Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Hi Janine~~

Before diagnosis, I wallowed in a pool of guilt. It was a constant feeling from the time I was little -- no doubt aided by my mom's constant criticism. Oh my goodness ..... I was so hard on myself for years.

Post diagnosis and treatment, it's as if I locked up all that old guilt and threw away the key. And I'm not manufacturing any new guilt.

I'm sending you wishes of acceptance and peace. :)

My mom was very good at giving me guilt from as far back as I can remember, then as an adult I got it from her as well as my ex and I got it from my sister growing up and adult as well. Then I was getting it from a lady who "claimed" to be my friend.

I just took it, kept it inside, said "I'm sorry, I will change, I won't do it again". Well thanks to my wonderful therapist, and a lot of hard work, I don't "do" guilt anymore. I have come to know that I am not a doormat and I do not have to be a different person around this one and a different person around that one, I am me and well, even though I am working on liking me, (working is the key word here), it is their problem, not mine.

Now I am able to tell my mom or my sister, I have to go, love you, bye and hang up the phone. As to the "so called friend" I don't hardly see her, unless we go visit because my husband and her's are great freinds and he is an awesome guy. But when we are there, I am usually with the guys and if we are inside, she sits somewhere else, Barely speaks 2 words to me. Again, her problem.

I hope that you can come to acceptance as well. and get some peace as Shelby said. We are here to listen Hugs