Thanks to all of you who have called, written, or spoken to me on the street about my recent article mentioning clinical depression. Your response has been overwhelming and your kind words of assent mean a great deal to me. Several of you who wrote me work in the medical field and a couple of you, specifically in psychiatry. I only wish I could have published your letters but The Journal has a policy that letters to any of the staff must include written consent for publication; letters signed "anonymous" or letters directed to me personally will not be published.

I'm not surprised to learn that there are many of you out there who either suffer with this dibilitating disease or know someone who does. Neither am I surprised that so many don't feel free enough to discuss it with the general public. It's sad but true. There is a stigma attached to mental/emotional illness and it is only within the last few years that we have begun to talk about it in the open, so to speak. I'm grateful for that.

You might find this difficult to believe, dear hearts, but all of us are mentally ill.

It's true. We may not all fit into a textbook category for any particular illness but, whether we realize it or not, we all have our own emotional peculiarities and each of us has at one time or another been a little neurotic. We have a lot more in common with one another than we might imagine. We are human, after all.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not in any way minimizing the severity of mental illness; I'm only saying that we are kindred spirits of a sort when it comes to our emotional and mental health.

My father lost three-fourths of his stomach to ulcers and he used to say there were only two kinds of people in the world. Those with ulcers, and those who caused them. I think mental illness is sometimes like that. There are people who have it, and there are people who cause it.

I know, however, it's not that simple.

Mental illness has a physiological basis like any other illness. Scientists say that some disorders are caused by imbalances in neurotransmitters, the chemicals in the brain that carry messages between nerve cells. There are other causes, as well, but the good news is, mental illness is very treatable.....and relatively common.

Twenty percent of the ailments for which Americans seek a doctor's care are related to anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks, that interfere with their ability to live normal lives.

Some 8 million to 14 million Americans suffer from depression each year and as many as 1 in 5 will suffer at least one episode of major depression during their lifetimes.

About 12 million children under 18 suffer from mental disorders such as autism, depression, and hyperactivity.

Two million Americans suffer from schizophrenic disorders and 300,000 new cases occur each year.

15.4 million American adults and 4.6 million adolescents experience serious emotional and physical problems related to alcohol use, and another 12.5 million suffer from drug

or dependence.

Nearly one-fourth of the elderly who are labeled as senile actually suffer some form of mental illness that can be effectively treated.

Unfortunately, a very small percentage of sufferers ever seek help of any kind.

Although I've battled depression and anxiety over the years, I'm certainly no expert in the field of mental illness. But I do know we are all vulnerable to psychiatric problems. We just have different levels of vulnerability. Some of our problems are visible; some we keep well hidden. Some people get help; some suffer in silence. Some are genetically predisposed to mental illness, some environmentally. Whether or not any of us develop severe symptoms we all have stress tolerance levels and at any given time we may display behavior that is considered "abnormal."

Who among us has not joked about being "crazy," "psycho," or ready for the "looney bin?" Movies and television play a huge part in our perception of those who suffer with mental illness and many times those illnesses have been greatly exaggerated, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. Psychiatry has come a long way since the days of the "Cuckoo's Nest and Nurse Ratched."

Unfortunately, too often in the past people thought of mental illness as a moral or spiritual failure (nothing could be further from the truth) rather than the highly curable illness that it is.

It is my hope, dear hearts, that we as a community of intelligent, caring individuals will begin to understand and support, rather than ridicule and judge, those among us who are currently battling depression, anxiety, or any other emotional trauma.

And for those who are in need of help with emotional or mental issues, I urge you, don't let the fear of being stigmatized prevent you from seeking treatment for your illness. It takes time but people do get better. Mental illness is a physiological illness, like heart disease and diabetes. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for mental health issues, but they can be treated most effectively. Surround yourself with supportive people. Tell others what you need. Share your experiences. Find someone in whom you can confide. And yes, laugh every chance you get.

Laughter promotes good mental health.

Thomas Sydenham, a seventeenthcentury British physician, once observed: "The arrival of a good clown into a village does more for its health than 20 asses laden with drugs."

So I leave you with this: Psychiatrists say one out of every four people is certifiably nuts. Think of your three best friends. If they seem okay to you, then guess what....... it's you!

Thanks again, dear hearts.

Normal is just the setting on the washing machine...