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AlikeTeam's Post

AlikeTeam ✅

Do you feel that your friends and family have a good idea of what is means to live with your conditions?

Can you help? Connect today

lillypod21

Not always. Certain family members are still trying to cure my type 1 diabetes. Which hurts me mentally because I know it's not curable. But other family members do because my mom and me are basically twins so she knows what I'm going through physically. Just not mental health wise. But she is trying to understand. And that's what matters.

AKD

I find it so hard when people think "if you would just do this." They think it's just because I am not trying or haven't done the right thing

StormyGirl89

same with me and my mom other than her nobody else in my family really knows what we deal with

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Goingnumb

No. Not even a little. They still think I’m being dramatic, that I’m making it up, that it’s “all in my head,” or that I’m exaggerating the symptoms for sympathy. I don’t even talk to them anymore because of this….

Anchorman321

that is so messed up I sure know it’s not an exaggeration

CherryBonBon

my mother is like this. I understand and I’m sorry.

kateafranklin

I’m so sorry. That’s awful.

PoppyDarcy

I am so sorry! I completely understand. Good for you setting boundaries and keeping that toxicity out of your life.

Elisabeth

I stopped telling my mother anything rested to my health for the sake of our relationship. Going to doctors and taking prescriptions seems like a full time job at this point. It’s hard to have a social life and make plans

MixedBag0fMess

I feel the same way. I’m hesitant to make more appointments because there are so many of them and it all requires so much energy.

RMSjohns

I had to hide my calendar, she kept showing up at my house when my kids had events. So sad!

IGot99Problems

Ha!

IGot99Problems

They already hate me for being gay and a liberal. All of my problems are 'snowflake' issues to them

FreyaB

this is exactly the same with me!

Bre19

same

Sharon

I don’t think anyone really gets it.. but some just show more empathy than others

Songbird24

Same…

KayNF

that's true

Genta

That's it

Bre19

true

Carolina

My mom and sister suffer from the same disease as I, so I can say they literally have an idea of how it is to live with my condition

Bre19

5mo

that must be difficult

ghoulboynoodle

Nope. My family I'm sure still thinks I'm faking a lot of it

Sam_Rogers

same

Ash.G

Same here I think.

Bre19

that's not good

MrsSteele1

Nope!!! And while it's difficult sometimes to help them understand; I, honestly, would never want ANYONE to understand. To understand would only come from experience and I don't wish that on anyone. I'll just be happy if they listen (even if they do sometimes confuse my mental health conditions with symptoms of drug addiction and try an intervention ROFL)

Bre19

11mo

that's heavy

Cindy33

I dont think anybody can have a good idea without dealing with all of the conditions by themselves. My family knows what I have and what I've gone through medically but they definitely don't realize how hard it is emotionally.

Bre19

felt

Emma37

My friends and family have shown many interest in my disease and in everything I went through. Nevertheless none of them have any idea how its actually feels, they don't see all the struggles at different times in my life.

Bre19

felt

ADHDGAL92

No they think they do but they don't

Bre19

felt

Quinee

Unequivocally NO! I have been suffering from fibromyalgia for several years. One of the most challenging feelings I face is the feeling of misunderstanding and containment of my disease by the people closest to me. I do not know if it is because of an illness that was previously defined mainly mentally or because it is a disease that cannot be seen, but most of the time, the feeling I get from them is that I am exaggerating.

darkstarrynight

hey I have chronic pain too! I may not understand your level of pain but I definitely understand what you're going through with this! Feel free to message me if you want.

Strawberry

My friends don't understand that I have a chronic disease that causes me pain. If I don't meet them for a while because of my condition, they think that I don't want to hang out with them, they are angry with me.

Bre19

felt

JesusChild777

Yes pretty much I have so good people in my life people at my church and my sister and few others it's been helpful

Bre19

that's good

randochikn

Most of my family the same condition or similar, so yes. Only, they all have had the same problems so they thought it was all normal. I kind of worry that one day it won’t go well if anything big happens, like they’ll miss something that was life threatening because they thought it was normal (or they didn’t feel the pain as intensly because some of them really don’t).

Bre19

11mo

interesting

Nightowl

No. They're not supportive. My mom does support me financially and some of my siblings get upset that I have satellite TV and half way decent possessions. They think I'm lazy and ungrateful. They all have new houses and new cars but resent me? I am in such poor health , I can't work, I can barely take care of my daily needs, I've had to declare bankruptcy. Would they like to trade? A few years ago, I left the religion the rest of my family is in, Jehovah's Witnesses, and now they all shun me. I came very close to killing myself. I can't even ask them to help clean my house or give me a ride to the doctor. I feel so betrayed by them. They weren't there for me when I needed them most and they still aren't, they probably will never see or speak to me again. Freaking heartless.

Dee364

so sorry

Miah77

I'm here to talk to. And help if I can

shortcake1985

I think we have some similarities kinda,if u wana message me😐🤷‍♀️

KratomEater

😥 so sorry! Even family can be narcissistic and heartless. If you don’t conform you’re going to hell and condemned by them. So sad.

sydsaenz

its not your fault your family is literally in a cult im glad you escaped

ole

5mo

that is awful sorry

SAJE

They not only have no idea what this conceivably is like they actively do not believe me. After 28 years of never having spoken once to a dr or therapist they called a 5150 on me because they did not believe I was the victim of an attempted rape (that was reported to police, had physical evidence). My bio children (mid 30s) are the source of my greatest trauma.

KratomEater

omg that’s so disgusting. I’m so sorry! They ask, what did you do to provoke this rape? Just unbelievable.

Bre19

11mo

I'm so so sorry

SAJE

I don’t know how to use this app just want to send support to person leaving the Witnesses that horrible abuse molesting mind-bending cult

SAJE

❤️

SAJE

How do I reply to messages?

Jennifer Barlett

Hi SAJE! Great question🤗 we are currently working on a new version of the app which will allow "reply to reply" and hope to roll it out in the coming month. Stay tuned for this and some other amazing features to come!🙌

Nightowl

Hi SAJE. I'm going to try to direct a request to you if you want to talk.

Nightowl

Anyone can find me under nightowlbookworm on FB.

shortcake1985

It didn’t come up under fb for some reason

CoolGirl22

Bre19

felt

SAJE

Thank you all, I’m trying to figure this out. Grateful. And yes please please let us comment or “react” or support what our friends write

Ang

No. My mother especially has always been horrible accommodating my needs as a disabled person, and fails to understand my differences from her autism to my own. She is especially bad when it comes to DID and BPD.

