[Albatross2008]

And do you have any idea what to do about it?

I have been accused of being a hypochondriac, being lazy, or attention-seeking when I'm sick. This isn't as much of a problem as it used to be. For one thing, there's enough medical documentation in existence now to prove otherwise. For another, I moved away from the people in my life who say those things. Apparently it's pretty common in our family. I have young family members who drag their feet about going to the doctor when they're sick or injured, because somebody's going to accuse them of faking it, being dramatic, etc.

I've been accused of being conceited, when actually I have very low self-esteem. I've been accused of being a know-it-all show-off just because I used a word with more than three syllables in it. I've been accused of lying when I'm telling the truth. And my husband sometimes accuses me of trying to pick a fight when I want to address a problem.

Any of this ring a bell?

As a child and a young person I was consistently accused of things my brother did. He would even do these things on purpose just to see me punished - which my mother seemed so quick and gleeful to do. One such incident has stood out long in my mind. It occurred when I was ten and the ramifications continued until I left home for university...

My brother went over to my mother's aloe vera plant and pinched all the guck out of and ruining the leaves. There was no even asking who was responsible. I was slapped around and my punishment was that I was never allowed to be alone in my own home right through until I left home - a period of seven years. I had one of three choices; tag along with my parents to everything, arrange to go to a friend's, or be locked out of the house. It has been 41 years since the incident and my a-hole brother still laughs about it and others.

[-jimi-]

As an aspie I'm used to people getting me wrong, I take it for granted.

Like being severely ill, saying I need to sit down and rest, and the other person is all perky and thinks it's an attitude problem says Just go a little more and I do because even if people think I am ultra lazy my self discipline is out of this world. So I have to stop when I black out and sort of wakes up on the concrete with a bump on my head. You think someone said Ooops pushed you too far? Nope. They think I am joking or trying to get out of work.

The worst thing is being called a liar. Happens a lot. It really hurts!

[Albatross2008]

I forgot to mention being accused of manipulation when the emotion is genuine.

I've been accused of being a liar, both online and offline.

[Loose Screw x 2]

I have a brother who likes to criticize me and tell me that I'm not capable of doing things that I want to try.
It's always "You don't pay attention, you're not alert and aware of your surroundings so, you can't get a driver's lisence or you have no rhythm and will never be able to play a guitar or if you try to sell bottled water this summer nobody is going to buy any and on and on..."
First of all, I am extremely alert and safety conscious and when I'm behind the wheel of a car I am 100% as serious as a professional race car driver.

Secondly, I do have rhythm and musical talent and have dreamed of playing guitar since I was a child. When I hear really good guitar music that speaks to me it is as though every piece of it is an audible expression of what I'm feeling inside and I just know that I have what it takes to learn and practice until I reach a satisfactory level. It's something very difficult to put into words.

Third, selling ice cold bottled water at 50 cents a piece in the scorching hot summer will bring customers and on top of that word of mouth will get around and generate even more interest.

I hate living with my brother. He seems to think that he has all of the answers to anything and everything and get's something out of putting me down. I don't understand it as I have never done anything to him that should make him want to feel that way.

I’ve been accused of doing things that the accuser was doing. It’s a manipulation tactic. You have to give them examples of how this is actually what they are doing, and that they are projecting it onto you.

It works to call someone on it, especially if you store up enough examples to make your point.

[Shakespeare3699]

I've been accused of attention seeking and being manipulative when I was just trying to be honest. It's been very hurtful in the past, feeling like I have to hide my emotions and whats going on in my mind because my family didn't believe me.

I've since then moved away and I'm finally starting to get the help I need, I'm just not telling them about it in order to keep the peace between us.

[Shazerac]

I too come from a background where admitting that I was sick or needed help was viewed as weakness. “ Just suck it up.” “There’s no such thing as mental illness...you’re just lazy!” Blah blah blah. I’m glad you have distanced yourself from these toxic people.

You won’t get that attitude here.

[Sassandclass]

Being accused of flirting (ughhh!! I’m just being nice - and I’m very happily married) I think this is a common ENFP thing.

