THE NEW PSYCHIATRIST
by Joanna Gilman Hyde
The Hawk Kitchen 5:09pm
After 22 years I might as well
admit to “having a mental illness”
yes — mental illness
with the name “Bi-polar” given to Me
by today’s very nice Doctor
from the Caribbean
— A Woman Who, taking thought, pronounced Me
“talented and complicated”
and smiled Her Very Nice Smile
and wrote out Her Prescription
Joanna Gilman Hyde 
Good to see someone being out front about their bi – polar, so people know where you are at. Have a relative who denies it, because the community is so harsh about it. Hard to know what is for the best. The ycuse a lot of diffficulties.
I can write about it but still don’t accept it. I really don’t believe in mental illness at all. I adhere to the late Dr Thomas Szasz’s theory of the Myth of Mental Illness. There is no TEST for mental illness in the body or mind, and I think the body IS the mind. “Mental illness” is opinion-based at best. It is based on perception – that of doctors, family members, and the perceptions of the one who supposedly “has” it. Perception is not illness.
All the best. stay strong
Thank you and thank you for reading and commenting.