I think your husband was right, that it was a pretty benign statement from the therapist. There is an inherent safety in the anonymity of this board - we can be ourselves without fear of the (very real) repercussions there can be in the real world if we let it all out. It's the reason there are HIPAA laws, and even stricter controls on psych records. It's really nobody's business but ours and those with whom we choose to share.

The ability to be real here, among fellow sufferers, has given me the ability to express things I usually keep from even my wife. It's not that I wouldn't tell her, it's just that she gets tired of hearing me say the same things over and over again. She can't understand - by nature of not going through MI herself - that there are times when I process things by looking at them from a slightly different perspective, or even the same way as I live longer and am a slightly different person. She's the most understanding person I know, but without the same base of knowledge that we have about the ins and outs of psychiatrists, therapists, psych wards, etc....there's no possible way to relate fully. She knows _about_ all these things, and knows them as thoroughly as she can after being married to a BP for 14 years, but she and I will never be able to relate on an experiential level.

The real world isn't an appropriate place for all of the things that are discussed here, if only for the fact that others have no way to relate. I've come to realize over the years that those of us who are in the system have had to learn an entirely new language to navigate the ins and outs of MH treatment. This became quite clear to me when I had my father sit in on one of my psychiatrist appointments. When we left he said, " It was a good experience to be there, but when you started talking about meds, you were speaking a foreign language."

Anyway, enough from me. If the statement from your therapist bothers you, then you should definitely bring it up to her and get a true understanding of what she meant. If you want my opinion (I know you didn't ask for it), there's probably no need to be offended or upset. It's OK if you are, but it's also very likely she was making light of the situation and had no ill intent behind the words.

Be well. You're not a defective product any more than someone who has cancer is defective. It's the way the world is, we were born into it (not by choice), and it's on our shoulders to make the best of it. From all I've seen you have gone to great effort to make the best of your life so far, and you've certainly made life better for countless others on this board whom you have supported. Thanks for being around.