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Dear FutureMe, What really makes the whole ordeal really sad is that my cousin, Young And Annoying knows about my mother's illness. I just hate his ignorance and his lack of tact. He thinks that the kind of mental illness my mother has is something really bad. It's not. My mother only has a mood affective disorder. SHe doesn't have a personality disorder. SHe's not even a psychotic. She's just manic-depressive. For years, she has been stuck in her manic episode. And my cousin, in all his ignorance, thinks that it's something to be ashamed of. It's not. These things happen. My mother has a form of mental illness but she is not a nutcase. Her disorder can be treated. She can get well. Maybe I feel a little bit defensive because I know that I could have it. I'm prone to depression but I know what triggered it. Being s3xually abused as a child cannot be good for you. I know that. But I don't know what triggered my mother's disorder. And I'm afraid to ask why she's like that. I have to go exercise now. I will cry tonight. But for the meantime, I'll try to hold it in.