Have you ever gotten bad advice from others due to them misinterpreting what was REALLY going on due to your mental illness? I feel like this happened to me last week. I was having intense anxiety due to a problem my husband is having. Although my husband is an emotional person, he is not a bad husband, in fact, he is a wonderful husband. His emotions (bipolar-like, possible thyroid condition) make me really stressed sometimes. I was considering a separation last week because I couldn't handle the strong emotions he was feeling and expressing. Friends and family were telling me they didn't blame me for considering a separation. But one friend (thank goodness) encouraged me to pray for my husband and "show him grace." Once I sat down with my husband and "showed grace" (by empathizing with his plight), he calmed down and things calmed down.

Now that my anxiety has calmed down, everything is okay. I still have a tendency to worry and obsess about my husband and his happiness, but I really don't think separation is the answer. I believe we are both on a journey to find inner happiness and happiness with life. I think there is a Divine purpose behind that, and I think I need to focus more on that (my faith in our purpose together) rather than complaining about my problems to others. I don't want anyone to discourage me from my journey with my husband.

I seriously need to stop complaining so much to others in the heat of anxiety attacks and obsessive thoughts. I don't think they are getting "the whole picture." Do you sometimes feel it is detrimental to ask for advice since our perspective colored by mental illness?

(Also posted in Anxiety and Phobias)