[GeekieChic]

Okay, here's the story in a nutshell: got wrongly diagnosed with depression in Dec '15, rediagnosed with rapid cycling BP II in July '16, on Lamictal and Abilify as of now.
So I'm graduating college soon, and my sister wants me to come live with her in a different city from my therapist and doctors. She insists I go off meds completely (because of some side effects I told her about that aren't life-threatening but simply annoying, like crazy hairfall) and come live with her. I told her about my hypomania, and she said, "Throwing things around? Big deal." (That's the mildest form of my hypomania that she's seen, although my hypomania is actually very mild compared to most.)
I told her about my depression (she's seen me suicidal), and she simply said, "You won't get that way if you live with someone who cares." When my ex broke up with me because of my BP, she said, "I would have done the same thing. Nobody wants to date a patient." Whenever I'm depressed and lonely and feel the need to talk to someone about it, she says, "I don't have time for your problems. Stop letting your depression control you." Hearing her say these things hurts so much...

She's pretty much the decider in our family, because my parents go along with whatever she says. I'm an adult, but I'm dependent on my family since I'm still in college and I only make bare minium as a freelance editor, so I can't risk making it on my own. How do I deal with her without it affecting my relationship with my sister? She and I used to be best friends once upon a time, and now we fight every other day because of my diagnosis.

Any suggestions? Or just... someone to listen? I don't have anyone else to talk to about this, and my last session was only three days ago, and I can't afford to keep going back whenever my sister and I fight (pretty much every week).

PS: I'm actually a lot better now thanks to my current set of meds - have only had one or two days of highs/lows this month, all manageable enough to go about my daily life easily - and that's why I'm hesitant to lower my dose. Just in case things spiral downward again...

Do NOT live with her. She sounds like she will upset your stability.

[Unrigged64072835]

I wouldn't live with her. You're now stable on your meds and her insisting you go off meds will not bode well for you.

[Hobbit House]

I agree, as much as you may love your sister you cannot put your relationship with her in front of your own health.
On a different note if you are interested in meeting people who have the same or similar issues as you check out No Longer Lonely : Online Social Community for Adults with MentalIllness it's a website for people with mental illnesses. I met my wife on in 12 years ago and still going strong!
I hope you get the support you need.

[GeekieChic]

Thanks, guys!

[GeekieChic]

The fight with my sister triggered a very anger-fuelled, almost psychotic hypomanic episode (not the fun kind). Thankfully it only lasted an hour...

[Cocosurviving]

Have you considered trying a second job....higher paying? Coming out of college should help with you finding a decent job. You'll need financial freedom for you to branch out on your on away from needing help from your family. "He who holds the gold holds the power". There are support groups in many cities that can be of vital help. Check out NAMI.com and DBSA.com see if they have locations in your area.

[madsangle41]

Originally Posted by GeekieChic

Okay, here's the story in a nutshell: got wrongly diagnosed with depression in Dec '15, rediagnosed with rapid cycling BP II in July '16, on Lamictal and Abilify as of now.
So I'm graduating college soon, and my sister wants me to come live with her in a different city from my therapist and doctors. She insists I go off meds completely (because of some side effects I told her about that aren't life-threatening but simply annoying, like crazy hairfall) and come live with her. I told her about my hypomania, and she said, "Throwing things around? Big deal." (That's the mildest form of my hypomania that she's seen, although my hypomania is actually very mild compared to most.)
I told her about my depression (she's seen me suicidal), and she simply said, "You won't get that way if you live with someone who cares." When my ex broke up with me because of my BP, she said, "I would have done the same thing. Nobody wants to date a patient." Whenever I'm depressed and lonely and feel the need to talk to someone about it, she says, "I don't have time for your problems. Stop letting your depression control you." Hearing her say these things hurts so much...

She's pretty much the decider in our family, because my parents go along with whatever she says. I'm an adult, but I'm dependent on my family since I'm still in college and I only make bare minium as a freelance editor, so I can't risk making it on my own. How do I deal with her without it affecting my relationship with my sister? She and I used to be best friends once upon a time, and now we fight every other day because of my diagnosis.

Any suggestions? Or just... someone to listen? I don't have anyone else to talk to about this, and my last session was only three days ago, and I can't afford to keep going back whenever my sister and I fight (pretty much every week).

PS: I'm actually a lot better now thanks to my current set of meds - have only had one or two days of highs/lows this month, all manageable enough to go about my daily life easily - and that's why I'm hesitant to lower my dose. Just in case things spiral downward again...

Hi, I'm Maddie, 46 yrs old, and my anchor, my rock, my Dad died in January. We had lived on Hilton Head Island, Sc for 15 years, and financially mom and I had to move to Tennessee to live with her 64 year old brother that's brittle diabetic, heart prob's and cannot walk! With that said, he's the meanest judgmental SOB and since March I've had 2 suicide attempts, and was in severe depression. I graduate with Bachelor's in Psychology come next month! When others "attack" me, accusing me of blocking them on Facebook, my cousins wife did this, they live across the street! My cousin said bipolar is an excuse. In all these years, NEVER have I been treated so badly or unfairly, and my mom responds with, "I dont wanna talk about it anymore!" So, I have ZERO support and a family that stigmatizes me to the point it's just evil! I am trying to get housing FOR mentally ill, and praying it comes SOON, as I can't take much more! Do you have anger that just explodes when you're attacked like that?? I have SO much anger inside of me that I just want revenge, but where it can't be proven I did it. Example, the night he set me off, I went and got a urinal that was nearly FULL and dumped it ALL over the carpet, his sheets and pillows!! They have robbed me of who I TRULY am, this isn't me! A person with bipolar and anxiety, borderline personality can just take SO much ya know?? Your sister sounds like my mom, I just LOVE the support we get, and for it to be FAMILY that has treated me the absolute worst is unreal. Yeah, go to church, say theyre Christian, and then treat me as they do. My uncle kept saying I was out, evicting me. I told him he couldn't based on my mental disorder, I was RIGHT, a lawyer told me its violation of the ADA so he cannot! I feel much better having the upper hand now, I'm saving that info for his next accusation of who knows what. It SUCKS how we're treated, thoughts are with you, think hard before you move!! Change is my big trigger, I had Dad's death, then the move where I lost everything, doctor, therapist, friends, my lifestyle etc.....It sent me into suicidal depression, I don't want you regretting it!