I have a little theory about unsupportive friends and relagives: My guess is that when our close relatives are not supportive about our disorders, it might be because they love us so much that it's hard for them to hear that we are struggling so much. They probably feel helpless and since they don't know how to help us, they don't want to hear that we are poorly because who wants to feel helpless and watch a loved one struggle? My husband does this sometimes. There have been a few times when I was having a severe anxiety or OCD episode and needed him to be comforting and supportive. What I got was not only a support shut-down, but he seemed to be angry that I didn't just know how to snap out of it. And before he knew as much as he does now, he would say things like, "your thinking is illogical" or "just relax." And I would feel so lonely and unsupported. So I'm wondering if we should try explaining to our loved ones that when we feel anxious, we need them to be gentle with us because we have a need for gentle support and reassurance that we are loved by the people we love most. This has worked for me with my husband. I simply asked him to step toward me and gently wrap his arms around me when I'm caught in an anxiety cycle. It has really helped me to verbally ask for what I need from people. It's too much work to assume that others will know how we feel and say the appropriate thing, which is only appropriate in OUR minds. People who don't have anxiety can't understand what we feel inside, so they feel completely helpless and I think they wish we had an "off" button that they could press to make us calm again, so they can relate to us. Hope I'm making sense...

Hugs to all,
-Kelly