"After that I couldn't show my face outside. I lost my identity and balance. I was still living with my parents, and they were my only friends. For so many people, this thing with the nurse was confirmation that I must be mad or mentally ill"

Mathias Rust's quote talks to the embarassment and isolation he felt after his attempted flight to Moscow in 1987. His actions were viewed as a sign of mental disorder, and he was unable to show his face outside. He was dealing with his parents, and they were his only buddies. This quote speaks to the stigma of mental disorder and how it can result in sensations of pity and isolation. Rust's experience highlights the value of understanding and approval of mental illness, and how it can cause a sense of loss of identity and balance. It is a tip that we ought to make every effort to create a society that is more accepting of mental disorder and those who struggle with it.