Maybe they need to understand more about what's going on and how our illness effects us.

I think two things can keep otherwise caring people from giving us the support we need (assuming first off that we let them know we need it).

They might be sympathetic but don't really understand what is going on. If they don't understand depression or bipolar as an illness then they can only relate it to their own feelings, and "buck up" may seem a perfectly appropriate response. Sorry if I've forgotten this, but are you in therapy? A therapist of counselor can sometimes give you some literature to help explain things to those around us. If they are open to it, the a therapist might even invite a group session with your family to help discuss and clarify things, it is a safer environment to let them know what you expect and what you need.

Some people do understand the illness but don't know what to say or do to help. This can be the case in most illnesses, people feel uncomfortable and so they clam up or avoid the situation.

The paper I wrote on depression might help, it is at
-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
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