Bre19

felt but my instead of mom it's dad for me

Redvelninja

11mo

omg that's horrible! So sorry! For me, it's my aunt. She believes that I'm narcissistic and autistic but doesn't believe that I have anxiety and ocd. Ugh!! I don't like her for that and other reasons.

Tinie

Nope not at all, I feel werid to sit down an explain it to anyone. My husband is the only one I think understands most as he is with me all the time. My sister understands my PCOS and thinks she might have it as well. The EDS and possibly POTS I would have to explain it and I'm still learning about it myself as they are new diagnoses

Bre19

felt

SimplyImperfect

No, but they can see it and they feel helpless and wishes they could take it all away. I've been through so much.

Bre19

felt

theb00t

No.

Bre19

felt

sleepiefish

definitely not lol

Bre19

felt

kjsux

Not at all, they try, but they can't wrap their heads around it.

Bre19

felt

platinum77

Absolutely not....the hubs acts like it gets on his nerves....with certain other people it's a toss between trying to be understand and just nodding along as I tell the things....

KratomEater

this can be a huge problem in a relationship. It’s not good to have someone that disregards what you’re going through. I’m got here to tell you to leave them but they seriously need to reconsider how they act towards you.

Bre19

11mo

I'm so sorry

Stellaluna

Not at all. They all try to understand when I'm vulnerable and in my sad swings but as soon as it is anything to do with me getting angry, immediately all of the understanding goes out the window and I am just a horrible person who can't control myself to them. It is more discouraging than anything.

Bre19

11mo

oh geez

Ellen

The ones who are the closest to me like my husband, my parents and my best friend from high school know about all of my mental history and struggles but the majority of people in my life don't even know my background.

Bre19

11mo

felt

hammy1217

Nope. I have one friend and a cousin that have similar conditions but other than that I'm an alien, lazy, or mental health case. Nothing less and nothing more

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry

Fortitude

No, they don't even know I have bipolar or adhd. They probably wouldn't believe me if I told them.

KratomEater

this happened to my fiancé. They don’t want to believe it. 🤦🏽

RonZ

Honestly no one that doesn't live with our conditions can every really know what we go through but they should read up on it to try to understand as much as possible to understand what they can and shouldn't do.

Bre19

6mo

that is very true honestly

Mila

No matter how much they will hear or read about all my conditions, no one can really understand how it feels to be me, I think it's true for anyone.

Bre19

11mo

true

Mario

My family and best friends have gone through a long way when it comes to my UC. They know me really well, when I suffer and need help, or when I need to spend some time alone. Still, they will never get the pain. My sister on the other hand has Crohn’s disease and it is so easy to speak to her. They sometimes get frustrated when they can’t do anything to help us…

Bre19

6mo

they sound like lovely people to have

fallonsly

Not at all. My dad is still convinced my mast cell spiked so bad because of stress (only stress mind you, not just part of the reasons) all he wants me to do is meditate and work less. But working keeps me going in life and makes it so I can afford to live.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry that must be difficult

EchoWings

I think my family understands because my mom and sister also have a lot of the same conditions. My dad doesn't get it as much but he tries hard and he loves me and treats me like he always has! My friends don’t maybe understand as well. It depends on the friend. A lot of my friends have health issues or mental health issues as well so they understand somewhat.

Bre19

11mo

its good to have someone that understands

somanyissues

My family does not. They tell me it's all in my head when I speak about it. So I stopped talking about it. My fiance understands he has helped so much in the 6 years we have been together but the rest of them make me feel horrible about everything

Bre19

11mo

me with my dad

Sheeba

My mom says she does but she doesn't. She has never Googled anything about any of my conditions. She tells me that she is suffering from epilepsy. I tell her that she is not suffering from it. She doesn't have seizures, take meds for it, have a VNS and has to deal with the negative stigma that goes with it. She still insists she suffers from it. She is an outsider looking in at me going through it. She then says that she is going through it believe her. She says she knows about bipolar disorder but she has absolutely no clue about it. She thinks I can control it. I have told her that I can't which is why I take meds for it.

Bre19

11mo

I'm so sorry

Dropper_hands

No my family use to tell me that I was faking it for attention. Now my brother in law has the same thing and still says I am faking

Bre19

11mo

that must be difficult

SkylerBoByler

I have schizoaffective disorder. My little sister understands how I can have little to no control over my mind because she's done enough lucy. My uncle suffers from a similar disease, but the rest of my family has always treated me like a fuck up because they can't get their head around what mental illness means! It means ability they take for granted can be beyond my grasp on high symptom days. I think if more people did shrooms and saw for themselves what it's like to lose control of your perception, there'd be more compassion. I cut ties with every family member who called me a fuck up before I was on disability. Now I have proof I'm that sick. And even now, i get hounded by people who, quite frankly, just want to squeeze more out of me than I want to give. They think the answer is I need to be in more pain to be forced to function.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

SimplyImperfect

My son is 11, he doesn't understand my condition but he tries to. He told me he can tell when I'm having good days and bad days, he knows my bad days is the day my pain level is up and I'm so fatigued.

Bre19

11mo

sounds like a son that wants to understand

astarr308

Bre19

6mo

felt

Allie_May

No. My husband and closest friends try there absolute best but my family has made no attempt!!!

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Altoria

No family tends to think they deserve to feel more tired because they work and I don't due to my conditions 🥴 my fiancee however is more understanding and supports me in anyway possible

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

AppleJuice

my friends don’t. they try to compare my physical symptoms to their exhaustion from work or from being stressed over finals one of my friends even said “oh yeah my heart races sometimes when i work out too” when that’s not the same thing at all. my other friend even said “when you’re bad at having an eating disorder and aren’t losing weight” and that really hurt. my family on the other hand understands and are supportive, there’s chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases in my family so they understand a lot

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Cai

They don’t think about it a lot, but I see it in their eyes when they realise how much I’m affected. I fell asleep on a random bus in New Orleans while visiting for New Years several years ago and my mom woke me up when it was my stop and it was such a small memory but she realised how much I’m drained by everything and I saw that realisation in her eyes. They try to be understanding but none of them truly know what it’s like.

