People are scared of 'mental illness'

Let me tell you - these two words will stop people in their tracks and often make them run screaming away from you. It scares people. They feel for you - sometimes - but they don't want to be around you. Not that it was different before I was diagnosed. People didn't exactly want to deal with it. Nor do they want to try to understand. I have been quite open about it. But I tell you - if you want to make people's eyes bulge - say the words 'mental illness'.