I'm 27 years old and live in Southfield Michigan. I'm currently a student at U of M in Dearborn and will graduate sometime in 2010.  I usually like to watch the news like CNN in the mornings, and watch the local news for product recalls or anything that is worthwhile to listen to.

I come from a family that has a history of mental illness.  My siblings have bipolar and schizophrenia, but I have the diagnosis of dysthymia. Back then the first few psychiatrists that I went to just gave me prescriptions for bipolar because they looked at my family history and assumed that I had it, despite the time they spend interviewing me.  Some even told me that taking the bipolar meds would prevent me from getting bipolar in the first place. 

I didn't get my proper diagnosis until my mid-20s.  I finally got to a doctor who looked at my hospital records, gave me an in-depth interview, and told me that I have dysthymia and should be taking anti-depressants. So, instead of taking 3 or 4 different pills (and they were big), I take 3 meds that are a lower dosage.  On top of that, the psychiatrist told me that I had a better shot at having a more productive life than my siblings because in their eyes, I didn't get the "worst" illness.

I think that it's not fair to say that a person who has a lesser severe mental illness has a better chance at a "normal" life.  I always thought that people with mental illness, no matter how bad, could make something of themselves.