Bre19

very true

natetheboneman

Some yes, some no, most will ask me if they have any questions and do their own research on my illnesses

Bre19

that's good

queenCherryBee

My family don't talk about it, only some of my friends, mom,and stepdad knows about the full extent of my health. They try to be sympathetic but they don't understand how draining it is for me to get up every day and work.

Bre19

that must be difficult I'm so sorry

sunflower7

My mom sees my anxiety attacks and breakdowns and calls me dramatic and says I'm overreacting while I'm sitting there shaking and struggling to breathe. She always tries to say i do it to spite her and that all my mental health issues i do just to make her life more difficult. A lot of my friends have similar issues so it's a lot easier to be around them than family

Bre19

same but instead of mom it's my dad

Dollymygirl

No definitely not. My boyfriend is the one that understands the most but even he doesn’t completely understand what I go through.

Bre19

felt

m_mads

Nope…. I’m the only one in my family who was diagnosed with a learning disability, dyslexia, along with severe anxiety, depression and inattentive ADHD (aka A.D.D). My parents have gotten really good when my mental health greatly declines. I wanted to quit college because I was becoming very depressed when I had to take a math class 3 times to pass, which meant putting all other classes on hold, which affected everything I was working for. I was stuck in a deep hole of depression & I couldn’t get out. They said, “no, we want you to at least get an AA or certificate and if you want to quit, you can quit. But we know how much college means to you and we don’t want you to regret it.” On the other hand, my mom doesn’t understand that my learning disability & mental health has already stopped me from pursuing my dream, so at least let me have one win and that would be getting a BA. When I set my mind on something there’s no turning back. I push till I get to maybe half way where I want to be.

Bre19

11mo

that must be difficult

kriter

Nope! My mother is disabled herself, so I thought she'd understand better when I got fibromyalgia, but she doesn't. She thinks because I don't have it "as bad as her" I'll still gone to do everything I was able to do pre-fibro. It's exhausting how much she belittles my illness because she's worse.

Bre19

11mo

I'm so sorry

UnluckyUnicorn

No. My family doesn’t even try to understand. My friends just give unsolicited advice or try to diagnosis me themselves. My boyfriend hasn’t a clue but at least is willing to learn and very patient. It’s very isolating and I feel like on some level I’m faking with everyone and I’m exhausted. I know they mean well but until you experience it, it’s not easily explained

Bre19

11mo

felt

uglyunicorn91

Definitely not. Depression, anxiety, possible autism (no testing for adults but dr thinks i might have), reactive attachment disorder, and boarderline personality disorder. Very very few in this world understands what it means to live with all these combined. Especially reactive attachment disorder

Bre19

11mo

oh geez I'm sorry

MoJoe

Definitely not.

Bre19

11mo

felt

Ouchie

Not at all!

Bre19

11mo

felt

SaffronAcr

Absolutely no. I am completely alone with this. I don’t have anyone checking in or show any concern.

Bre19

11mo

I'm sorry

JustRachelle

Not at all

Bre19

11mo

felt

Nana1124

Only my husband and daughter mostly understand what it's like for me. As for my extended family, they have NO CLUE, no idea, whatsoever my life is like with my chronic pain. They can't possibly know because none of them are in chronic pain. They are healthy and have no serious medical issues. I stay home and don't participate in family get-togethers because I hate having to pretend I'm not in any pain when quite clearly I am. And if they do see me suffering, they pity me or try to tell me how they overcame their acute pain, or have you tried this or that, when the things they think I should do has absolutely NOTHING to do with my chronic pain. They don't realize that my chronic pain is NOT the typical chronic pain, and it is infuriating having to sit and listen to them drone on and on and on, ad nauseum...

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

applehat

Nah not really, often I feel embarrassed because I feel like I look either lazy for my heart condition or antisocial and cold for my autism

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

uriboo

we're all still learning but they're very supportive and help me as much as they can.

Bre19

7mo

that's good

Edens48

No, my husband thinks it's an excuse for me to be lazy but I wish I didn't have the pain and fatigue and could get so much more done.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

AJBees

In some ways. They've seen how it's effected me since day 1 good and bad days. I know they'll never understand exactly but at least they try

Bre19

7mo

felt

Starr_11115

Yes and no. My father and I both have anxiety and Von Willebrand’s disease. He may understand, but he still doesn’t understand what it’s like to live as a woman with this condition. He still rolls his eyes and says women with heavy periods are “dramatic”. I’ve blacked out while on my period before, and he says it’s just “laziness”. He also has no sympathy for anyone with mental illness of any kind even though he’s been diagnosed with anxiety. He hates doctors and will not step foot into a doctor’s office unless his life is in danger. My best friend and stepmother both have PCOS and I can relate to their symptoms on the reproductive side of things (heavy periods, etc), so we understand each other to an extent. My biological mother does not understand other than what she’s seen with my father and what I have told her, but she is sympathetic because she has her own health issues she sometimes struggles with.

antiquejade

my friends do but not one of my family members knows i have DID.

Bre19

7mo

that must be difficult

Catt

My husband has the best idea on what it's like for me because he is always seeing me go through it. I know that no one else in my life really gets it. It can be really hard sometimes.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

Riley

Yes! Everyone one in my house has some mental illness. Some less severe. My father has PTSD, my mother has ADD and BPD(she’s less severe then me) My sister has something and my brother has low grade aspergers. None of us have the same mental illness so we’re all different a bit complicated at times tho!

Bre19

7mo

that must be a lot though

Lexta

They use my shit against me, they try to antagonize me and I think it’s VERY intentional. Even at just really small levels, someone is probably petty. They make me feel like a bad guy, they make me think I hate them, it’s fucking annoying. My stepdad is childish and will throw tantrums over stupid shit, he simply has to be the ‘smartest in the house’ and all that shit. He probably thinks I’m the big bad of the house. My mom claims to understand, but she’ll use my shit against me too. “You have lupus!! You can’t go out!!!!” to basically “lol no u don’t have that lololol wear makeup u look weird”. In a group (me and mom) therapy thing several years ago, she kept bitching at me like she didn’t fucking tell me she “understood” my condition the other fucking day.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

ChronicWitch2.0

No. My mom says my mental illnesses are worse for her than they are for me. And she says I’m always sick so it doesn’t matter. People can be compassionate and care about others and help them, but they never will truly know unless it happens to them.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so so sorry

Dhadhu

Not at all. Since it's mainly mental illnesses that I deal with. My parents and my extended family can't physically see the problem. So they tell me how I'm making it up to get meds. And they are the type of people who really stigmatize mental illnesses so no support at all. They tell me all the time I should try harder or just change my mindset or something along those lines. It's weird because most of extended family are nurses or are very highly educated individuals so it hurts.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

purplepinch

Nope. Flat out no.

