I see what you are saying about being called crazy and then helping them prove their point when you go off. My family doesnt say I am crazy ruight out like that but they talk to me like I am and then when I get pissed off and emotional and go off then the looks on their faces says it all like yea shes crazy! IT really sucks when people feel the need to call you out on your problems all the time but are too high and might to take a look at their own shit. I hear ya.

Alan, I get upset if I'm having a "normal" mood of being angry or upset and someone mentions "Are you OKAY?" as in did you take your meds bc you are not being so accommodating. Their are some things I have a RIGHT to feel angry about or say no to and it doesn't always boil down to being BP.

The best way I've found to help family not think I'm "crazy" or "symptomatic" is to be extra extra calm ( it's took practice) and reasonably state why I'm feeling that way or why I don't want to do something and come across even more rational than they are! They have no argument then. I used to go off on them but it just mad me question my own self and think maybe they are right? But now I listen to ME. Big Hugs!!

Yeah, it's like people use bipolar against you too often when they call us those things.

Similarly, I suffer terribly with being gossiped about. I'm not paranoid....I've had some bad situations where I've been the subject of gossip and that's an awful, isolating place to be. I feel anger toward the person in my life who thrusted that on me. I don't think that I'll ever find resolution with that, so I'm trying to work through it and forget.

It's hard to forget the bad things though....because things from the past permanently mark us and our sense of self-worth.

SensitiveHoboLady, you really sparked a train of thought in me when you said things from the past permanently mark us and our sense of self-worth.

I agree. If the marks are permanent and aren't going anywhere and the bad memories aren't going to change, I can stand up to them.

I can stand up to the memory of my dad lying to me when he said 'You can't write, you can barely read." The insult is an old memory and if it's going to hang around I'll address it.

My dad said, "You can't write, you can't even read."
I say, "Oh shut up. Just shut the f*** up. That's the nicest thing I'll ever say to you and it's never gonna get that good again. Now go sit the corner."

It really helps when I keep that conversation going and treat the memory of my dad like an impudent, disobedient child and say, "What are you doing out of your corner? Get back there. Go on. Off you go. Sit in your corner and cry about it."

That's the battle I choose. That's the battle I win over and over. That's how I make room in my head for my relaxed confidence.

And to think all of those insults were aimed at bipolar symptoms surfacing when I was a child. Good job dad! See your son in pain and attack him. Kick me when I'm down? I don't think so. I'm staying focused and calm with medication and therapy. I'm all grown up now and I'm younger, stronger, and smarter than you...so why don't you come knock me down now dad?

I actually told him to F-off one time about 17 years ago when I announced my wife and I were engaged. He told me not to get married. He actually said those words, "Don't get married." And to think it all started with calling me stupid and crazy when I was 9. He's out of my life and I'm taking steps to keep him out of my head. Yay me!

My so called "grandparents" and ex uncle were overly cruel to me. My gma told me when I was 8 that I was to fast to eat and then wouldn't fed me while she was taking care of me and my sisters. Bed walk past me in the morning and kick me awake after spending half the night paying me around to his friends. Then he'd tell me that I was used garbage and no one would ever want me. I believed him and sometimes I still do.
My younger sister used to call me pizza face because I had acne, and beached whale because of my weight. I was never super heavy, but it didn't stop her from "fat bashing" me. Now we have a strained relationship. I'm to a point where I want nothing more to do with her. Through school I was bullied to the point that I would beg the principle of the school to expel me so I wouldn't have to deal with it anymore.

The point is there are a lot of us here who know exactly what you're going through. We're all here for each other

Hang in there, it does get better!!

OMG!!!!! I hope you can read between the lines!! Stupid auto correct.