Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
I am having a very hard time with understanding bp myself. How in the world am I supposed to make my family and friends understand why I am like I am or why I feel like I do? I am doing good to get through my days at work. I certainly don't want to be around a bunch of people when I don't have to be. Just had a deal last night that I was supposed to do with the family. I would have loved to have seen my niece and nephew but I just could not face being with the rest of the family. I sure could not face being around a bunch of people at some big event. I was feeling very anxious and irritable and I did not want to be around anyone. I had to go and get a new script filled and I didn't even want to do that. I just wanted to be alone. I feel like this a big part of the time. Is this normal? How do you explain this to the family? How do you make them understand that it is not personal but that you just can't be around people? How do you make them understand how you are feeling? How do you get them to understand what you are going through? If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them. Thanks
deleted_user
Just tell them that you are feeling overwhelmed or frightened or whateberever it is you are feeling and take it from there. I know where you're coming from. There are lots of times when I just can't do the kinds of things that the rest of the fanily does because there are too many people around. Sometimes I can't even go into the grocery store by myself. Just learn to take things as they come and try to explain it to your family.
deleted_user
honestly what i did was explain to the people closet to me that i could talk to w/o being too insecure. then let them make my apologies to the rest of my family. if your family is anything like mine the truth will slip out eventually and then they'll understand. truthfully the people u think will be the hardest on u usually turn out to be your best supporters. best of luck!!!
deleted_user
I totally understand how you feel..I feel the same! Sometimes I go..sometimes I can't..somedays I'm able to do things..grocery store, etc..next day may feel incapicitated..you know what..the only person I can be is myself..sorry if people don;t understand...my family does understand now that I am 49 and have totally layed out my stuff to them..don;t beat yourself up..most of us feel the same here.
deleted_user
Be honest, be clear in what you can do and what you wish not to do. I've had bp for 17 years and my family still don't understand where I am coming from, don't fret, communicate to them to make your life easier when you need it . luv clare xx
deleted_user
Be honest, be clear in what you can do and what you wish not to do. I've had bp for 17 years and my family still don't understand where I am coming from, don't fret, communicate to them to make your life easier when you need it . luv clare xx
deleted_user
I have days just like you!! As for my family some understand and some dont....my family doesnt understand and i have tired to explain to them that it is part of who i am. They tell me that i take too many meds and thats my problem..but luckly i have a great group of some close friends that i have for support. They try to help me on what i call my off days, sometimes there is never a way to explain how you feel.
deleted_user
what i did was research the internet, printed it out and highlighted the parts that fit me and handed it out to my family.
deleted_user
It really is a hard thing to understand isn't it? So unpredictable. I was just blunt with my mother, and frankly she didn't care. My brother is schizophrenic and extremely aggressive and rude so to her bipolar is small potatoes. The only other people I told, I did so in the same way, very honestly and bluntly. My "best friend" told another of our friends who in turn turned it into a horrific awkward situation by using bipolar as an insult for people she didn't like right in front of me....Ouch. My boyfriend took it like a champ, and didn't seem entirely surprised unfortunately. Regardless, the point of all this is that maybe being blunt, to the point, and not going into too much detail is a horrible way of telling people. I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe a better way would have been just to explain the feelings you have more so than the disorder that's causing them...who knows, like I said, I didn't do it very well. p.s. If I could never leave my house again, it would be great. I feel your pain.
deleted_user
I understand the whole crowd thing. I have the same problem. Do you think you could print up some information for them to casually read on their own? can you pick one special person in your family to share this diagnosis with. To enlighted them of the emotional wars we have with ourselves.The struggles this illness puts us through? If you can get one person to understand...that is a start. Then maybe with her in your corner, she /he can help others to understand...one by one.Go slow. And do not do anything that make you uncomfortable.God bless Hun. (hugs)
deleted_user
I do know what you are talking about. I care so much for my dad and everytime I talk with him--if there could be a big ol' label put on the whole conversation--it would be "LAZY". So, I know he thinks I am sooo super lazy, when I know I am very depressed instead. It's very hard to deal with. The last time I got fed up with it, I told my mother all about how he needed to figure out what bipolar and depression is all about and then we both laughed because HE IS BIPOLAR!! He's just not as bad as I seem to be. Maybe someday he will figure out that I am merely a good person in a bipolar body--you think?!?
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