Bre19

7mo

felt

jeokser

no lmao

Bre19

5mo

yep felt

stormithegay

No. My mom thinks she knows everything about one of my disabilities and pretends she knows things about my mental illnesses just because she has them to but she doesn't.

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry it sucks when people think they know it all

ATranceClassic16

No I get the idea they care, they try, but then there are times where it's obvious that they don't get it and don't really care to on that particular day. I try not to let it bother me too much though.

Bre19

7mo

I'm sorry

Ninothesloth

A lot of the times yes. My mom made me go to the doctor when I was little. My mom is my biggest advocate and works with children and knew I had ADHD at a very early age, I’m blessed to have her. My dad has adhd but at first didn’t understand why I needed meds and thought I could overcome it but he recently just promoted at his job and recognized that he had adhd and got diagnosed. I’m happy to have a supportive family, but I sometimes feel like a burden to them.

Bre19

5mo

I really felt this

callmeblue

absolutely not. my mom uses me as a pawn for her political arguments and always has since my meniere's was caused by a vaccine injury, and she's constantly posting on facebook about my medical information as well as my brothers. (he's 4 years old and autistic) at the same time she uses me to make herself look woke and aware, and like a good person, she lashes out at me when i have dizzy spells or get so sick i can't function, especially in front of other people. she's brought up my chronic illness in front of more people than i can count, and made me explain it when i'm not comfortable and throws a pity party when i can't eat or interact. it's so condescending, and when i point it out she freaks out about it. it's so frustrating, especially since i literally never talk about my condition with anyone, much less her

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Jellybean001

My husband certainly does, as he is with me every day & sees me at my absolute worst. Otherwise, no. People understand pain in terms of what they’ve experienced. They can’t relate to my personal pains & struggles because they have nothing to compare it to, and they only see me put together.

Bre19

11mo

same

Nana1124

@Strawberry - it's upsetting when friends don't understand your chronic condition. I never make plans with anyone because I never know how I'll be feeling. By not making plans, I don't have to feel guilty if I can't make it; and it's a bonus when I can. People have a way of making you feel bad for canceling at the last minute.

vice2410

No...that is why I don't talk to them about my conditions...I talk to my partner which is nice but not my family

Bre19

11mo

I'm so sorry but glad you have someone to talk to

spoonie93

No. My family fluctuates between support and then confused/annoyed. My mother always tries to tell me what she would do if she were in my position. That's such a frustrating comment. It's easy to say what you would do but until you're living it, you can't fully understand. My family has seen the things I have gone through but it sometimes still seems that they don't understand the severity of my situation.

Bre19

11mo

I'm so sorry

Carolshine

No no no no

Bre19

5mo

felt

kkiqra

Nooo. They try to, but they’ll never get it. It’s so frustrating trying to explain what it’s like because I know it’ll never make sense to anyone.

Bre19

11mo

my mom tries to understand

RionWilde

They try, but to put it plainly, no. And honestly, I think it's good that way. They understand if I have an issue, but they hold me to normal standards, which is what I need. They still try to push me out of my comfort zone, even if I know there's a overwhelming chance I will fail at something just because I'm hard wired to be so great at something. They don't exclude me because of my illness, they let me make that choice.

Bre19

11mo

felt

Erenyeager

My boyfriend has done a lot of his own personal research to try to understand how it is for me living with OCD and it really helps a lot, while of course he may not understand everything, neither do I tbh 😅 we’re doing the best we can and for that I’m grateful

distri

nope. my family often forgets i am even afflicted with ocd because i am quite high functioning. ive learned to rely on myself so they dont notice my symptoms anymore. little do they know theres no cure haha.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

RosesForMyDear

No especially since I don't... Have friends anymore. And my family is falling apart.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

Jay5

Just went on a walk with my brother and ended up cutting my part of the walk short and heading home before him as if I stayed any longer I knew I would either punch him In the face or just burst out in tears. He pretty much was saying how I’ve chosen to be a failure and I just use my illnesses as an excuse. I’m in my last semester of college, I will graduate In the spring…why is that a failure to him. I know I haven’t been perfect but I’m trying as hard as I can. He’s not here, he doesn’t have the condition yet every-time I see him all he does is berate me about anything and everything. Like I don’t feel worthless enough.

Dani23

Nope. Unfortunately when I was hospitalized a few years ago my sister basically said I was being dramatic

Bre19

7mo

I'm so so sorry

bluelavender

Bre19

6mo

felt

OuchiePrincess

Everyone in my family has a TBI and mental health issues on top of disabilities… while we understand one another, it doesn’t make living with all our assorted health conditions any easier- the lack of stigma is nice, since we seem to find it most everywhere else.

esh

Nope 😣

Bre19

6mo

felt

ADreamInside

They don't understand, but they try to be empathetic. They try to help me however they think they can. Sometimes some people do better than others but I try to remain grateful for their efforts. Even when things go wrong, I try to educate and advise them to avoid future problems, and I always express gratitude for their efforts. They are trying, which is more than most people have done.

Bre19

6mo

thats good

Kyliana

No. I only have my Mom and Grandmother and neither understand. My Mother often tells me not to focus on any issues I have, stop therapy and medication and pray more. It’s a terrible feeling to be unsupported. You only have yourself to validate your feelings. My heart goes out to everyone who doesn’t feeling supported in the comments. 💕

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

nbwiththespinnerring

Absolutely not, especially not with diabetes

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

Mz505

Nope my BF does tho cuz he is also a type 2 diabetic and we are constantly helping each other. But everyone else is as clueless as a wall. The other illnesses they want to say it’s in my head but my bf can tell tho that I’m not. My daughter tries to help but she is only 8 but I appreciate her tho for trying to help me feel better.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry hopefully having him helps a little

Snickerdoodle

Mostly no! But my closest friends are at least very understanding. And several of us share a few of the same mental illnesses at least.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry I'm gald you have good friends though

Sambreezay

Nope. Only my mom bc we literally have the same issues. Everyone else thinks we’re crazy.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so so sorry to hear that

sweetfaith

😥

wolfe

im someone who’s very outspoken about what i have, and if someone isn’t going to try to remember my boundaries and try to understand will not be close to me

Mija

It's difficult to speak out when not diagnosed correctly. 🙏

Venti

Not at all. My dad just told me tonight that I'm "healthy" and need to "get motivated" in doing daily activities. As if my pain, fatigue, and all of the other crap that comes with chronic physical and mental illnesses aren't real.

