Is your family understanding of what you're suffering from?

[rz3300a]

Oh yes, and I can honestly say that I would not be as close to normal as I am now without them. I needed a steady support system and I consider myself so so lucky that I had them to lean on. Some of the times it is tough though, and I feel that I am draining for them to have to deal with, but they are very reassuring that respect. I hope that things get easier as I get older, but it is not really looking that way, but we shall see I guess. Interesting stuff, and thanks for sharing.

 

[HappyKoi]

I'm glad you're getting a little support. I was a teen with depression and anxiety in the 90s "troubled teen industry" years, where they way to cure depression and anxiety was, "You have problems because you haven't been punished enough" which works about as well as it sounds. My parents believed in this wholeheartedly, and I was grounded for being depressed, self-harm, and being too anxious to focus on school. My parents still have this idea that depression and anxiety are laziness and attention-seeking behavior, and they have this idea toward all mental illnesses, including DID, BPD, schizophrenia, etc. Fortunately, society as a whole is slowly changing its attitude away from this.

 

[sidney]

Yes, my mom would always be there to listen to me rant about my troubles. However, my dad isn't. He seems to not understand what I feel inside and thinks that I'm overreacting.

 

[theduck7]

I'm so sorry that so many of you don't get any support from your family. For some people denial is the only way of coping with something like that. Hopefully they can get over their disbelief and give you the support you nee.

 

[beautifullybree]

My mom and step dad are both very understanding. My mom had anxiety so we have all had experience with it. For that I am so lucky. When I realized I had it they helped me in every way they could. Including driving me to the doctor and bringing me medicine.

 

[Ashley0323]

HA! I wish! No, I do not feel as if my family understands what I go through, almost daily. At times, I over-think and stress about every little thing, then I bring it to their attention, usually confirming and asking for advice on a situation, and they always tell me I am over thinking and need to "let it go", or "stop bugging on it", and it drives me insane. My mind does not stop until I have my life "problems" solved in my head, ahead of time.

 

[Aree Wongwanlee]

I live at a considerable distance from most of my family members. We only communicate via Facebook. I am living with my son. He totally understands my situation. However, he is also encouraging me to get better. He does this by chiding me gently now and then. He is a good son. In fact, he has been more helpful than the doctors I have been going to. All the doctors do is prescribe medication. None have really cared to give me any encouragement or motivation to get well quickly. I suppose if I get well too quickly, they would have less to do, which may not be what they want. My son, on the other hand, is supporting me fully financially. So, when I get better, his burden becomes less. On top of that, I think he would like to see me around for a long time.

 

[EmmVee87]

Bea I'm glad to hear that your stepdad was such a source of support. I feel pretty lucky, as my own family has been massively supportive, by and large. The only exception was my grandmother. She came from the school of thought that mental illness was to be ignored as it was a sign of weakness or simply put on. She never really knew the extent of what I was dealing with, but whenever I tried to express my feelings she often changed the subject or told me to "toughen up."

 

[GrubbyRose]

My parents were very understanding about what I was going through, and did everything they could to help. I think that is why I have made as much progress as I have. When I was growing up, they were not too supportive of drugging, but instead let me work through my issues at my own page, as long as I was moving forward, and it was a big help.