[melmyers1107]

I experience several periods of loneliness evven though i have a huge family, finance, 26 cousins, etc. I feel like they dont understand me at all bc i have a disease and am always so tired. please help

[Skeezyks]

Hello melmyers1107: I'm sorry you feel so alone. You know... the reality of the situation is (at least from my perspective) that the people around those of us who struggle with mental health issues don't understand what we're experiencing & don't really want to hear about it. This is a large part of the reason many of us are here on PC... (including yours truly.) Individual therapy & support groups can also be of help in this regard. In one way or another, the answer is simply to find someone, or some group, of people to share what's going on with whether it be on-line or in real life.

I think Skeezyks is right on the money with his post.

I don't have a lot of IRL interaction since becoming mentally ill. Part of this is because of my particular diagnoses. However, prior to that I had a wide social circle and I quickly learned that mental illness was something they wanted no part of. Including some family members. Stigma.

While my social life is much smaller now, I've developed a few quality relationships IRL that accept me and don't judge me. The forums here are great for me, too.

Finding a local support group is a great way to make friends and feel less alone.

[Marylin]

I found that certain people didn't want to know me when I became mentally ill and even stigmatized me.That felt bad for a long time and combined with certain medication caused me to withdraw and isolate myself.The good thing was when I did meet the right people in real life they were people who accepted me for who I am regardless of whether I had mental illness or not and I find the good people don't reject me or let me down or discriminate or use my illness against me and the bad people do all of that,so it isn't you or the illness it is that those people rejecting you for it aren't good or worth knowing.I hope you find this out in your own way and that is helps you to feel better about yourself and being ill.