[plumapplepear]

I have been in hiding to others for so long not to my doctors or boyfriend but other people when people in the past have found out I am bi-polar that do not want a deep connection only a casual hello and hope you are doing well when I think of the rest of my life like that it is horrible not being able to be yourself pretending so as not to scare people away does anyone else go through this

i'm always hiding.

keeping people far from my room

can't really deal with anyone..

[plumapplepear]

Do you think we hide for good reason that people judge us harsely ?

Originally Posted by plumapplepear

Do you think we hide for good reason that people judge us harsely ?

yeah... i believe it's a mixture of that, how we are feeling inside, and also i was told once that people are afraid of what they don't understand- which i strongly believe in.

[plumapplepear]

Why do we scare them they do not understand us or is it that mental illness is still what they fear. Do not know just wish I could see through their eyes my sister tells me I only want pity and I know I am not asking for that

Originally Posted by plumapplepear

Why do we scare them they do not understand us or is it that mental illness is still what they fear. Do not know just wish I could see through their eyes my sister tells me I only want pity and I know I am not asking for that

their's such a stigma surrounding it, that people are just simply not interested and make up excuses to try and shrug it off

if only they would take the time to learn..

as for us scaring them?. as i said before, i think they are scared of what they don't understand.

so it's like,

oh... that person's bipolar, that person has other mental illness... they arn't worth it

[Clinte89]

I do not really hide from people I just dont let them get close, I often fear I will hurt them, mostly from my last relationship where that was all I did. I think i "Hide" from people more to protect them and my fear of people. So I guess its a combo for me. I only stay to my friends who know me well and even then I still avoid seeing them.

[plumapplepear]

So we hide to protect them from us and they avoid us because we are not worth the effort damaged in some way and we still care about how they feel because deep down we want to be accepted as part of normal society even though we never will be

Originally Posted by plumapplepear

So we hide to protect them from us and they avoid us because we are not worth the effort damaged in some way and we still care about how they feel because deep down we want to be accepted as part of normal society even though we never will be

it would be nice 1 day for us to be accepted as part as normal society, but i doubt that will happen.... fighting a losing battle really

[plumapplepear]

Thank you for that insight I know I will never have a normal life but now I am grateful for what I have.
My family does not understand but my bf does to an extent the rest is a control issue with him he likes a damaged person they will not leave. That sounds harse but deep down it is truth.

[Victoria'smom]

My close friends know and my neighbors. My friends knew me before my dx. One of them actually has control when I'm to 'sick'. This includes what goes on with our during that time. Once I thought I was 'sick' physically and I told him. He asked "how?" I told him and he said "oh well you have So may ways you can be 'sick'" I pushed him. I don't really volunteer the info. if it comes up yeah. If people are cautious they tend to get over it fast. I'm sorry you can't find understanding people

Originally Posted by plumapplepear

Thank you for that insight I know I will never have a normal life but now I am grateful for what I have.
My family does not understand but my bf does to an extent the rest is a control issue with him he likes a damaged person they will not leave. That sounds harse but deep down it is truth.

inbox me anytime if you need a chat.

could always do with a friend myself

[plumapplepear]

I do not know many people that at some point will not back off I am very careful not to dump and be emotionally needy but I guess I want a bonding that is not based on them being nice to a person with problems a whole different animal from actively seeking a bonding due to friendship or shared interests.

[bluemountains]

Over the past few months I have been more open about my dx. I have had treatment for depression and then bp for the last 8 years, but only recently have talked about it with "friends". I used quotation marks because some friends have now become only aquaintances, nice when I'm around, but not including me in social events anymore. I now know who my true friends are. It makes me sad enough to cry when I think about it because I always hear of the gatherings through others-I used to be part of a circle who regularly had cookouts and parties, but now only part of these people include me in their plans. It's ironic because now I am so much more stable than I was just a few months ago, and I think I am probably much more able to enjoy social events.
Bluemountains

[tnlibrarian]

I'm always pretty much hiding from others, especially after the way my parents have judged me so harshly in regard to being diagnosed as bipolar. I've always been told I'm extremely hard to get to know, though. I've always had a wall up because of the way I was treated growing up. I think to some degree I still have one up where my husband is concerned, which isn't good. I guess it's been my experience that when you totally let your guard down you get hurt. I know I totally regret telling anyone, including my parents, about the bipolar.

[Blue Poppy]

Originally Posted by bluemountains

Over the past few months I have been more open about my dx. I have had treatment for depression and then bp for the last 8 years, but only recently have talked about it with "friends". I used quotation marks because some friends have now become only aquaintances, nice when I'm around, but not including me in social events anymore. I now know who my true friends are. It makes me sad enough to cry when I think about it because I always hear of the gatherings through others-I used to be part of a circle who regularly had cookouts and parties, but now only part of these people include me in their plans. It's ironic because now I am so much more stable than I was just a few months ago, and I think I am probably much more able to enjoy social events.
Bluemountains

............. I feel great pain in reading this and I am sorry that this has been your experience. It makes me want to be very confidential about my diagnosis.

[~Christina]

I don't tell people about my Bipolar .. My best friend knows and is supportive, of course my husband and daughter know ... When I was able to work I never told anyone ... sadly enough there is still a " stigma" about Bipolar .

I dont expect my husband to listen to me unload all my screwed up emotions daily.

The only person I can be brutally honest with is my Therapist... He has literally saved my life many many times !

Im just sooo grateful for my PC family .. You guys mean the world to me .. you are all superstars!!!!!!!

[plumapplepear]

Yes this forum and space to connect with like souls has been a literal life saver I take your words to heart because you have walked some of the same roads. Living in a small town once one person knew now everyone does.

[Rosie23]

I have never worried about that. I view it as nobody's business but mine.
If people are close enough to me to know that I take medication then they are told what the medication is and what it is for.

Anyone who would choose to stay away from me only because I am bi-polar is not someone I want in my life.

Screw em' and find new friends who will accept you for the wonderful person that you are.

[plumapplepear]

That is a good attitude I just can not help but notice the distance most people keep .

[gina_re]

I do, unfortunately we live in a society where there's still a negative stigma associated with mental illnesses. And the media doesn't help with it either. But once I'm comfortable with a particular individual and I feel they're not judgemental, I can tell them my diagnosis, and for the most part I don't get a horrible response. I guess I pick and choose who can 'handle' the news.