The Rosie Show

I have been watching Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show on OWN.  At first, I didn't care for the show very much.  However, she revamped and reworked -- and now does one on one's with no audience.  I like it much better.  Kind of like sitting down to coffee with someone.

Recently, Rosie's guest was Joe Pantoliano or as his is also known, Joey Pants.  At any rate, he was talking about his documentary about mental illness and talking about his own mental illness.  Ahh, a commonality between us.  One that I understand all too well.

He talked about how it affected his work, his life, his everything.  Rosie and Joey discussed how you can seemingly have everything, yet have nothing inside -- and be so afflicted that you do indeed appear crazy to those looking in from the outside.

I know that black place, and I totally understand how it can engulf your world.  I don't really think that people who have not suffered from Major Depressive Disorder or another mental illness can really understand just how all encompassing it can be -- and of the struggles to keep one's self out of the dark pit.  It is a full time job, and must often be coupled with medication and therapy to be successful.  And even then, you can still fall over the edge.

I applaud Mr. Pantoliano for taking the brave steps to bring his message to the fore front.  Our society does not always understand differences and often is threatened by them.  The more light that can be shed, the less stigma.

To find out more about Rosie O'Donnell's talk show on OWN, click here: The Rosie Show.

To find out more about Joey Pants, click here: Joey Pants.

To find out more about mental health, click here: NAMI.