[Dylanzmama]

I just wish THEY all understood that an illness HAPPENS to someone. I did horrible things when I was manic, but I am not a horrible person. I feel like I need to change my name and move to somewhere no one knows.
My family hates me for what I did. I hurt people with my crazy mean words. I've been disowned. And my evil sister can say whatever lies about me that she wants because of what happened three years ago and my family will believe her. It seems like I'll always be the crazy one and never have any credibility again.

I like what you said about yourself up there ... The part about how you did some horrible things but that you aren't a horrible thing.

It's sad that your family and sister aren't supportive - I find it atrocious (and a deeper sickness) that your sister takes advantage of the situation like that.

With that being said, my family wasn't supportive either and I did change my name and move away.

I figured after I got healthy I could reconnect with them later on down the road.

Then I found that after I got healthy I had no desire to reconnect with them.

It's difficult, but it can be done, and sometimes it's the best thing we can do for our own physical and emotional well-being.

I've found many wonderful supportive people along the way, and I don't miss all the chaos, drama and trauma that my family of origin caused me.

Yeah, I'm certain I'm still referred to as the "crazy one", but let's face it, those of us who know we've got a problem are ahead of the game because we're getting the help we need to overcome it.

[venusss]

Well, you still gotta make amends, apologize, make up for the actions. If somebody's been hurt "my illness made me do it" is not gonna cut it.

People who never face consequences of their actions, never try to improve... maybe we could call these crazy in the degragatory sense.

many things can be forgiven.