for that matter.
I agree with the fact that we have to be responsible for our actions, and that we have to help ourselves. But sometimes in order to help ourselves and change, we have to know that there are people around us who love us and are there to support us...

I'm glad that you're a strong person who seems to be quite capable of taking care of himself...but not everyone is like that...not everyone is that strong. We all have our breaking point, and how we act in times like that will always vary.

I can respect that you feel that suicide, etc is a selfish act...but I'm not sure I can agree with you attacking Haunted herself...People who are thinking of it (suicide, etc) aren't in a "normal" state of mind...if they were, they probably WOULD think about the consequences, etc...and they wouldn't do it.

Mental health issues are REAL, and they have to be treated. To tell somebody whose suffering from schizohprenia, psychosis, depression, etc that they should just get over it and "help themselves" just doesn't work. What also doesn't work, I have to imagine, is making them feel worse about themselves. The act itself may be a terrible thing...but to attack the person....I can't say I agree with that.

I have a B.A in Psychology, so I'd like to think that I'm somebody whose sensitive and mature enough to deal with this subject with an open mind...even though I don't have "personal" experience with it. And I'm pretty sure that Trippin' HAS had personal experience with the matter, but I could be wrong...so, I have to believe his intention here is only to support her...not wave his dick in her face ;) Or whatever was said.

Anyway, not that it matters to anyone...but what matters to me is that people realize those who suffer from any mental health related issue shouldn't be looked at as selfish or crazy, etc...but as people who obviously need help...there's a person there...not just the "issue". However, that doesn't mean I excuse the things they do...I don't buy into every person whose on trial and tries to plead insanity, etc. But I realize that those who TRULY suffer from a m.h related issue have real problems that take time to resolve...and sometimes, sadly...there is no resolution.

Haunted, I genuinely hope that you continue seeking treatment for whatever it is that's going on in your life...and that through that treatment, you deal with your issues and become an even better person than you already are.

Cheeba-We've always been friends, and this is in no way an attempt for me to be a bastard toward you. I'm just honestly surprised you reacted in the way that you did. But you have your reasons, I know. Again.. you just surprised me...I may not agree, but I'm not trying to judge...just stating my opinion b/c it's an issue I care about...just like everyone else.