i'm so glad to know you have people who know!!

i'm sorry your boyfriend and friends don't understand. i guess its like that with lots of problems - any illness or addiction. people can't understand unless they've been there.

this may sound a little harsh - bare with me....

maybe its not fair to expect them to actually understand? they don't si...they can't feel what we feel or think what we think.

maybe just explaining that this is a part of your life right now. one day you hope it will not be there, but until that time you may need to talk it out or be held and comforted.

maybe they are frustrated because they sense that they are letting you down by not understanding....that may be adding to their attitude of it should be over. ya just never know how people feel and what they are thinking....

or maybe they are just tired of hearing about it? i don't know how often you talk about it with them...maybe asking them if you could talk about a recent episode and allowing them to say no - unless of course your in the midst of a crisis. ask them when a good time would be for you to talk about it....later that day....have lunch with a friend....etc. let them prepare themselves for the conversation. if they say they really don't want to hear about it, then that particular friend isn't someone you should be confiding to about your si (not that they are a bad friend - they just might not be able to deal with it)

so i dunno....just throwing out some random thoughts....playing devil's advocate a bit

at any rate....you have every right to feel frustrated. we are suffering with something HORRIBLE!!!!! and very few people understand it!

and don't let this illness make you feel that you are outside your cirlce! don't let it alienate you!! i'm sure your boyfriend and friends love you very much!!!!! one day you will be better!!!!!