Hi Zen888 - From what you've said it doesn't sound as though you should feel inferior - if he's so ignorant as to think a person is defined by their illness perhaps it is better you distance yourself from him. And besides a person doesn't have to be mentally ill to experience mental illness - we're not infalliable. He may have all these big accomplishments and 'successful' life but i would swap those for compassion and understanding in a second. It sounds to me as though he is overcompensating. A lot. I would be the bigger person and be there for him regardless of whether or not he eventually comes to this realisation. In the meantime focus on you and what you want to achieve in life - accomplishments mean nothing unless we want them for ourselves and ourselves alone. All the best.