ME ME ME!!!!

I feel really hesitant to tell my friends. Not that it has anything to do with them, but I feel alot of guilt.

They don't understand. IMO anyone who does not have the illness can not completely understand.

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not, but in another generation or two that will not be the case.

Up to now, so many folks have been taught that depression can be "snapped out of", and unemployment is purely laziness.

...remember the good old days when retarded children were simply locked away - or Done Away With? (Thank God we're only insulted, criticised and looked down on)

I was told by an ignorant, uninformed step-daughter that we all get down sometimes; I just needed to learn how to handle it. Obviously, she has no clue what she's talking about.

my dad tries to understand, but needs more education, my mother is perfect along with my sis and neither is openminded enough to understand. i have a few friends that may not totally understandbut are more supportave than my family has been

go to www.bipolarhappens.com

the tools help loved ones a lot and are worth the investment. you are worth the investment.

is it us that has the illness or is it really them??

When I lived at home I felt alienated. If I got really depressed I was told to 'snap out of it'. I'd usually go off somewhere and cry and the rest of my family went on as if nothing was wrong. I left home when I was 17 and then moved half way across the country when I was 20 (15 years ago). Tried to escape it, thought if I got away from home I'd be away from the problem. Not so. My boyfriend tries to help and understand, but he just doesn't have the patience. So he gets depressed because he knows that the last thing I need is him yelling at me. It is very hard on him having me live here with him. Sometimes I feel very guilty for having to put him though this. It is so complicated. I guess all I can do now is pray.

okay what if they are familar but they are so ignorant they do nothing and act stobborn and pigheaded about the whole thing(sorry im) VERY angry right now.

i always feel like it is a competition with my mother over who has it worse. Sheesh.... i dont want to live my life like that. She doesnt want to hear about my problems because she is so overwhelmed with her own. Luckily my sister gets it and is always there when i need her.

That is my family in a nutshell!