Add Bruce Springsteen to the list of celebrities willing to talk about their mental issues.
Springsteen talks about his lifelong battles with depression in a 16,000-word New Yorker profile hitting the stands this week.
Every time someone in the public eye is willing to talk about mental illness, the door opens to acceptance just a bit more, and stigma is dealt a blow.
Ben and I are trying to do the same thing with our book. This week I was thrilled to present “Listen Up! Hearing the Family’s Perspective on Illness ” as Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds at Bridgeport Hospital, and honored to receive this feedback:
“I truly appreciated your candor, your humor, and your heart in speaking on this topic. I’d like to think I pride myself on empathy and compassion with all my patients, but I know after hearing you speak, I will double my efforts, all around, no matter the condition. Thanks again for a really worth while and inspiring talk.”
To touch another person like that – well, that’s the reason I wrote the book and speak out. Thank you.
Yes, right now it is mostly my crusade as Ben’s Mom – but someday I hope that Ben will speak out too. I see signs of acceptance in him, but I know he is not ready to say, in public, that he has schizophrenia. That’s okay. I will take what we’ve got, and I know what it takes. Patience. Understanding. Love. And some luck too.
Meanwhile – Thanks, Boss, for your courage and honesty. You’ve kicked the door open another inch.
“Be happy,” said my adoptive American physician Mother.
Go see your doctor, and suppress no more.
Life is just ephemeral, let go of sadness;
Medicine miracle: stigma no more…
gratitude.org/divorce.htm