The writing titled “My Battle with Mental Illness,” written by Erin M., talks about mental illness. Her selection left me feeling quite sad. Many people do not understand or know much about mental illness. It affects so many people in the world. Not enough people realize what an impact it can have on someone’s life. Erin, the author of the selection, experienced a very traumatic event. She was too scared of the effects it would have on her family to tell anyone. She soon couldn’t take it anymore and attempted to take her own life. Erin then had to tell her family what had happened. She began to talk to her cousin about mental illness. Erin said, “I realized that even in my own family, I’m not alone in this.” She also said, “Without the support from those around me, I would still see the world as a negative place.” Erin got the help she needed in order to get her head straight because of somebody understanding and relating to her.