Yes. They completely shut off whenever I tried to explain it. They barely accept my uncle’s bipolar diagnosis. My aunt thinks my mother is “paranoid schizophrenic.” Nope, she’s bipolar with a side of BPD, but my aunt refuses to listen to what a personality disorder is. My dad’s side, with whom I’ve just come into contact in the last 5 years, thinks I make a choice to be the way I am, and totally disregards the connection between a childhood with my mother (I have a different mother than my sisters) and my current mental state.

I made the choice to distance myself from my family for my own mental health.