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Bipolar disorder and feeling like a burden

2Minds

I suffer bipolar disorder and have been treated for sometime. I suffer a dreadful reaction from most of my family they use phrase like “we have made allowances for her Bipolar” my Husband is wonderful however I feel I am an awful burden on him. My Father refuses to accept any Mental health issues and my Mum passed away very young. I cannot clear my mind of thoughts of loneliness.

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steve51

Hi @2Minds

A very big welcome to our online community.

I'm sorry to hear about your current situation.

The saying goes like this "You can choise your freinds no your family"

Please please let me know if I can offer you "Help & Advice"

You have come to your "New Family"

So you don't need to "Feel" alone anymore !!!!!!!!!!

2Minds

Thank you

steve51

Hi @2Minds

That's know problem at all.

Please let me know it I can help?????

2Minds

I will thank you

Sam_Alumni

Hi @2Minds welcome to the community - do you get much support?

I have a chronic illness and I do understand about that feeling of being a burden, it is something I speak to my husband about and opening those lines of communication have definitely helped us to be more open and honest about our feelings.

We do have a mental health advisor on the community, so if you have specific questions, you can ask them.

Take a look around the community, jump in and get involved.

2Minds

Thank you

Mia_Alumni

2Minds said:

I suffer bipolar disorder and have been treated for sometime. I suffer a dreadful reaction from most of my family they use phrase like “we have made allowances for her Bipolar” my Husband is wonderful however I feel I am an awful burden on him. My Father refuses to accept any Mental health issues and my Mum passed away very young. I cannot clear my mind of thoughts of loneliness.

Hi @2Minds,

Welcome to the Community and thank you for sharing your problem with us.

First of all, I am pleased for you that you have been receiving treatment for some time now. Hopefully you are stable and well on whatever particular medication(s) that you are on. Feel free to share what your experience has been like getting this treatment; it would be interesting to know.

I am so sorry to learn about the dreadful reaction from most of your family; how awful this must be for you. It is such an isolating and lonely experience, to not have your close ones try to understand or accept what you are going through.

Unfortunately mental health is still such a poorly misunderstood topic, and there is a lot of stigma still attached to it, despite the majority of us going through some type of mental health issue at some stage in our lives(!). Bipolar is a very difficult condition for people to wrap their heads around. It's difficult enough for the people affected by it to understand, let alone having someone else understand it. Sometimes people are afraid of what they don't understand, or what is different to the norm, but hold on tightly to who you are.

You are not your mental health condition. Try to distinguish what is the real you and what is your bipolar, because they are two very distinct entities. Once you understand what is your bipolar, you can start to work on techniques and strategies to work around it or reduce the effect it has on your life. You can also reduce the guilt you feel when you do or say something as a result of your condition.

I am so pleased to hear about how wonderful your husband has been, and I appreciate you feel an awful burden on him. Please try to be kind to yourself and exercise self-compassion. I am sure you are a wonderful wife and person, and it is not your fault that you have this horrible condition.

You can't clear the thoughts of loneliness. That is natural. I once read a quote about loneliness that stuck with me ever since. I found acceptance and peace with occasional loneliness, but it took a long time. I hope you find some comfort in it:

Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. An intelligent, sensitive person is the exception, the very great exception. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you'll ever do is to understand yourself, know what it is that you want, and not let the cattle stand in your way.

Meeting like-minded people could help with the loneliness. I know it can be hard to socialise when you're depressed, but you could start small with a Bipolar Support Group or how about an online Bipolar group , where you can make posts and comment to support other people too? Finding your tribe will help. You are not alone.

If you have any questions or want to share anything else, you are very welcome to.

Take care of yourself.

Best wishes,

Mia

2Minds

Dear Mia,
your reply has touched me and I am trying extremely hard to be positive. I am told that I have achieved much in my life but have alway been Seen as different.
I became a Civic Mayor and I am a trustee of a bipola foundation. However my life is an act.
kind wishes and take care