[LikeABoomerang]

From my ex husband and the job I had for the last 6 years before going on maternity leave, since I was one of only 2 women in a very large group of men, I got accused of being a slut constantly. If I was talking to a man, than I must be sleeping with him. People tried to get me fired or make my life miserable enough to quit. If I tried to complain or report it, I was just made to feel worse by the management. Long story short - I'm never going back to that job. Some of the worst years of my life. I got bullied in school, but nothing ever came close to what I suffered there.

[Albatross2008]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

I too come from a background where admitting that I was sick or needed help was viewed as weakness. “ Just suck it up.” “There’s no such thing as mental illness...you’re just lazy!” Blah blah blah. I’m glad you have distanced yourself from these toxic people.

You won’t get that attitude here.

I recently left a Facebook support group for abuse survivors, because they were saying pretty much the same thing. According to them, psychiatrists are all quacks. There's no such thing as mental illness. It's something "Big Pharma" made up to sell pills.

I'm not even on meds, but saying something like that has become an automatic deal-breaker for me. And any time somebody uses the words "Big Pharma," I pretty much turn my ears off.

[Albatross2008]

Originally Posted by LikeABoomerang

From my ex husband and the job I had for the last 6 years before going on maternity leave, since I was one of only 2 women in a very large group of men, I got accused of being a slut constantly. If I was talking to a man, than I must be sleeping with him. People tried to get me fired or make my life miserable enough to quit. If I tried to complain or report it, I was just made to feel worse by the management. Long story short - I'm never going back to that job. Some of the worst years of my life. I got bullied in school, but nothing ever came close to what I suffered there.

Right, if you're being friendly and talking with somebody, then you must be sleeping with that person. I don't get that attitude from my husband, but he got it from his ex-wife, and I have heard it before in past relationships.

[Row Jimmy]

I get falsely accused of snoring. I do not snore.

haha, but seriously, how would you know?

I have been accused of being untruthful about my art. Without seeing the actual original, people have assumed I am taking pictures of someone else's work. Infuriating.

[Mountaindewed]

I used to get falsely accused of lying when I was actually telling the truth.

[Row Jimmy]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

haha, but seriously, how would you know?

I just know - when I get elbowed at 2AM and I wake up, I'm not snoring. Someone needs to provide me with proof before I admit to this egregious miscarriage of justice.

[Artchic528]

I often get accused of causing trouble when, in fact, I'm just confused and trying to understand the situation by asking questions.

[twistypringle98]

Someone I worked with said something along the lines of, “With your illness, I don’t think you are fit for the company”. It happened when I was pretty new, and I went on to receive two bonuses during the five months that I worked there. I quit because I found a new job, and I would have to work alone constantly. (I would engrave things and have to do everything from sell to inventory to cleaning all by myself during my shift). The job I went to wasn’t any better with their diction. The boss said to someone right in front of me, “She’s new and better than you already”. I had barely worked there two hours, and he was already being sarcastic. I did a really s***** job that day, nothing right. This incident could be because of my illness or not. Either way, it was rude.

Also, now that I think about it, another thing happened at the first job I had. I was just doing my job and coming towards me was the supervisor with one of my coworkers. The coworker worked with the mentally ill as a part-time job. I don't remember what she did. Anyway, I heard them talking, and my supervisor said, "I think schizophrenia is a great thing". I never got into a conversation with her, but she did stop by me to announce give me a raise of $2.

I know there is a huge stigma about my disorder. People still think it's caused by the devil, for f***'s sake. I just want to be like, "I'm on meds for it. They work pretty good since it's just a chemical imbalance just like any old mental illness. Thanks for asking! And, no, I don't smoke weed or do drugs: never have. So, please, don't give me the whole spiel about me smokin' dope and ending up with this. Besides, I'm pretty sure that it affects me more than you."

I never talk that much though.

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I have been accused of being untruthful about my art. Without seeing the actual original, people have assumed I am taking pictures of someone else's work. Infuriating.

If you paint a picture that was originally someone else’s work, you include the word “after” in the title. Example: Almond Blossoms, after Van Gogh. That is the proper way to do it in an educated art community. If your work is complete out of your own head and not a version of someone else’s art then phooey on those who accuse you of stealing it. People can be so snobby and ignorant.

[Artchic528]

I also get accused of being full of myself, when I'm only acting confident. Maybe those who accuse me of such nonsense are, in fact, jealous of my confidence?