[hahayeahtotallylol]

Who else here feels like they operate very differently compared to their immediate family? Do you see it as an advantage or disadvantage?

My family is very neurotic, extremely inconsistent, and throat gaggingly self-centered. My parents always praised me and thought i would be the most successful in the family. Now that i have been set back a bit by BP and such, i am starting to realize that i don't want to be motivated purely by money.
Whenever i enter the room, they stop talking. Once i leave, they start up again. They expect me to engage with them, but the only conversations we ever have are about their ridiculous needs or questions to probe what i have been doing.

I can not save my money for the life of me, but i find solace in not holding back my desires to spend it. My life could change at any moment, and i want to know i have been doing what i desired all along. Having financial stability is part of that. A smaller part than my family would prefer.

As a kid, you go to school for a job. While working, you work for retirement. When retired, you are trying your hardest not to suddenly collapse and die.

What a fuking life.. I'd rather live it now, regardless of how absurd it looks like to outsiders.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm simalar to my family and view it as a bad thing.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Ah yes. I'm the black sheep. However I find my family ignorant towards my illness seeing that my dad and brother are alcoholics and my brother is extremely histrionic. They own their own co and everything revolves around money, money, money. I on the other hand am pretty low maintenance and can get by on $5 a day probably. Well maybe that's pushing it. I'm the only one out of them that has tattoos. They hate it. I also moved out of the home the second I turned 18 because I can't imagine being with them 24/7. And when we are together, what I'm doing with my life is the topic of conversation. Or I should say topic of argument. Being around them triggers my mania too. So yea I get it. I would just keep my distance if I where you. Good luck!

Dx: BP2, PTSD, bulimia/anorexia
Seroquel 150mgs
Risperdal 4mg
Trileptal 600mgs
Buspar 45mgs
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvance 70mgs PRN

[hahayeahtotallylol]

Ignorance toward illness, histrionics, money obsessed, probing my life vs. completely ignoring it - I feel you.

Moving out as soon as i can. I'm in so much debt, but this new job should take care of it, so long as i am not swept away by depression perpetuated by my family

[Mountainbard]

I'm definitely the black sheep of my family, and I've lived most of my adult life with minimal contact with them. In a way that makes me sad, but overall I feel thankful to have been spared years of family drama-- and family response to me as lazy, foolish, and messed up. Btw I've never been able to save money either-- mostly due to the fact that I spend it recklessly when I'm hypomanic. Now that I'm 59 that's the one thing I wish I could go back and change. Not to live for money, but to save enough to survive when I'm too old to work anymore.

[hahayeahtotallylol]

You'll be fine - life will be simpler at that age.

I am not good at delaying gratification, partly because i want to feel today and know tomorrow may not come, and partly because i naively think "everything will be okay". But historically, it has been. Meaning, i am alive and not homeless, so, it's all good.

[Standup2me]

I am the black sheep too, and I don't know why.
I am a CPA, have two degrees, a good job, lots of money saved, a nice home and a nice car...but oh yeah, here is why I am the black sheep, I have no kids.

I left home at 16 because I was tired of being the black sheep, and now, I just don't care.
I have a good, safe, complete life and that's all that matters

[Nammu]

Vegetarian vs meat &a potatoes 1950's food

Hippy vs saddle shoes

Emotional vs uptight butthole

Gifts from the heart vs gifts based on monetary value( my parents had to make sure our gifts cost the same or my sister freaked)

Pot vs Rx

Freedom to vs freedom from

Yup, black sheep here...but I just got a birthday card from my mum, she allways envied the way I spoke my mind( color me shocked)

[hahayeahtotallylol]

Standup2me - Excellent... you're right, that's all that matters!

sidestepper - the potttsssss.. I have tried many drugs, but weed is the one that i would never leave completely. It makes me experience things so intensely. Like mania, but an introspective, chill mania. That may not make sense, but for me, the two both give me great feeling beyond the norm.

[raspberrytorte]

Black sheep here too. But my family are good people. We just don't have anything in common.

Black Sheep. Completely the opposite from my parents and bro.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by hahayeahtotallylol

You'll be fine - life will be simpler at that age.

I am not good at delaying gratification, partly because i want to feel today and know tomorrow may not come, and partly because i naively think "everything will be okay". But historically, it has been. Meaning, i am alive and not homeless, so, it's all good.

Life does not get simple as one gets older. Not at all. That's a naive attitude and one that I had and bow it is the only thing about my life I regret. I have so many worries now and mostly all come from not have enough money.

[passionfruit3]

I think im the black sheep my disability for one sets me apart from my family .speaking of my conversion disorder.my older sister once put it like this she is special cause shes first born my brother is special being the only boy my little sister is special being the baby were does that leave me?so yeah im definitely the black sheep and y family has its fair share of problems

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

[hahayeahtotallylol]

Dechan - Yeah, I guess another disadvantage to retirement is the lack of company funded insurance.

[gayleggg]

Originally Posted by hahayeahtotallylol

Dechan - Yeah, I guess another disadvantage to retirement is the lack of company funded insurance.

Definitely a disadvantage. Private insurance is expensive even with Obama Care.

I'm the black sheep too especially in my extended family. They are the most close minded, bigoted bunch I have found. I have distanced myself as far as possible from them. They would never understand my mental illness anyway.

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[DechanDawa]

I have been paying for health insurance for over 10 years since my divorce. I am glad to be working on a holistic health model because it makes me less dependent on the mainstream medical establishment. Not taking their medications does simplify my life.

[Unrigged64072835]

Definite black sheep here. Once my dad told me to move out or be kicked out (because I couldn't find a job), I didn't look back until before my mom died. They fought with each other over money and other crap for almost all their marriage. I've been asked what childhood was like and I say "a battlefield." My dad was physically and emotionally abusive. My mother was an alcoholic. The only reason I went to see my mom was to give her some comfort, only to be lambasted by her mother. I don't miss them.

The one thing I never told them was that I was mentally ill. My brother had a heart condition and they would've thought I was making stuff up to get attention.

Being on SSDI and having Medicare is helpful, but I liked the insurance I had before when I was retired from the military. I paid more but I had lower copays.

[Standup2me]

Words of wisdom anyone?

I offer up mine
Your life is yours to own

[hahayeahtotallylol]

Being the outsider does give one a unique and holistic perspective on things happening around them

Wisdom: Those most well off don't necessarily have the best of it, they just make the most of it.

the moment is all you have. yesterday is gone as tomorrow may never come