living room MI disclosure

[usernametaken]

Hi CB lovelies,

looking for some courage to face misguided public view of news, maybe wrong board, move if needed

So the situation: my MI hasn't come up with my only same-age aquiantances in the town i've moved to

and its getting akward. they are open, caring, quick-to-feel-bad, and educate themselves kind of people

but somehow for some reason they talk a lot about people going nutz in their academic department. suddenly "manic-depressive", "OCD", and is going to come in with a gun, are pharses that get thrown around, but the biggest one is "psychotic" this, psychotic that and i know that of all weekly talking-point gravitations, this subject is pretty random, but it doesn't change the fact that i'm the one needing to educate them, very smart people mind you, that psychosis is a very real problem. one where i have been a victim because of it, not a damn perpetrator like 90% of the public perception. (too my assailants were perhaps aquaintances at the alma matter). last week i almost said something, cuz the longer this draws out, the deeper the lack of communication and trust extends. but i don't know how to broach the subject. i just withdrew from a bridge to these people, who i'd like as friends. it's my responsiblity and the likelihood of acceptance is far greater than that of rejection. 24 hours to think of something. ideas? experiences? how to communicate this gracefully?

thanks guys

[Catnapper]

I'm sure it's uncomfortable for you.

How about if you just say that there is mental illness in your family and you'd appreciate it if they'd phrase their remarks a little more carefully? I recently took off work for two years to recover from depressive episode number five, and now if the subject comes up about what I was doing during that time, I tell people I was caring for an ill family member. I just don't mention the family member was me! It's not really a complete lie, but it keeps most questions at bay.

And if you do get the occasional nosy jerk that wants details, just look distressed and say that it's too painful and you'd rather not talk about it. This approach has worked for me in some recent situations I've been in, and might tide you over until and/or if you want to discuss your illness with any of them.

[null0trooper]

How about if you just say that there is mental illness in your family and you'd appreciate it if they'd phrase their remarks a little more carefully?

I *like* that one! My family's nuckin' futz anyway.

[resonance]

That's a really great idea. I'm tempted to move this to "People Suck" and pin it.

Also, I *hate* the de-seriousing (sorry, working on essay home for last 10 hrs, word-finding ability fatigued) of mental illnesses. People who do not have ADD, nor OCD, saying "oh, that's just my ADD/OCD". wtf. ("What is WRONG with you?? Sorry, that's just my WTF acting up.")

[usernametaken]

Sorry, that's just my WTF acting up

i know seriously right.

if we do move it i want to state that collectively people suck for filling my friends, who don't suck, with misconceptions. baak. i drafted a message that i have some confidence in. will send today or tomorrow. these friends were advisors in the dorms, dealing with serious problems, they better be able to handle this with the grace they've handled their jobs with. i can't be in friendships i can't be myself in. for it being my responsiblity to ammend this, yes People Suck.

[Guest]

People at my job do this, it's so ignorant and annoying. I hate them for it.

I like to point out that since one in four people across the world are mentally ill at any one time, we ought to be more sensitive of what we say. That shuts em up.