“Love is not missing. It is just that its definition has changed while you still want it like before,” Sanborne said in a composed tone. She expected such an answer. And yet it was infuriating. It is just one of those trap sentences which are put into a discussion to delay the arrival of truth. And she knew it would be difficult for her to go around these polished but untrue arguments. But today she is going to try her best. “Is no expression of love an acceptable form of expression?” she asked, regaining some confidence. He noticed the change, shifted his legs, and looked into her eyes. “I care for you above all else. And I slog 14 hours a day so that you and our children can have all possible comforts of life,” he said. “Yet love is missing and for me that is the essential comfort. I am ready to bargain some material comforts for more of your time.” said Natasha. “Your care is expressed only in the stuff you buy for us?” she asked. “What about time, words, intimacy? What about simple gestures like holding my hands and expressing love in as many words” she stated, the anger returning. She made a mental note to calm down. “You sound like an eighteen year old teen. We are both twice that old.” Sanborne replied. “So?” she retorted. “So, grow up and understand the difference between age groups,” he replied with a touch of sarcasm.

1. Which one of the following best describes how Natasha is feeling?

When my son was becoming ill with schizophrenia, I had no idea what was happening and didn’t know where to turn for help. Nobody in my family had ever suffered from a mental illness. I didn’t really even know what mental illness was. I just wish I knew then what I know now. Early detection of mental illness and early treatment can often prevent full-blown psychosis and improve the long-term prognosis. Jason was a sweet, gentle boy who did very well in school. He had lots of friends and enjoyed reading, bike riding, softball and skiing. He was easy to get along with, polite and thoughtful. When Jason was 15 years old, things started to change dramatically. During the six years since Jason’s first hospitalization I have experienced a full spectrum of emotions. I have been through an intense amount of pain watching the effects of this illness on my beautiful son. I have dealt with shock, sadness, guilt, grief, anger and fear to name a few. I have also learned compassion and empathy and how to appreciate the simple things in life. I am not judgmental of other people- I see good in every one. Jason’s illness has helped me grow to be a better person. Once again I have found balance in my life. I now teach other families about mental illness and help them through very difficult times. This is extremely satisfying. I am very proud of Jason. He is an incredibly strong person to have survived all he has been through. I feel so lucky!

3. Which one of the following best describes the mother’s reaction in the start of the passage?

Recently it’s come to my attention that I may be bipolar. I’m 19 and living on my own far away from my parents who I sought to escape when I came to college. Depression runs in my family and they have been on my case for ages trying to get me to see someone about it. I decided to do my own research and I was astonished, the symptoms for bipolar read like my own personal rap sheet. All of what I thought were my most endearing qualities are symptoms. I still wasn’t sure however, as I didn’t seem to match any of the requirements of depressive moods and periods. After talking to my friend however I was shocked to find how many emotional collapses I had had, that I has simply forgotten about. He keeps a journal daily and in it he has letters I had written him when I was certainly on the brink of something. Besides him, my friends haven’t taken the information very well, none of them are serious and they think it’s just another one of my dramatic stunts. I’m hurt, but I understand where they are coming from, none of them has ever seen past the bright cheerful facade which I wear like a tight suit. Many of them aren’t aware of my breakdowns, my suicide attempts, my thoughts of death, memory loss, etc... I’ve gotten into a terrible cycle of spending every dime I make and not being able to account for it. The other day I checked myself into a psychiatric facility because I didn’t want to return to my apartment alone. After four hours of being shuffled around, filling out insurance forms and talking to people, I finally saw a doctor. At the same time, I panicked and fled against their advice. After talking to my doctor I’ve been referred to several good mental health doctors whom I am going to begin seeing. At first I was confused and upset, ambivalent and silly about having bipolar. At the same time I am relieved. There were so many things up in my head which didn’t make sense that now fall into place. I’m confident that with a little time and help, I can get things back into order before I completely lose control.

5. What is the tone of the author throughout the passage?

I am 32 years old, and have just been diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. I think that I have had this disorder since I was a teenager, but with parents who are more interested in their “standing” in the community, and a father who is a religious zealot, I was always told that I was evil, and that only God could help me. Well, going to church did not help with the feelings of worthlessness and the self-loathing that I would feel when I am depressed, and the compulsive spending sprees, and the promiscuity, and the thinking that other people were talking about me, and the paranoia, and the inability to hold a job, and the inability to stay in any kind of a relationship for any amount of time, thanks to my erratic behaviour, and my tendency to become aggressive and violent when I’m in a manic stage. I finally decided to seek help when my husband, who has been the only one there for me ( you’ve probably already guessed that my family isn’t supportive), said that he was going to leave me and take our infant son, because he didn’t want our child to be hurt by me.

7. What was the attitude of her family towards Kathy?

I am a 66-year-old woman diagnosed in 1995 with Alzheimer’s. My name is Jeanne. Although each day has struggles (eating correctly and taking my meds), exercising, doing lectures and chatting to help others and those in my boat keep my downhill progress a bit slower. I have strong hopes that the four neurologists who sent me home as I was too young (and I knew I lived in Hawaii and that he had a pen in his hand), and the two psychiatrists, one who sent me home as I was crying, and the other prescribed my pills for eight months and only saw me two times, have learned a bit more about diagnosis and are aware of the many persons ages 29 to 70 can have early-stage dementia and still contribute to society. We are not totally with care partners nor are we less than intelligent beings. We just move a bit slower than the rest of the population. Don’t even think of counting us out.

9. Jeanne’s attitude towards the neurologists and psychiatrists can be best described as