I have two friends that I care about very deeply and don't want to alienate. They are not mentally ill. They are judgmental though and many conversations consist of them telling me how to run my illness or what I should or could do better or how to think my way out of it as their way of supporting me.

I'm getting a little indignant and stressed and a little down about it. One of them has had breast cancer and I empathize, I truly do. Please don't minimize or compare my mental illness to what you've struggled with and then lecture me about it. I'm fairly certain I've been closer to death then you have. No, I can't afford a place of my own yet. That doesn't mean my mom is enabling me. No, my doctor has not released me to work. That doesn't mean I'm wallowing in my illness. Please don't lecture me about how to raise my daughter.

I don't want to lose these important relationships. I just want them off my back about a topic they don't get. Thanks for letting me vent. That's one reason I appreciate the people here so much. You get it.