OceanH2O

I'm here for you if you wanna chat. I know that can be hard! You are perfect and amazing!

CleverBoat143

Nooope! My family is constantly asking me if I feel better and say stupid things like, “I’m just so surprised you aren’t feeling better yet.” It’s been 4 years and my diagnosis is chronic 🤦🏻‍♀️

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

Sarah_Jane

No, I think that they try to, but I almost just wish that they would ignore it. Because it’s just so much sometimes and I wish it wouldn’t overtake every aspect of my life

Bre19

6mo

that is just so difficult

nickvalentine

nope. my mom tries to understand, but always gets frustrated when she doesn’t want me to “be lazy”.

Bre19

7mo

I'm so sorry

kayboof

definitely not

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

kowysteria

my older sister does. she has type one diabetes so we both have chronic illness. (different ones but still) but none of my other family members really have huge health issues.

Bre19

6mo

that must be a lot

Fable

Yes but no? Me and my mom share symptoms and she's always trying to compare. However, my friends and boyfriends empathize and actually try to understand. And that's all I can really ask for

Bre19

6mo

empathy is so nice

kara.urmom

no i’m just told to snap out of it

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

PurpleOtter

My best friend knows best bc he’s there for a lot of my treatments and knows my daily struggle. His family kind of understands but in general it’s kind of hard to understand something you don’t have :/

Bre19

5mo

that is very true you have to go through it to fully understand I'm gald someone is there to support you

susu

not at all… i’d say my dad is the most empathetic but its still hard for him to understand why its so hard for me to do certain things that seem so normal and second nature to others, i’m still grateful that he tries. my mom on the other hand is extremely narcissistic and yells at me all the time “why are you so stupid?” “youre so lazy” “am i the reason you’re suicidal???” “well imagine how that makes ME look”, its so exhausting :(

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry that your mom isn't supporting you I'm gald your dad is trying but not having both parents trying is difficult mine is the opposite my mom tries my dad doesn't

quinn1221

No. they don't even know how i feel mentally nor physically. My family knows i have low iron(anemia)and only my mom understands,no one else understands. It's always been hard having a sister like i do and a dad like i do.

Haley_219

No they don’t. They don’t even believe it lol

Bre19

5mo

that is so difficult I'm so sorry they don't believe in what you are dealing with

LyricRainn111

No, not at all. Some try to understand, which I appreciate. But others don’t even attempt to and that just shows how much they care. (Not at all)

krosebee

No :/

Bre19

5mo

felt

Grnhzlbrwn

No way lol

Bre19

5mo

felt

sprite

no. my mom struggles with mental illness as well but still can’t wrap her head around a lot of my symptoms. my wife/ex has been a huge support through the years, but even though we’ve stayed best friends and roommates, things haven’t been the same since our separation. nowadays she seems to just not want to deal with it. i guess i can’t blame her for that.

Grnhzlbrwn

My mom but no one else

Bre19

6mo

felt

Poisonedlogic

For people who aren't in my on er circle, not really. I think those in my life personally they THINK they do but they don't and haven't made an effort to research or ask me about it, they just make assumptions and don't seem to care if that's true. For people in my small inner circle, I don't think they understand but they are aware of that. They show me empathy and ask questions and accept that they don't understand. By doing so they ask how they can help and show a lot of care that way, which to me is considerably more effective in communicating care for me.

Stefani

No. My mom is the only one who comes close to understanding. She was there when everything started and other than her….my family is not interested in understanding. My brother, cousins, dad, aunts, uncles….no one seems to really care. A handful have tried here and there and I do appreciate that but it’s difficult to feel like they don’t have any idea of what I’ve gone through.

PinkPupButt

not at all, all my family that I have left are my boomer dad and his older siblings. they don't understand at all, they try to but often feck up instead. my dad has been really trying but is leaving me to educate him about things he should be looking into on his own. I'm okay with questions but I can't explain it all to him when I barely understand it myself. he tries to treat me like an average teen but I'm not average, I'm horribly disabled and mentally ill and have been hiding it since I was a child because I wanted to be normal so badly. I'm not normal, not then or now and he doesn't get it no matter how hard I try to make him understand or at least respect it. I expected more from him when he's disabled himself too but he's just been a let down so far

DumbJock

Not a single bit haha. I got one of those moms that thinks mental illness is all in your head

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry

Poddledogmom

No I do not

Bre19

5mo

felt

Melcore

No, they don’t. Whenever I’m at school with my friends I always have stomach pain because of my IBS, and they always say “just go to the bathroom” or “calm down”. But they don’t know what it’s like. I am calm, I’m just in pain. I think my parents understand better. They know it’s hard and they help me feel comfortable whenever I’m in pain.

llarskyy

no. I live with a lot of not very well known medical conditions and complex mental illnesses, so unfortunately I don't find many people who understand

Bre19

5mo

❤️

jay_

they see me struggling and try to understand, which i’m thankful for, but they never will understand. especially with my eating disorder, they really don’t get it.

QueenOfCrohns

Absolutely not. They don’t even try. They lack the empathy part.

YumYumRoll

Absolutely not my blood family. Except my mom, who has many of the same health conditions. Many of my friends understand to the best of their abilities and have their own disabilities and neurodivegencies.

wasps

(!multiple tw!) no, ive been medically neglected all my life and put on the back burner. my sister shows care but i feel like nobody understands how hard im trying, balancing on the rope between life and death and my bestfriend tells me to eat and nobody will be there to take care of me. i had to watch my mom die of cervix cancer so i know how it feels to have to witness a loved one's pain. i wish i got the help and love i needed

Sunnymoon

No they think if I’m having a good day that I’m suddenly healed and as soon as I feel bad again they all cry and send me get well messages. They mean well but it hurts

Wonworstlottery

Nope they may understand one or two but no one understands what it’s like to have all of them

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

CaliDreamer

I don’t think anyone knows how many times I think about my health every day. Pretty much every 5 minutes I think about my PCOS and my diet. Kind of exhausting

Jih

No. Just my partner. He’s a saint.

