Explore the insight of a provider with years of experience treating and educating patients and their support systems about mental illness. Students and residents will become privy to traps and pearls of wisdom that may help simplify the development of an effective treatment plan to help people with mental illnessThis book has three target audiences. It is designed to help families better understand what care options exist for their loved ones and also may help families become more understanding of their loved ones' conditions. It is also designed for students and residents interested in beginning a career in mental health by providing a background into mental illness disease and treatment options through the eyes of the patient. It is also designed to provide insight into mental illness for the individuals in the community at large. Through humor and insight, Dr. Dishman explores the mysteries and history of mental illness and its modes of treatment. Symptoms, probable causes and pharmacologic treatment are explained in an easy to digest format. This book is intended to provide the reader a combination of entertainment and education. Readers will benefit from a simplified guide to the ways that drugs function in the brain. Through family members' own words, we are given insight into the dark despair caused by mental illness. We discover that through proper treatment and education, doors can open into a better reality for patients. Education is the key to understand the devastating impact that mental illness has on our society. We see how well-meaning legislation can lead to disaster on our streets, and in prisons and medical institutions. We explore how early childhood experiences can lead to the development of personal biases, which have a negative impact on society as a whole.