My family was in denial for a year or three... It hurts, it was isolating and invalidating, but I decided that overall, they're good people where it counts and I would like to keep them around.


I chose to identify and appreciate the ways they did show support, and focused on that. Because sometimes people can't meet our needs, but they meet others that we barely even acknowledge...


For instance; My mom takes care of my daughter when im not coping, my family has never pushed me to get a high paying / high stress job and move out (not that doing so would make sense, mom's elderly and can't live alone) my brother keeps my daughter entertained when I'm severely depressed, nobody has ever *****ed or moaned when I had to quit my jobs, my sister and brother have helped me out of financial binds... etc...


Funny thing is, once I identified the ways they have been supportive and expressed gratitude for it, they became even more supportive and these days, the whole lot of them (mom, 4 siblings and cousin) have accepted my dx, which has been extremely validating, to say the least.

My one sister has even done some reading and has improved greatly in her responses to me when I'm not well.


I still don't seek them out for emotional support though, but that's because I don't need to, I have a support structure outside of my immediate family and that started right over here, at PC.


Anyway, didn't mean to ramble, just wanted to share...