[rainbowdust1]

I had a conversation with my family this evening about mental illness. I told them that I viewed mental illness just the same as any other illness. I compared it to having diabetes. They disagreed with me. I tried to explain to them that just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. A person with mental illness lives a hell in their head everyday. I think it actually may be worse than some conditions because when the problem is visible, more people are willing to give support. With mental illness, you not only have to live in your own prison, but alone and questioned. Then the topic of drug addiction cam up and they said it was a choice. I told them that I believe that there has to be something missing to seek out and habitually use drugs. If the good feelings you have ever felt are by a narcotic, many people with mental illness are prone to use them. A person with BPD always has a sense of emptiness and something that feels good will fill the hole. People do not understand this concept and I don't guess that they would unless they have ever experienced the loneliness and imprisonment a person can feel. I think that the illness that you cannot see or "prove" to someone is the worst. Its lonely and hard enough dealing with yourself, let alone defended it. Rant over!

[gettingby]

It's true, it's so shameful what many people with mental illnesses go through, at least to the outside world, right? Now that I know i have bpd, i just want to tell everyone....to explain to them, HEY! This is why i do some of the things i do! Please have patience!

The thing is, you cant just tell all of your coworkers, friends, family....there's such a stigma attached to these sort of things that you (at least myself) try to tell only those close to you. I was diagnosed as clinically depressed years ago and whenever i would tell someone they would look at me like i was crazy and say "you're not depressed, you're just going through hard times right now, everyone goes through it. how can you be depressed, you're always laughing and making jokes." Some people just dont understand the inner turmoil that we feel inside of ourselves on an almost constant basis. Racing thoughts and just an overall sadness is anything but normal yet it's dismissed as a phase. And the worst part, you have to explain the symptoms of said disorder (whatever it may be) and then explain to people which ones you have and why you identify! How fun
I sympathize with you, stay strong!

[Forgive77]

Hugs sweety....sometimes families just don't get stuff, and they are more confortable with you being the problem...instead of them missing something. We're here for you and we get it.

[here today]

Is there a way to "Ditto" what Forgive said?

[NYCDoglvr]

What I've learned is we can't get in anyone else's head ... and they can't get in ours. And that it's pointless to have a conversation about it. For example, if I met Barack Obama and he talked about being President, I wouldn't know what it's like.