[Neweesmea88]

I'm still "in the closet" when it comes to BPD. I have so many people in my life that are very wary of psychology, it being a "soft science" and all, and believe that psychiatry is a diagnosis happy worłd for the greedy. I can't say I disagree with them completely, but what I do know is that I have this disorder without a doubt in my mind. I just feel like I could never be honest and myself around the people in my life about a disorder they don't even believe in. This causes me to internalize all of my crazy feelings and emotions and turn them back on myself, isolating myself for most of my free time, which means laying in bed binging on food and television to keep my mind occupied from it's constant whirlpool of self loathing. I'm working on it, but I just don't feel like I have a solid support system. I live in a rural area, it's not as if I have access to local support groups or others to identify with. Any advice on how to deal with non believers?

[greentires4me]

I was a non believer when I was diagnosed I felt like everyone around me was out to get me labeled and that is what I would stay. I felt like I couldn't be it I felt like everything around me was crashing to a halt. Then one day I started to analyze my feelings and seeing that I was not my illness but a person dominated by these things happening to me were real. i started to see that maybe just maybe I had this illness and maybe just maybe I could see myself with it. i started to believe that I did have it after all it was a long 4 months of going back and forth with myself as I was falling off and into one of my behaviours that I was not willing to let go as I was in the hospital in the psych ward.

So you're going to believe in yourself and in your illness sooner then later it like it follows you where ever you go it follows.

[Neweesmea88]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm not personally a non believer, how could I be? I'm living it! People get so hot under the collar about labels. All the labels are is a bunch of symptoms that present together. You either have them or you don't. But I guess not everyone sees it that way.

[IndieVisible]

You want to talk about non-believers? I was diagnosed with bipolar way back in 1989! I said no way! Your wrong! I'm just upset. Doc said I know the difference between upset, I've seen you for a year, your bipolar. I dropped her. So for 30 years I was a non-believer, self medicating myself as needed. Would go to the doc for depression when needed, go to the doc for anxiety when needed. I knew how to play them without bringing up bipolar. I just hurt myself longer. It was not until a couple of years ago when I started keeping a journal that I seen a pattern which helped me remember certain movements in my past that pretty much fit the diagnosis. I even had people tell me I'm not bipolar, I'm BPD. But I know what I am now. See the problem for me was I could go 2, 3, even 5 years feeling ok. I would then feel I never had a problem or I'm cured. Then one of the symptoms would always come back like a rude awakening. I still doubt believe it or not, but I read my journal and am reminded. Who wants to admit they have a serious mental illness? Not many.

[technigal]

Originally Posted by Neweesmea88

Any advice on how to deal with non believers?

I am lucky that my husband is very supportive.

My dad was very unsupportive and thought that psychiatry was "quack" medicine. I probably should have had help when I was a teen but my dad was against it. It was all in my head (well, actually it is). I too would hide in my bed and binge and read, letting my depression get worse and worse. I hid my true self to everyone.

When I moved out to go to university is when I started to get help. My dad was still against it but I was an adult and did what was best for me. I did not have my support from anyone for years. I think that is why I am in the place I am in now, it is getting better but still not a great place to be.

Sorry, I haven't really answered your question but did want you to know that I understand.

[atomicc]

My mother is a none believer, she thinks mental illness is only weakness. It's hard for me because I want so much for her to understand and respect me, but as long as I try and talk about my mental illness she can't. I think you should try and reach out to someone you trust the most in the family, if you feel you really need that support then trust in your family and take that leap. If you definitely don't think they will help then maybe look into support groups or other boards that deal with BPD if this isn't one you like. Though I think we are all amazingly supportive here to each other and you have to give people a chance to answer your posts. We are not all on at the same time but we do care about each other.

[Neweesmea88]

Thanks everyone. Sorry about the snarky post earlier, I deleted it. I had just gotten back from a not great family event and was feeling very frustrated and alone. Thanks again for all the responses! I don't want to get off on the wrong foot in this community before I'm even a part of it.

[Neweesmea88]

Originally Posted by atomicc

My mother is a none believer, she thinks mental illness is only weakness. It's hard for me because I want so much for her to understand and respect me, but as long as I try and talk about my mental illness she can't. I think you should try and reach out to someone you trust the most in the family, if you feel you really need that support then trust in your family and take that leap. If you definitely don't think they will help then maybe look into support groups or other boards that deal with BPD if this isn't one you like. Though I think we are all amazingly supportive here to each other and you have to give people a chance to answer your posts. We are not all on at the same time but we do care about each other.

I apologize for the snark. It was unwarranted and desperate, I deleted it. Thank you for your advice, I'm gonna stick with this place instead of trying to make excuses to push it away!

[atomicc]

Originally Posted by Neweesmea88

Thanks everyone. Sorry about the snarky post earlier, I deleted it. I had just gotten back from a not great family event and was feeling very frustrated and alone. Thanks again for all the responses! I don't want to get off on the wrong foot in this community before I'm even a part of it.

It's totally understandable. I make snarky comments or lash out at others when I'm mad at something.