Any public figures out there? How do you deal with questions about your mental health and/or avoiding being a posterchild? Or dealing with the consequences of being a poster child... Or people only being available when you're putting on a show/mask? If revealing personal information is part of your success, how do you decide when it isn't worth it or is too personal?

Feeling like the sideshow freak but maybe I'm just allergic to success in any format.

[healingme4me]

Can't say that I'm in such a position to answer this. Giving this post a *bump* in case it was missed in the busyness of this forum...

[That What]

Originally Posted by somat

Any public figures out there? How do you deal with questions about your mental health and/or avoiding being a posterchild? Or dealing with the consequences of being a poster child... Or people only being available when you're putting on a show/mask? If revealing personal information is part of your success, how do you decide when it isn't worth it or is too personal?

Feeling like the sideshow freak but maybe I'm just allergic to success in any format.

Not a public figure...however much older siblings asking teenage girl intrusive questions. Responded by returning question. "Are you and John having sex?" "Are you and Tom having sex?" "Well...yeah....you know we have sex..we are married and we have children." ""There's your answer." "But your not married and you don't have children...oh..so you saying I will know you are having sex when you are married and having children otherwise what you two do in private is none of my business." "Uhhm." "I didn't say it...other person said it" which prevented more intrusive questions.

Your obligation is to your well being not poster child so others can place you on a pedestal expecting you to "solve" group/people problems. Are you fearing success or fearing impossible expectations placed by others aka people pleasing?

Originally Posted by That What

Not a public figure...however much older siblings asking teenage girl intrusive questions. Responded by returning question. "Are you and John having sex?" "Are you and Tom having sex?" "Well...yeah....you know we have sex..we are married and we have children." ""There's your answer." "But your not married and you don't have children...oh..so you saying I will know you are having sex when you are married and having children otherwise what you two do in private is none of my business." "Uhhm." "I didn't say it...other person said it" which prevented more intrusive questions.

Your obligation is to your well being not poster child so others can place you on a pedestal expecting you to "solve" group/people problems. Are you fearing success or fearing impossible expectations placed by others aka people pleasing?

mostly just afraid of becoming even more of a poster child. i cant get into much more on here. but i think as long as i am ok with myself, whatever i am asked wont matter. and have good boundaries...

[*Laurie*]

Hi somat, I'm glad you mentioned boundaries. Good, healthy boundaries go a long way.

i'm certainly weak when it comes to people commenting on my issues, and i end up believing what they say (which only makes it worse in the long run)