On a normal day, I could have walked away. Very few of my neighbors in this mental illness treatment facility are violent. That said, one of my neighbors, who has a history of aggression, recently started cussing me out with a mix of b-words and f-bombs, then challenged me to a fistfight. I took off my glasses and said I was fine with that as long as she threw the first punch. She told me ""#$%!, you throw the first punch, I ain't crazy!" and a social worker came and broke it up. I went to my apartment and immediately had an asthma attack (Physical Disorders with Panic-Like Symptoms). I also punched a wall, bruising three knuckles. Not my finest moment, and not normal for me. But afterwards, I thought about what should happen when violence in mental illness treatment facilities becomes a problem.

Mental health professionals often say to never ignore suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. Unfortunately, suicidal thoughts and behaviors are one of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). It gives rise to the question "Should I always take suicidal thoughts and gestures seriously when the person has BPD?"

Every year, I'm faced with the same dilemma - what do I give to someone who has everything? And, every year, I come to the same conclusion; give in their name to a charity or a non-profit organization. This year, I'd like to recommend three different mental health organizations as possible contenders for your gift.

Psychiatric symptoms can make a person with mental illness an irresistible target for bullies. More Than Borderline's Becky Oberg shares her experiences and strategies on dealing with bullies.

My sign it was time to end an engagement to an abusive man was, well, a sign. Literally. I didn't expect to fall in love and become engaged to an abuser, but I think my borderline personality disorder (BPD), as well as his BPD and bipolar diagnosis, played a role in the abuse. I was afraid of being abandoned almost as much as I was afraid of provoking him. I believed his insults and my abuser's promises to change. I thought I was the abusive one. (Read: How Did You Brainwash Me?) That is, up until I saw the sign that said "Taking my money is abuse. Stop it."

I was raised Christian right-wing conservative, complete with the anti-government aid viewpoint—I was taught this was socialism, which every good American knew meant “communism,” which every good American knew was evil, anti-Christian and would enslave us all. I also sincerely believed that people on government aid should just get a job and stop mooching off the taxpayers. My attitude has since changed, largely because I've learned three things people don't know about Social Security disability.

Whether you call it Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act, there's no denying that the legislation has sparked controversy. But it's a much-needed debate: are insurance companies a business or a service? If they're businesses, as is the current role, they function by denying as many sick people as possible. But if they're a service, as is suggested by the ACA, they need to man up and do the right thing by covering those who need it most. So here are my three hopes of the ACA's effect on insurance companies.

A friend of mine at Wellspring Mental Health Ministries recently e-mailed me some prayers for current and former military personnel. The prayers reminded me of the stigma I faced in the Army for having a mental health condition, and made me think about the struggles veterans with mental illness often face.

One-third of all Americans believe mental illness can be cured by prayer and Bible study alone, but among evangelical Christians, the number jumps to one-half. In the video, More Than Borderline blog author, Becky Oberg, discusses the need for education about the realities of mental illness.

Regardless of whether it has pagan or Catholic origins, Halloween is a time of year to remember the dead. For example, my church takes a moment to remember our members who have died - two of them by suicide. So, in honor of Halloween or All Saints Day or whatever you call it, here are the life lessons I've learned from death.