one of the greatest problems with "mental illness" is the lack of understanding and the amount of mis-representation by/to the general public... I guess because it has no obvious physical signs as such (such as a cast for a broken leg, or a wheel chair for a paralised person) people find it difficult to accept... and then most people mis-understand it also... a bad combination in all

Iwish I could think of something more supportive/useful/advice wise to say... but afraid I can't... have you discused these feeling and the situration with your pdoc? maybe they could think of a way for you to explain to your friends/family or something?