It is possible and very common to overcome and manage a mental illness. - Madchen Amick

To me, this is very true because I do it every day. I'm not saying everyone can do it of course; I know those who use it as an excuse to manipulate and do as little as possible through life. Mental illness, just like most things, isn't 'black and white' and comes in different degrees and while some of those must be dealt with professionally, most I see can be handled with the right frame of mind and learning techniques. I truly pity those who aren't willing to try to understand what is really wrong with them and instead they will lie and run away from their problems; usually throwing someone under the bus in the prosses. Don't allow people like that to use you for their selfish desires and don't allow them to make you feel so sorry for them that you are willing to bail them out because it doesn't help you and it allows them to continue their mental immaturity. Try to get them the help they need but if they refuse to get that help, you need to decide to let them crash and burn on their own because sometimes the only way for someone to finally grow up is to let them see what the world is truly like on their own.