Total Strangers
Losing friends is normal when you live with a serious mental illness.
Old friends become total strangers
When mental illness is your life
It’s easy for people to go
Those friends that are strangers
They must know of your illness
They’re scared so they
go.
They all
go.
You must be too unstable for them
You must not be sick enough for them.
You must be too complicated for them
You must be a bad person.
You have a serious illness but it is not real enough for anyone to care.
If you had cancer they would be there.
If you were dying they would be there.
Oh
but if you attempted suicide they wouldn’t be there.
They won’t be there for you.
They haven’t been there for me.
A stigmatized illness may lead you friendless.
Not because you are a bad friend,
But because you are a real friend.
Too real to deal with.
Old friends become total strangers.
When mental illness is your life
It’s easy for people to go.
They all
go.
About the Creator
Michelle Krauss
mental health writer
sharing my truth
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