[Debi54]

I have been planning on moving back home to Florida after my son gets out of school this summer, to be closer to my family, since the family I have here has deserted me, but lately I've begun to have second thoughts about it. While it's true that there are more jobs where my father lives and I would have family support for myself and my son, I don't think I will have much support in the way of my illness. When I was younger, and was facing problems with a congenital heart defect, my father researched everything about my condition. With the bipolar, however, it's like it doesn't really exist to him or my stepmother. They don't understand the way I think or the way I am at all, and don't make much, if any, effort to at all. They seem to have this attitude of, if we ignore it, it will go away. Or maybe if I take enough medicine, or think differently, I really don't know what they think, it's "all in my head." I worry about leaving my doctor, who has been very supportive of me all these years I have been here, and my father hasn't really been there for me most of my life. On the other hand, I can't find work here, even tho I'm on disability, it isn't enough for us to get by on, and my son would be surrounded by family which he doesn't have here. I would also be back with my best friend. But I don't know if if it's such a good idea to leave somewhere I have a good doctor, a nice house, and a halfway okay life and trade it for the unknown, even if it means better opportunities. What if I can't get a job there? What if my dad still doesn't get me? And I hated Florida. But I feel like my life here is at a standstill. I don't know what I should do.

[faerie_moon_x]

My dad and his wife don't get me either. In fact, I never even bothered to tell them I have bipolar because I knew it would be pointless. I won't get any support from them. So, I just don't bother telling them about it.

It's a hard decision because, good doctors are not always an easy thing to find, either. The question is if you could find support for your bipolar elsewhere vs. your family, knowing before hand that your family is going to be support in other ways only. And if you could be okay with that.

But all of your concerns are valid. Just because you move doesn't mean you'll find what you're looking for. Have you talked this over with your T or doctor? It's good you're thinking it through.

If it was me, I would open up communications with my dad to see where he stood and to get a feel for what kind of support system I would have down there before making any decisions.