Camilo_Madrigal

Izzybee

No I don’t think they do, some try but they’ll never get it. I know people with my same conditions and even then because everyone is different and reacts differently to things our situations are completely different. I feel like no one fully gets your situation except. And in my case no one on my life understands. And because I’m considered really really young compared to all the elderly with my conditions no one takes me seriously. Any one of my friends can go to the dr for something and they are helped and the drs believe what they say; I’ll never have that luxury because I can’t be fixed it’s all chronic illness and they can’t relate to the fact that pain never going away and it makes me feel so alone and isolated

TalkativeIntrovert

Heck no. They have said that I use my mental illness as an excuse and that I’m suicidal to get what I want… so no, they definitely do not understand. And I doubt they even WANT to understand. They just want to paint me as the villain as they always do. Oh well. My friends are my chosen family and they actually CARE about me!

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Metis8

No and they don’t care. I have badddd anxiety sometimes and it’s embarrassing symptoms and my family does not care and make fun of it.

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Matilda

Nope

Rez

My family isn’t aware I have an ADHD or Bipolar diagnosis, because I’ll know how they’ll respond.

Bre19

6mo

that must be difficult

Carlina

Nobody understands anything about my condition nor do I think they care

Bre19

6mo

I'm so sorry

Estrel

No. My mother said to me, and i quote, “I can only tell you that in my day, they didn’t have explanations for the ones that didn’t fit. And they didn’t do anything for them. So I didn’t do it for you.”. My mother couldnt even empathize with my situation enough to help me simply because her generation didnt have the means to help her.

Mija

Sooooooooooooo it continues through generations... ✋I feel that in my bloodline and I'm trying real hard with this generation to save the next generation from the previous generation's mess.💕

TalkativeIntrovert

No, not at all.

Aloe1200

definitely not, but they try at least

Moxie_Bluesky

My new husband and I understand each other because we both have multiple sclerosis. Both of our ex-spouses and some family members didn’t have any empathy for us.

Sexylady

NOT AT ALL!!!

Trinnn

They try to but they don't really help much I have eosophigilic esophagitis (EOE) and I'm on a special diet and some days I can't eat because they don't buy foods that I can actually eat without being sick and just want me to eat the things I can't eat anyways... other days they are scrambling to find ways to work with my diet and help but I can tell they are really burdened by my condition 😕

Dreameevee

I do my best around others to not act so sleepy when it’s bugging me so I might look “not so tired” but I’m not. I don’t think they really realize that the sleepiness never really goes away. I don’t think they understand my narcolepsy but I just say it’s as if a normal person hasn’t slept in 3 days. I think comparing it to something they can visualize helps.

todd

I figured it out. It runs in family. Suicidal type and alcoholism.

OuchiePrincess

They are learning that my pace is very different from theirs, and it’s not fair to expect me to keep up with them. It has taken 10 years to go from “you’re lazy” to “you’re disabled”. It’s a process. My friends were the first to notice and understand the difference. My family took longer. But now they are my biggest support. Without them, I’d be living in a shelter. (Colorado Housing Crisis). I know not everyone is the same, but give your loved ones some time to adapt to the change. The ones that really love you will come back around.

Mystical03

My family not friends have nooooo clue what’s going on with me and when I try to tell them they just stare at me with this blank look bc they can’t fix me or understand what I’m talking about. They definitely don’t understand when I need to rest or sleep. This is the most frustrating part of having fibromyalgia and lupus. And it’s 100 x worse if your on these horrible medicines they prescribe which actually cause MORE fatigue and nausea than you already have! People expect you to just keep going and going. It’s the most frustrating illness I have ever imagined. And please don’t keep talking about it to your friends or family bc then you will really see who your TRUE friends are. The rest will run for the hills!! Or they will say all you do is complain. Which none of this is true of course. They JUST DONT UNDERSTAND. 😥

Mija

🙌🙌🙌

Rainyblue673

yeah I have a diagnosis of lupus fibromyalgia and several mental health disorders. Family mostly say I'm too dramatic and too sensitive. I have no friends either which makes it easier and yet harder at the same time

slothsoul

Some of the time, but not most of the time especially in relation to bp1 symptoms.

Noni

I’m blessed with a husband, family and friends who support me. I know many don’t and I’m so sorry because I can’t imagine going through this chronic pain without support.

Artisticfloral

My dear husband is always there for me, especially since I've been in and out of the hospital going on 6 years. My sisters and niece are very supportive. I deal with Bronchiectasis Obliterans with Organizing Pnemonia, which is a chronic lung condition. Every month I deal with fevers and taking antibiotics.

___

No lol my Mom tries but she doesn’t get it. I’ve explained some things to my Mom and sister before but I feel like they just listen and move on because they can’t understand it

Lms526

I am fortunate to have a couple close friends who also have depression and anxiety. They don't understand OCD, but are always supportive. I know my mom loves me, but she doesn't understand mental illness at all. When I am really depressed, she says "You are choosing to feel this way" who in their right mind would choose to feel that way? No one! She also says that grief and depression are the same. Not even close. I didn't want to tell her about my OCD. But she caught me at a weak moment and pretty much guilt tripped me into telling her. I gave her only the bare bones. After I was done, she said "I think everyone is a little OCD" I have offered her the chance to read books and attend classes. She won't do it. I am very close to my mom's side of the family. But I haven't talked to them about my mental health issues.

CJM

No one understands. My husband thought I was faking and divorced me.

Bubz

Only one of my friends knows but not the severity when I could be alone

CJM

Or when I walk slow, my friends walk fast and I ask them to slow down. They know about my PN, but it doesn’t register. I’m very good at masking myself, but it’s tiresome. It’s also starting to affect my job, because I’m a caregiver and on my feet most of the time. I can’t climb footstools, or go up or down stairs with no handrails. My balance is very bad. I’m on the max dose of gabapentin that I can ever take. I freak out when I have to drive a client’s car. I’m familiar with mine, but driving another car is terrifying. I fear the future. I’m 58 and have ha this since I was 35, and it’s idiopathic. My family has it too.

Parkchick

No, I have used and abused my body through pain raised 6 children. Husband gets angry that I’m chronically ill. My mother just says how did you end up with all these things. It’s almost like none of them believe me. I’ve had a stroke, ER said I have conversion disorder when it was really a stroke. I don’t walk right now. I get mad at people who can walk right and even angrier at people who can still run. I loved to run. Starting to feel like the only person who cares about me is me.

