[Erexecike]

I think mental illness in swordsmanship is a topic that is well earned and should be addressed in a forum such as this.

I am mentally ill, I am a sword student. To all sword students out there, I hope this thread is informative and supportive and builds confidence to our desire to train in the art.

I am willing to answer sincere questions about mental illness and it's relationship to swordsmanship. I find swordsmanship (and my doctors find swordsmanship) beneficial to help keep this disability under control. I practice and train because I love it. Just like the rest of us.

Feel free to make comments, experiences, and opinions, that's what a forum's for too. But my apologies, I will only respond to questions a couple of times a day until this thread's curiosity is answered. Answering questions is easier for me.

There has to be questions. Lots of them because the person you are training with may be mentally ill and be and look 'normal'. Then there are people who may be normal and act insane how do you tell the difference? 3% of the population is according to NAMI (US based National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). Odds are, you know one of us in your routine life.

Sincerely,
Danette
Age 36
Location Twin Cities Metro Area
Time in swordsmanship: 3 years and counting
Training: Kenjitsu and Iaido
Age of psychosis: 33 years
Hospitalization psych ward stay: 14 days
Diagnosis: Bipolar disorder with psychotic tendancy