since I was 13 I have been treated for mental illness it take me to the age of 33 to be comfortable enough to open up and share my issues with people outside my family I have always hide it from the world now I have friends in my life that care enough to take the time to understand my issues and not judge I have not been manic or depressed for ten years I have even been able to travel one of my big steps was recently taking a plane I m proud of where I have been and my struggles have mad me have made me the powerful woman I m today and the stigma has subsided