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From: Jennifer
Category: Category 1
Date: 6/29/01
Time: 12:06:00 PM
Remote Name: 165.247.174.67
I think it made me more aware myself of how mental illness can affect anyone. It is not selective. My mom has always been very intelligent, organized, and what you would consider a "together" person. It was something I never expected. The experience also started me thinking about stress and how many problems it can cause or exacerbate. My mother had anxiety attacks along with the depression. They were very real and different from what I expected. I learned a great deal from my mother's experience. I thought a lot about monitoring my own level of stress and watching for the same signs I saw in my mother in others. Sometimes people just need to know that you are trying to understand.