People walking on eggshells
I've asked this in chat and didn't get much of an answer, not finding much with the search here either...
Since my family learned that I've started the journey of a thousand steps recently, they seem like they're walking on eggshells around me now. While I do admit that I've changed already, now that I no longer have to live with the facade of trying to be "normal", it's getting frustrating.
I realize they're trying to be helpful at times, but I've been asked things like 'how are you with that' or 'is that ok' more times in the last couple weeks than the last few years combined.
How do you deal with people treading carefully around you?
@Phoenix84
This sounds all to familiar to with me, granted, differnt circumstances, but nevertheless the same predicament.
You really need to sit down and have open dialogue with the people who are caring for you, they are acting in the very best interest towards you, but because they don't quite understand how and what your feeling, you need to make this clear to them.
For a long time I didn't, I swallowed what was happening, even though it was creasing me up inside, eventually, I began to resent the help and thoughtfulness of the individuals who were supporting and trying to help me.
When i finally opened up (well, actually I exploded) they begin to understand, they didn't take my feelings for granted, and asked my permission to 'take over', but things started to settle down, I was being treated like a person again, instead of an illness or condition defining me as a person.
So yeah, put some thought onto opening up to your loved ones who are trying to help you, what harm can it do? At the end of the day, ultimately, your the important person in all of this. And your close ones, they will want to do right by you, support you the way you want to be supported, trust them.
Take care!
@professionalPerspective60
The last time I reached out for support, it was completely ignored as being "normal teenage behavior"... so I buried it all deep and put on a facade. Took a long time to feel "normal" from that first major depressive episode.
I've lived in a state of emotionally numb a LONG time, and the deviations from "normal" finally got to the point of not being able to control it with the last few manic periods. I finally had to sit my doctor down long enough for him to listen, and get this all started a couple weeks ago.
I finally get in with the professionals on thursday to get started on group therapy, but after 16 years of this I barely know who I am and what's going to come out on the other side of this journey.
@Phoenix84 Spent time with you in 35+ tonight, not having yet read this post. If you ever see me in there again, let's chat about some of this, what do you say?
@ladylazarus1971
I'll likely be in there again after supper tomorrow night again. Tuesday I don't get home until later.
@Phoenix84 Hopefully I will see you there! <3
@Phoenix84 How have you been, Pho? I seem to keep missing you in 35+. I hope one of these days soon, we get a chance to chat some more. I would really enjoy that. <3
@ladylazarus1971
The last couple weeks have been interesting...
4 days up, hard crash, 4 days to get back to center, 2 days there, 3 days of manic, was ALMOST back to center yesterday again when dispatch threw my day sideways and it was just like flipping a light switch...as long as that doesn't happen again this week I might be stable this weekend and consider sleep.
First night at the weekly bipolar support group last night, looks like my Wednesday night is busy now.
GMT-6, and I'm usually in chat 1900-0100 ;)
@Phoenix84 I have my DBSA group meeting tonight. I am looking forward to the community. I hope you are able to get on a more even keel soon, honey. Talk to you soon, if I can find you.
@Phoenix84 The sucky part is, there's no real right answer to it. I went through the same thing, my family had always been pretty heavy handed on me and strict. When they found out I had a condition (that I wasn't just a terrible child) suddenly it was like they were scared of me. I think that there's a guilt factor after diagnosis; they think of all the times they may have irritated your condition and they vow they will never do it again. The intention is good, but the execution turns into a kind of surreal pandering.