Three years after returning home, feeling confident and involved with the church men again, Ted realized keeping his condition a secret magnified the stigma. “My symptoms haven’t changed, but my attitude toward them has,” he said. It was time to tell the church, encourage others with mental health issues and recognize the indispensable help he had received.
Recently he stood up at the chapel to say it’s a “relief being here with men who have known me since childhood and continue to be an important part of my life.” Knowing he still could get worse, Ted feels blessed to have the community support he needs for his illness.