I felt confident for a few hours, then my sister-in-law told me about friend trouble. The friend has some mental illness struggles and the mental illness is causing relationship strain. The situation brings me back to my fears about dating. I don’t want to be a burden….but then, what? I never get in relationships because I might burden or hurt the other person? That means I will always be alone. Plus, relationships are give and take, as long as I act honorably and do not put undue or unfair burdens on someone, it is okay… but sometimes we crack and maybe we will do things we know are wrong like sending someone a suicide note and then disappearing for hours….. argh…must do more thinking….
*edited a few hours later* Well, confidence didn’t last long. Now I know my sister-in-law has a history of mental illness. I thought they were proof of healthy people enjoying BDSM. Now I’m rehashing all my “does masochism equal an unhealthy coping mechanism and not a true sexual desire?” arguments. 
Related articles
- We Need To Stop Romanticizing Mental Illness (thoughtcatalog.com)
- Acceptance of mental illness can only be helpful (jillsmentalhealthresources.wordpress.com)
- ON ISOLATION – When Others’ Presence Hurts (thecultivationofbeauty.com)
- Dating and Relationships with Mental Illness (crazykatze.wordpress.com)
- SPEAKING OUT ON MENTAL ILLNESS – The Importance of Family (janesaysrise.com)
- It was easier coming out as a lesbian than coming out as bipolar (blackbutchandbipolar.wordpress.com)
Masochist Musing 