I was reading my mother's last issue of Oprah Magazine (yes, I do read Oprah) and came across a section devoted completely to mental health.  I was especially touched by one article by an author who suffers from bipolar disorder.  I loved her choice of words that she used to express her pain and triumph.  I contacted her and she responded with this: 

I encourage all young people who are feeling extremes in moods and oversensitivity to day to day events to look deeply into themselves and try to sort out what is real and what is not. The time that you're living in historically, psychologically and socially is confusing and insane enough. It's extra hard to add on to that the sensitivity of one's personal journey. Some people can make it through these years of adjustment with problems that are appropriate for your age. But there are those of you who feel isolation, loneliness, strange bursts of energy, odd interpretations of people's actions, wishes to run, fly, break away, wishes to crawl into a corner, all of the extremes of what could be more than just sensitivity.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help if you feel that your moods are going over the edge and it is important to seek out assistance because if you don't catch it now, as you get older it's going to get worse and it's going to be harder for you to pull yourself out of whatever state of mind you're in. In fact I think it is a really brave thing to confront oneself with a mental illness and to carry through with some kind of treatment, however mild or severe is necessary. There's nothing to be ashamed of if your moods control you and you can't seem to get ahold on your life. There's nothing to be ashamed of if it seems as if you can't get out of a small dark square room that is keeping you from joining the lives of others. 

There's nothing to be ashamed of if your energy seems to have been completely depleted and you don't want to go on with the usual things of life. There's nothing to be ashamed of if you feel alone and unloved. These are symptoms and they are curable. The day for hiding emotional illness is over and you should feel free to come out as quickly as possible and seek the help that you need. Furthermore, if the first person that you approach is not right for you go to a second person, or if need be a third. Remember you have an illness and you wouldn't let yourself be treated wrongfully by a doctor for a physical ailment. This is the same. You should trust the person you find and begin a relationship that can heal you.

Finally, I want to tell you that despite how you may feel you are not alone. There are so many young people who are suffering from one form of disability to another and you keep yourself isolated out of shame or ignorance. Be comforted in that you are among a large population of young people who are simply growing up toward adulthood in an especially rocky and precarious way.

Elizabeth Swados is the author of three novels, two non-fiction books, and nine children's books. A renowned musician, director, and composer, she has received five Tony-award nominations and three Obie awards for her theatrical productions both on and off Broadway. She lives in New York City.