Mandm

Not even but at least they’re somewhat sympathetic

Zonnie

I have a friend that gets having chronic pain, but to this day I've never met someone with my seizure condition. My parents try to get it all, but they just go immediately to trying to "fix it" and they don't get it. They really don't get any of the mental stuff I'm dealing with and sometimes even act like it's no big deal.

catladu2001

Not really. I have a good friend who also struggles from chronic illness and gets me! Every time I try to talk about my illness my parents just shut the question down and try and change the subject! It’s frustrating as I always listen to them and I’m treated this way

sammieeee

No. My mom was never around when I first was showing symptoms and now that I've relapsed she's just threatening to put me on medication but not asking me what's wrong

LaurB

They have no idea. I have TMJ, and they think it is all in my head, or just anxiety. Although it is usually mild for me, when i’m in a flare up, i am in an awful amount of pain. They all say that they have their own aches and pains, but it is not anything to do with their jaw or mouth area. Having pain in other areas is different. You can try your best to avoid doing much to aggravate it. But you always need to eat, which involves movement of your jaw. There have been days where I just don’t eat because i am in so much pain.

treelover

sometimes yes, sometimes no. for example, my mom has been making me tons of healthy meals to help me with my IBS, but when i had a flare up recently (she unknowingly cooked with one of my food triggers) my parents didn’t believe that it was that bad. i couldn’t function, & they made me feel guilty for leaving work early to rest. they told me it was tough love. on the other hand, i went grocery shopping with my boyfriend & he helped me with everything, down to reading the ingredients on every food label. when i got sick he called me on the phone & stayed there with me until i fell asleep. some people, & some situations will be good. other times it’s all about knowing what’s the absolute best for yourself. if you need rest, take it. & hold on to the people that you know love you 🤍

comealittlecloser

Not at all

DizzyRay

No not unless they experience themselves and then not even always then either!

LilBuzzling

Absolutely not. I get called too sleepy. On good days my dad is always like "see! This is the real you! The happy you!" Like no its just one day

Mija

👍 Not a stable supply👍

ItchyWitchy

No. It seems they don't even try to understand

Carribean_Mix

My friends do understand me ( because we all have similar things) but some of my family members don’t understand my Condition.

Lena08

yes my husband is very kind and supportive and my daughter wants to goto medical school so she can help others 💕

Ado

No. No I don't. They still think im faking. They think it's something minor that just started. No it's major and it's been going on for 10+ years now but I pushed myself to hide my pain and now there's hemiparesis to go on top of what already existed from the severe brain damage they caused .-. I'm afraid to use my chair because my dad thinks it's a ploy to make him look bad.

Jenny7777

None understands and that sucks they think they do but they have no idea how physically and mentally draining it is on you.

Krystal

Nope, I can’t say that anybody really understands my chronic conditions. The only one who did was my mom, who passed away in 2018. I miss her dearly, she wanted so badly to see me cured or at least find a treatment that worked.

feellicks

my mom is disabled and has many of the things I do. I'm very lucky for that because she had to stick up for me a lot to get thru school and my other family members were very unsupportive. they (mostly my aunt and grandma) used to bully my mom a lot. we've stopped going to any family gatherings because we would much rather spend it together instead.

CGravot

I think my husband does and oldest son does but I’m closest to them. The other 2 kids and rest of my family have no clue. Now that I’m not driving and may have to have MVD surgery I think they’re catching on.

trish1

CherryBunny_

No I dont think the people closest to me really understand what it’s like to feel like i do all the time. I don’t think they really understand how to help me either and it makes me feel more hopeless.

Underlighet

Absolutely not. While some friends are much more considerate of my dietary needs and chronic pain, most will never understand the full extent of my experience

Bre19

5mo

that is very true

SAMHAIN

Nope.

Bre19

5mo

felt

strawberrysoop

nope. my family doesn't believe things are as bad as i say, despite watching me grow up with these conditions. they brush it off and say i should be used to it and need to keep a stiff upper lip and push through the pain. my friends are a bit better, but they typically just make bad jokes when they feel uncomfortable about me talking about it or say nothing more than "that sucks"

Andib

Not really but some family like my sister n mother then for my friends i try not to disclose it to them and tell them my crisis’ so i don’t overwhelm them. My mom always try to understand my diagnosis, bipolar disorder, so she can help me and i try to open up more to her in return.

Musey

Absolutely not! And it’s a shame when it’s family that’s no help…

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry

marori22

My kids t don’t care 😥 😥

Mija

May your grandchildren care💕

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry

ToeKnee

Kinda.

Medically_Challenged

The small support system i kept is always understanding. They never take visible offense when I have to cancel or change plans. However I can tell not everyone understands what I go through sometimes I want to vent. I don’t know what response I’m looking for but I get the feeling that at moments the words I hear are just routine. I refuse to get mad because I’m glad they don’t have the experience to understand and they are doing their best to make me feel better.

Cheerperfection

I hide mine

Pluto707

Oh absolutely not. —Dabi

Glutenfreegal

No I don’t

Spookybee

Not at all

HunnyBunny

Sometimes I think they do, sometimes they forget

Marry_Me

No,they don’t..

Scout1996

Not at all. I try to talk about how i struggle with every aspect of day-to-day life because I never feel well and folks just tell me to exercise and reduce stress. I DO exercise. I go to the gym nearly daily. And stress just comes with life. I’m in grad school and work full time. Eliminating stress completely is impossible. It sucks and I am barely staying positive most days.

Student_girl

Not at all. My family is all healthy except for me, and they expect me to be way better than I am all the time. They definitely don’t understand all the pain and struggle from my diseases. As far as friends… I’m a high school senior, and people think it’s pretty weird for me to use crutches to walk all the time and miss so much school for appts and surgeries. So I don’t have any. They definitely have no concept of what it’s like.

Cici_Njuguna

My friends do because they’re understanding and willing to learn and empathize, but not my family. Where I come from, we don’t talk about mental health because “God got it.” It’s basically excuses any actual help, so it leads to no education about depression, psychosis, etc. I hope one day they’ll learn, but until then I have my friends.

Mija

🙌 Satan is much better help?🙌

Leo_Yanofsky

none of my family understands bpd. my dad dismisses my paranoid episodes that i get because of it as “acting out for attention” and before i was diagnosed, my mom thought everyone with it is manipulative and attention seeking.

ToeKnee

Definitely not, my parental units had to take care of me and extra 10 years during my wait for a new kidney.

