I can totally relate. I have been in therapy my entire adult life. About half of it spent dealing with my family and all the crap that went on. The rest of the time on my bipolar. My entire family has self destructed. I have a homeless, severely alcoholic brother who is almost 50 and can have hallucinations and delusions, my sister is an alcoholic with her kids taken away by CPS. My other brother runs till he throws up, and then runs some more because he likes the high feeling it gets him. Also has a horrible temper and physically threatening to my mother. My other brother is bipolar, on disability, and refuses to leave the house and is a hoarder. My mom... well do I really need to go on? You all get the drift. And through all of this, I am the identified patient, the one with the mental health stigma. I'm the crazy one who has been through all the psych hospitals. But you know what?? I am happy, with a great partner, no longer drink or self harm. I work a full time job and make jewelry on the side. So I guess the therapy paid off. I didn't end up like my siblings and mom.
So count your blessings that you went into therapy. We are the smart ones. The others are still miserable and suffering and deluded. And remember, we're all here for you and I think you are great for getting help.
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Lauru-------------That's me, Bipolar and Watching TV
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
---Robert Frost
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