Am I the only one whose family just DOESN'T GET IT???

I had Thanksgiving dinner with my father's side of the family on Sunday, and once again, I was the black sheep. The only people who talked to me were my Poppa, my Granny, my brother, my cousin and her husband, and my aunt and uncle; the only people who understand my bi-polar. My uncle is only 4 years older than me, so we are very close. He has tried to explain it to his brothers, and my uncle and his wife seemed warmer toward me than in past social gatherings. But my father just tells him "It's just another card she's playing."

How can I make them understand? Just because I take medication everyday for an emotional disorder doesn't mean I'm any different than them! My brother even commented on how far I've come along since my 'meltdown' in March. My aunt and uncle have been by my side every step of the way. In fact, my uncle has seen me at my worst - rock bottom after a 4 month mania - and has watched me rise to where I am today, gainfully employed full-time at a job I absolutely love, but most of all HAPPY AND BALANCED.

My father and I have been on bad terms for 17 years, but not for lack of trying on my part. Any effort I made just wasn't good enough for him, so I gave up. I've done my best. He's the parent, let him come to me. I'm sick of chasing after him. I have nothing to make up for; he's the one who abandoned his family when I was 13.

I guess I just don't understand how people can treat their own flesh and blood so poorly. I could see if I was in and out of jail, or had a drug addiction and was constantly trying to sponge off of them, but I'm not and I don't. In fact, it was all I could do to ask to borrow $20 from my Mom until I got paid on Wednesday (due to an unforeseen trip to the doggie ER). All I ask of them is to treat me like any other person, like I don't have this condition.

AM I ASKING TOO MUCH? I'm the same girl I was before my bi-polar came out, just a bit older, and more grounded than I have been over the last decade (the length of time it took them to properly diagnose me). I just want to be able to enjoy my time with my family again, and not worry about why they are being so frigid toward me.

Dolfin