I have a question.

What do you do when you tell a friend your opinion about her abusive actions and she turns the conversation to your own illness?

I know that I have been stable the last months and have been taking my meds regularly, visiting doctors regularly and keeping up with my journals. Even though I know this, it still hurt me deeply that she turned around and said that I am the one that is ill and that she has no problems. I was just trying to help and have a healthy relationship with her. My question is, why does it still hurt when you are told these things?

Why do people use someone elses illness to discount what that person says, ie, opinions?

what do you recommend?
I removed this person from my life because I feel that she was hurting me more than helping but I want suggestions for the future. How do I screen people who will respect me and my illness and not use it to try and control me? Thank you

Thank you so much for this post (well, for ALL of them and this blog, too)… I really needed to read this today. You encourage and inspire me so much.

I know next time this happens to me (although I generally stay inside my little shell and not go anywhere, to avoid these situations entirely)… I will probably forget that you wrote this.. and that I can do this too (what you did with your brother and how you chose to react to what he did to you).

But maybe… maybe.. somewhere in there something will click for me, and at some point I’ll find the courage to start going out again, and facing situations like this, and even possibly be able to talk myself into choosing to react the way you did. Reading it from you helps me believe that I can. Thank you, again.

I live in PDX… you are just a year or so older than I… I see so much of myself in you (not knowing that I was bi-polar until I was nearly 40.. and finding out made everything in my life up until then finally make some sense) I know it’s a long shot, as you are incredibly busy.. but I’d love the opportunity to meet you sometime, because, as I said above, you have inspired and encouraged me more than anyone, ever.

Shannon: regarding your above comment…. WOW how I feel like that… every, every, every day. I hate it… so incredibly frustrating and stressful. I don’t have the health cards yet, as I have no income, so have not been able to afford them, but I’d like to get them and hopefully they will help with all of the chaos. Things WILL get better for both of us….

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity!

I want to write to Oprah and Dr Phil and Larry King and urge them to do more shows shows on raising awareness on Bipolar Disorder. Saw Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carey went on Larry King Live and talking about Autism. Why not Bipolar? I think Bipolar is the most misundertood illness, period! We need to reach out to our community and educate people to understand that we are not “crazy” and to help those who has this disorder to accept themselves too!

Thanks so much again, Julie!