I think I understand Tishie hon. I know someone who if you ask her how she is she says "I'm alright in myself BUT...."

And then she goes on do decsribe every ailment in minute detail and then goes on to tell how depressed it makes her and how she doesn't cope because of it and thats why she drinks because the pills don't work (though she won't be told that alcohol is a depressant), and then the more she drinks the nastier she gets and expects you not to "remember" any of that.

The safest bet is not to ask how certain people are if you know they are going to go into their control drama (behaviours & discussions that are used to control people or situations). However I know that some people launch into it anyway because that is their life wholus bolus and because it is them, they like to whine and complain. I'm not trying to be insensitive at all; there are some people who just love to complain and remember the saying "misery loves company" no matter who the company is, as long as they are a pinnable ear for the misery to be imparted.

You know dear Tishie you may have to blow her out of the water by saying exactly what you wrote up top there "screaming at her that so do I !" Well maybe not go at her screaming but putting something down on the table with a thud and say "You know Wendy SO DO I but I don't wear it on my forehead"....well maybe just saying gently "I really know what it is like because I have mental illness too and I struggle with it every day, and I want you to try using these coping strategies...."

She may do one of two things: 1:gratefully accept the strategies and improve her situation. Or 2:Run a mile to find another set of ears to bash where she is the only and exclusive mentally ill person (kid of like Daffyd in Little Britain who complains about how harsh it is being the only Gay in the Village but forces any other Gays who enter the Village, back into their cars and out of the Village so that he is the only Gay in the Village).

Deep breaths dear Tishie, deep breaths and counting to 10

Best of luck with it