Indeed, you will be measured and judged according to their perception, their concept of your "former self." There will always be notable exceptions of course, but the reality of cultural conciousness, though changing, will not in our lifetime come close to comprehinding MI in a healthy way.

But you sound really like you are seeing a true aspect of a sad situation. It's going to come down to handling some changing vistas, some of which you thought were more permanent than they turn out to be. Keep your eyes open like they are, and your heart disposed kindly toward yourself. And keep posting here. It helps a lot to validate eachother's experiences of the world like this.