my personal fave of this ilk is when people who maintain a dedicated habit of ingesting all manner of illicit substances take the time to sit down & school you (ie/ me) about the inherent dangers, ill advised nature of taking prescribed psych meds. Especially when receive that particular pearl of wisdom from friend under the influence..oh joy x

I had a friend like that. I started believing him and stopped checking myself and got ill. now were not friends.

My husband basically said the same thing to me when I got out of the hospital last week. For those that really do not understand what it is like and to feel what we feel, not saying that their feelings don't count but until you are their don't judge.

For sure it hurts when you are misunderstood specially when it comes to your pains, my wife doesn't understand yet what I am going through but she definitely witnessed and recognized my hypmanias and depressions along the years and she also knew something was wrong, I was diagnosed last month in an episode of depression that put me in great pain that I am still trying to recover, sometimes she asks me to help myself out of this, all what I say back, if I could, I would, still way ahead for both us to learn, however I didn't tell anyone yet and probably won't for long time yet.

I agree that they won't know how it feels, unless they are there or else why most of us was misdiagnosed initially , including me.

Always remember that what makes you different can be also what made you special, but lonliness is the price for being different.

I accepted what I am and that's more important than being accepted by outsiders.

I'm surrounded by these types of people. They are just sickening, Its like being stranded on an island by yourself , you just have to find the strength to take care of yourself and not depend on others. Sorry this happened to you I know it hurts.

ScubaBeeper, I loved you post and your comment, "Always remember that what makes you different can be also what made you special, but lonliness is the price for being different."

I think that sums up the sruggle for Beepers right through history.

Well these idiots are correct don't you know? My mental illness is all in my head.

i say keep him as a 'shallow' friend but don't expect anything too deep from him. Friends are hard to come by. My brother tried to say something to this effect to me but I just blew it off and remember he's a good brother otherwise. Usually when people say this, they don't have the full story thus they don't get it. When you tell them of your symptoms and various episodes they might get it.

And you can always say "yes it IS all in my head, that's the problem..."

Half of my family thinks this. They are in denial until there is another suicide attempt and they refuse to come to the hospital because they assume i am being dramatic for some reason (manipulation) for ex. My best (ex) friend told me to pull my self up by my boot straps and she and I don't communicate anymore. She said, get over yourself. I said fuck you.

Aw. That's sad that he feels that just because he doesn't know the literal science about it, he puts you down like that. I'm sorry. Don't listen to him. It's a chemical embalance in the brain. It's scientifically proven.

When it comes right down to the neurobiological aspects of the illness, it quite literally is 'all in our heads'. ;)

The older i get the more I feel that most people do not understand. Over the years I have befriended people who at one point or another understand, but that understanding does not last. Generally, these are people who are struggling with situational depression, and worse, but once they move on, then they move on. After they overcome their depression then its like they change, and they no longer "get it."