The toughest part of mental illness...good question. I think for me, because I have numerous other chronic medical problems, it's maintaining credibility from the moment I walk in the door at any Dr's office. If they see my Psych Record, the deck is already stacked against me no matter how informed, intelligent, well researched I may be....and every symptom becomes PTSD related, and I have to insist on tests to rule out organic causes before I let any Dr just shove a physical problem off as PTSD without any exam, MRI, etc...
And one has to do this very carefully b/c if you push too hard, that's the PTSD talking, and if you are too soft spoken, that's the PTSD bringing you down....vicious circle!

I think for me is never really thinking like 'normal' people. It's either fear over everything or something pity, depression and paranoia so severe that I get suicidal. Intrusive OCD thoughts and various triggers. Living 'normal' is impossible for me right now.

And not everyone understands.

Hiya Moonshadow,

On the plus side, I'm beginning to think there is no such thing as normal....some people are just better able to hide their crazy than others :)

However, I do understand your desire for a stable life without depression,paranoia and suicidal ideation. These are tough issues to tackle and can make your life chaotic....and a lot of people have a hard time believing what they can not see....

Know that everyone on this forum believes every experience you go through, and we do our best to understand what it's like to walk in your shoes.

Be well, Anna

hi twisted, i agree, i think some people are just more able to hide the 'crazy' or are oblivious to it. my own family is rampant with mood disorders, eleven of us but only three are getting treatment, the rest of them view themselves as 'normal' and are far from it. most could do with large amounts of medication and tons of therapy and they live in the 'real' world just doing loads of damage daily and getting away with it because everyone turns a blind eye to rude, ignorant and bad behaviour because nobody wants to point out that the emperor is actually naked and we're insane because we talk about it freely. we're the only ones who understand each other and it is great when we get together. it eases the mind. it is wonderful not to have to explain every little thing. to be able to say 'my brain hurts' without having to explain it. there's great freedom in that. like minds finding like minds - that's a tough one.

Thanks Anna and irish *hugs to you all* I'm glad we have each other.

It is hard when people don't understand mental illness. They think you truly are nuts. They are ignorant and need to be taught a lot about mental illness. It can make you feel ashamed of your mental illness.

The fact that it limits me as a human being is very frustrating . Plus being looked down on is , well just not good for my self worth . But I can understand and relate to you all .

Hardest for me is social isolation and not being able to form long term relationships. The days can be long...

Looney, I am right there with you...I don't make friends easily even though, not to sound conceited, but I'm a nice person, and a good friend...no drama, no lies, like to help out when I can...don't drink, smoke, not into the club scene...

So, I have had to make connections in the community...every cashier in town knows me by name, and it's become a little easier since I had to move into subsidized housing...I got placed in elderly and disabled housing, I'm 38 so it was because I am disabled (haha!) and there are mostly elderly folks here, and I enjoy them very much,..I call them my old biddies, and they love to talk and I like listening...so that helps.

But, I would love to have a friend around my own age to just get a coffee with or go for a walk or something...Saturday Night Bingo with my Biddies is fun, but something tells me a 38 year old should be doing something a bit more youthful on a Saturday night lol....

Ah well....I adore the old timers here, and it does keep some of the loneliness at bay, but really it's just a band aid on the problem

Ah well, any company is good company and I'm sure they love it. :)

It is good company, I can't speak for them, but I truly enjoy their company...but like I said, I wouldn't mind having someone closer to my own age to hang out with once in awhile, but I suppose that will have to be an issue I keep working on in therapy.

May I ask if you live alone, have trouble leaving your house, etc... I used to have trouble leaving my apartment, but elderly/disabled housing has so much "in house" that a lot of socializing gets done in the building...not sure if that is good or bad

The toughest par for me i knowing that you're all fucked up yet nobody will believe it.....Even the doctors that diagnosed me give me the look like they dont believe it.......Everyone constantly getting an attitude whenever you're really down or just having a badd attitude yourself because of what is wrong with you, And thats why i just isolate....Its better this way