I have been diagnosed with a major mental illness for many years and have had multiple voluntary hospitalizations. The last fifteen years, though, I have only been in the hospital once, and only for a week. One barrior to my recovery was my distrust of doctors and their sincerity that I had an Illness. I thought they were liars and they had a hidden agenda that wasn't in my best interest. Throughout all these hospitalizations, my birth family was present physicly rarely, and emotionally never. I endured much heartache as a result. I have been married for 10 years now. I have been a step-dad for ten years. My step-son is a good student with many friends and doesn't need to be disciplined, except rarely. Therefore, I think I was an effective step-dad. My sister, recently, shared with me her opinion that mental illness doesn't exist, and that depressed and confused or manic people choose their state of mind and are responsable for their state of mind also. She used herself as an example as someone who choose to be happy, despite her obstacles. She told me my uncle was an example of that also. I told her we needed to agree to disagree, after I informed her that her view was as heartless as expecting a paralyzed person to walk, because they choose to be paralyzed? I told her her opinion was cruel. I told my uncle about her mean words and he said, basicly, that her opinions were baseless. He said she was being influenced by the whole "tea party" movement that the USA shouldn't be a nanny state, etc. My step-son, who is diagnosed with Aspergers, became verbally abusive as a result of his aspergers, a few months ago. He had to be an inpatient in a crisis unit for teenagers, as a result. My sister and her husband decided, without consulting myself or my step-sons mom, to tell him that because he was making verbal assaults, they would not talk to him anymore. His heart was broken and things got worse. I told my step-son that I had nothing to do with my sister and her husbands actions. He didn't blame me for their words, as a result. I told him that my sister has a past filled with hurtful words. She argues frequently and carries resentments, seemingly, forever. She is angry at my other sisters husband, so much so that she wants my sister to divorce him. I feel that is an overreaction also. My sister has become very distant from her birth family as a result, she has been married to her husband for 20+ years and they seem happy. My older sister had a huge arguement with my mother because my sister felt that my mom expected her to contribute money to a cause that would have honored my deceased fathers memory. My mothers feelings were hurt as a result. I have tried very hard to maintain a healthy relationship with my sister, despite of her indifference toward my financial and mental health issues. As a result of these aforementioned events, I decided that my step-son and I would not attend a get-together for the holidays at a local resteraunt with my sisters, their husbands and their kids(two each) and my mom and uncle. I told her it was stressful for us to go right now and that I intended no malice toward her or anyone. She can't accept my decision. I wish I could just dismiss her and all this, but it bothers me. I can't stop thinking about it. If it gets worse, I'll get a script for an anti-psychotic, it is that bad. I've offered to discuss this with her via e-mail, because I am scared to communicate with her any other way, right now. I am fearful that she will verbally assault me and say hurtful words to me. I told her these things also. She didn't respond to my e-mail, though she informed me that she had received it. Honestly, I think my sister needs to talk to a mental health professional. My wife has been in and out of the hospital 10 times in the last 12 months. Her best friend abandoned her over a stupid arguement about, basicly, nothing. My son has had major issues this last 12 months. My mom is having issues also, and I give her counsul as best I can. This family get-together is too much for me and my step-son right now, I am confused why she can't see that herself. She thinks I am "dis"ing her and her family. I feel like, "why me?" Does anyone understand why I feel this way, or am I overeacting? Thanks.