To most people, MI is not a "diagnosis" like cancer. There's no pathology and it isn't easy to describe or discuss. In many ways, I've found that discussing MI is just a chore to the people who are listening. It comes across like I'm whining. Thus, it has no credibility and that's why it gets no respect. Furthermore, people are naturally cynical and often believe people make it up to elicit sympathy. I'll usually get some sort of diversion comment like "well, we all have problems" or "what else is going on". Everyone wants to help out with MI, yet very few people actually believe it exists when faced with it directly.