Comments on: Eric Millegan Is A Brave Man

By: markzamen

markzamen — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:49:16 +0000

Yes, Millegan is to be commended for "coming out" on both these characteristics. It is quite true that discrimination against gays and those who suffer from mani-depression is quite real. I susupect that Millegan and anyone else who is dealing with these issues, or knows someone who is, would be very interested in my recently released biographical novel, Broken Saint. It is based on my forty-year friendship with a gay, bipolar man, and chronicles his internal and external struggles as he battles for stability and acceptance (of himself and by others). More information on the book is available at www.eloquentbooks.com/BrokenSaint.html.

Mark Zamen, author

By: Father_Time

Father_Time — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:19:08 +0000

Oh good grief.

By: kathykattenburg

kathykattenburg — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:46:29 +0000

I agree with what you wrote as well, Patrick. As strongly as I believe that homophobia is a very serious problem, still, I think there can be no reasonable doubt that, today, in the 21st century, it is much, much more socially acceptable, and thus easier, to come out as being gay or lesbian than to tell people -- even friends! -- that you suffer from a mental illness, or a mood disorder, which is what bipolar is.

If anyone does not know, Patty Duke is another well-known actor who has bipolar disorder. I'm sure there are many others.

I can vouch for what Millegan says about the depressive side of bipolar disorder -- how it feels. I have suffered from clinical depression for most of my life, and in the last few years it's gotten so severe that I gradually had to acknowledge to myself that I could not work anymore in any traditional sense. I can't hold a job anymore. I applied for Social Security Disability in January of this year, and on July 24, my application was approved.

This is not something I talk or write about easily, although I have referred to being depressed now and then when the subject has come up at various blog venues. And I haven't told anyone outside my immediate circle about the SSD. But if this young man (and he does look very young, although he says he is older than he looks) who stars in a well-known tv show can open himself up like that, so can I.

By: Jim_Satterfield

Jim_Satterfield — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:19:39 +0000

You're right. That is a special type of courage. I liked his acting in that great ensemble cast and I really wish him the best in dealing with his problem.