Before I had a mental health diagnosis, then when I had problems, family felt there was nothing wrong with me. I was merely being lazy, or I was attention-seeking. I needed to straighten up and fly right!

But getting the diagnosis only added one more weapon they could use against me. Now they had reason to ignore anything I say, because I'm messed up in the head and don't know what I'm talking about. They could also use it to gaslight me. I would talk about something I remember, and they'd say it didn't happen. It was just my imagination. Or they'd tell me I said or did something I don't remember saying or doing. When my memories don't line up with theirs, of course, that's just because I'm nuts. After all, which one of us has to see a shrink?