Family history

leomama · Mar 10, 2018, 10:34 AM

So I’ve been asking around in my family if anyone had bipolar disorder and one family member and I had this conversation:

Family member :

Quote:

I have a feeling they were all pretty strong, pretty competent Italian women.

To which I said

Quote:

Bipolar disorder doesn’t make a person weak or incompetent.

And the family member replied

Quote:

I know that, it's just that some people. you might notice that something wasn't right and it could be bipolar. All the aunts are really strong, tough women. The kind of women who wouldn't allow themselves to be bipolar, they would do something about it. Your grandmother was like that, some things just wouldn't be allowed, I don't know of any other way to describe it.

Wow! Just wow!

When I was disabled due to ptsd my mother thought I was on welfare. I’m quite sure that family member did too. My father and brother both didn’t believe me because I hadn’t been in combat.

I am so glad I didn’t tell my family of my diagnosis!

I’m printing that email out and bringing it to my t today.

Mar 10, 2018, 10:45 AM

Wow. Just wow. I would have totally lost my ****. I mean who knew you could choose you didn't want bipolar if you were strong enough? Grrrr.

leomama · Mar 10, 2018, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSadGirl

Wow. Just wow. I would have totally lost my ****. I mean who knew you could choose you didn't want bipolar if you were strong enough? Grrrr.

Yep this is the same family member who also said I had to be abused by my mom when I was a minor because I was so horrible.

Mar 10, 2018, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leomama

Yep this is the same family member who also said I had to be abused by my mom when I was a minor because I was so horrible.

Family is wonderful hey? This might make you feel better. My dad was a violent, wife beating alcoholic. I was terrified of him. He abandon me at 9 and died when I was 17. My cousin starts talking about what a great guy he was and how he was like a father to her. I saw red and stormed out.

What's my point? Sometimes family sucks. They can say the most insensitive, ignorant, hurtful things.

Unrigged64072835 · Mar 10, 2018, 05:09 PM

I haven't told my extended family about my MI. I told my brother, but he doesn't care and I haven't heard from them since then. At least my aunt (dad's sister) knew my dad was awful but thought my mom was a saint. She never saw my mom with a bottle worth of wine in her.
My dad's mom has bipolar as well as Alzheimer's so there may be a link there.

I think some people look "strong" because they had to be, not because they wanted to be.

Victoria'smom · Mar 10, 2018, 05:34 PM

My family equates pdoc as drug dealers. They view myself and my family as drug addicts.

leomama · Mar 10, 2018, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

My family equates pdoc as drug dealers. They view myself and my family as drug addicts.

I’m sure my mom does too which is I don’t talk to her about my drug dealer or my drugs.

Nola0250 · Mar 10, 2018, 07:20 PM

I haven't told my family, except for a brother who understands and it good support. My parents would think me weak for taking medications and seeing doctors. If I would just toughen up I could figure it out on my own. Yeah, right. Many family members are diagnosable and in denial here...

Teddy Bear · Mar 10, 2018, 08:34 PM

I'm lucky my mom was schizophrenic so the family just says I got from her my family knows maybe not the entire extended family but I tell them as I talk to them

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