Carlina

No they’ve treated me like garbage for 5-6 years now! My one son stopped talking to me 5 years ago and even blocked me from calling him or texting him! The other son just screams and yells at me all the time! I just texted him and said I’m done! For 5 years he’s accused me of having dementia which I don’t but I guess he wishes I did! They’re both sick in the head by their actions!!!!

jolyne

absolutely not. i feel like everyone either expects me to act like i'm not disabled or they act like i can't do anything myself.

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry

KateTheGreat

No one understands. My best friend has fibromyalgia and she gets it .

Margaret_Elizabeth

No, i think some of them try more than others, but it’s not something you can truly understand unless you live with it everyday

Bre19

5mo

that is very true

whosawhatsits

Slightly. They understand that my reactions to some things may be different, and they understand that I might be less likely to want to socialize/do certain things because of my conditions. However the “bad” symptoms that may result in me being hostile or frustrated tends to end in them not understanding and becoming upset with me

Muffie

No, I feel like most people don’t know what schizoaffective is. And once they hear that it’s a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar, they probably have negative connotations or low knowledge.

skylerrosee

Yes with my Celiac Disease, I got celiac from my dads side of the family. But not when it comes to my mental illnesses. They just don’t get it

cecilyella

I have family history of depression but we’re very much a don’t ask-don’t tell type of family, so no one ever talks about it and how it affects us. so while there are several people in my family with it, i don’t think they or the others really understand what it’s like for me specifically. my friends are a little more understanding but i don’t think anyone truly /understands/

Mkat

They try but sometimes I feel like I’m more alone and annoying when I talk about what I’m dealing with. Like I get treated like I’m making excuses to do or not do certain things based on how I am feeling and it’s frustrating because I really do have days where I can’t do certain basic things. Then I end up feeling guilty or lazy/unmotivated 😥

kaylee72

They absolutely do and I'm so very grateful for that I tell my mom she is my soul mate everyday cause we act the exact same and she was the one who understood everything

Bre19

5mo

I'm so gald

Ena

My daughter and I have a saying. For she is going thru her own crisis totally different then mine. We allow each other to talk about how we are feeling and the other one says "I give a damn'. To us this means I don't understand but I am here for you.

BSkye

Probably

Celia_Delia

Nope they definitely don’t get it! Having celiac disease makes it hard to eat out and they don’t understand why I get so anxious about it.

Bre19

5mo

I'm so sorry

Suze

I don't think so. Asking people to be empathetic around me is probably too much. I have had to adapt to the rest of the world so I can live in the world

Brittanie

Not at all. They are only empathetic when I have a seizure and like maybe 1 day after that but sometimes it takes longer for me to recover. It also effects my daily life and hoe I feel and what I can accomplish and do in one day. I'm mentally exhausted al of the time and physically in pain due to my sciatica being pinched by a ruptured disc that leaking disc fluid onto my exposed nerve, which is very painful. They expect more out of me than I can give and I always feel like I'm not good enough. 😥😐

fiction.finatic

My family accommodates for me. If we are watching a movie, they'll turn the ceiling fan off because of my dry eye. Things like that

Bre19

5mo

I'm glad

kbaby2323

H*** no

KikiKiss

Yes my mother was also raped as a teen and my father was molested by a priest and both still deal with horrible depression and trauma from other past situations in their childhood, so when it happens to me they understood better than anyone

NotVeryBendable

No because I tend to downplay my symptoms and pain because I feel like a burden and like I drag people down

Baby_Cactus

My whole family has them. So I do feel understood to a degree since it is all different!

Mochanotfound5

The only ones I feel who get what each of the conditions I live with is the ones who went though them. Most of my family and a few friends do not have a good idea of what it means to live with ADD or depression or anxiety or suicidal idealtions because they have not went though it themselves.

white_oleander

I don't think they even consider it. I just went on vacation to spend time with my family after work. It sounds stupid but my mom threw away a foot pillow that was very sentimental to me. She has been inconsiderate of my feelings the entire time and my dad was telling me I have to lose weight and follow his regimen. I lost over 10 lbs doing things my way. So now I'm going back with my ex who is grouchy all the time but it seems better than being with my parents. At work i have to take everybody's shift, customers are rude to me, and there is another employee who yells at everyone and is very rude.

white_oleander

I had anxiety going back to work but now I'm just numb and go through the motions

ToastyToast

I know for a fact that my mother doesn't get it at all.

sagjun

Not any one person. I do feel like different people understand different parts so that can help with whatever is bothering me that day.

HeavenMyway

No. Not at all. I constantly hear the phrases "your to young to have that or to feel like that". "You must really want attention" I've only had one person that will listen and they blame my parents and their poor judgement. I'm now 20years old finding stuff that couldve been found years ago, but my parents never took me to the doctor. I've lived my life unheard and not taken seriously.

kayleexoxo

Masscrystal

They know my stuff yes my dad is the one who understands me the most for sure my mom supports and is learning and trying to understand as much as she can and ya

sashstump

My family yes. My mom has all the same problems as me, plus some and my sister-in-law actually has alot of the same problems plus some. My husband's family however is a whole other story, but they aren't rude about it and have calmed down over the years. My mother in law just likes to give me "advice" that isn't always helpful, but I've learned to just ignore it and go on. My hubby knows what I can and can't do, so whatever.

Mija

🤗nope🤗

Mija

School nurses, dormitory counselors, and teachers made my family turn against me.

MLee

I don't think they even try to understand even if they experience it too lol

Torvi

I don’t expect people to understand but it’s frustrating to hear “get well soon” from close friends or family. it feels condescending.

JamesNo

I hear you! It should let’s go do something that you are able to do for the length of time you are able to do it!! Not “GET WELL SOON!” Right?

Blaire

No but there doing there best to try and help. And to me that's amazing enough

Sifu

MyChangeOfHeart

Nope!

Fullcircle

I feel like bpd is so badly stigmatized and you can’t get away from that even in regards to family they may understand and put up with you more than others but I don’t think anyone who doesn’t have this diagnosis will understand

Pollipocket

I think people feel hopeless. At times I needed sympathy in the past till my youngest daughter taught me the greatest lesson and it snapped me right out of it. Basically she saw me crying uncontrollable. I was in sever pain out of nowhere. She sat next to me on my bed and reminded me that when I lose emotional control it's hard to control your pain and it intensifies. Just like a women in labor she added. Wow! I know I was crying also from frustration. Cry a moment if you need but if you love yourself & family don't stay there. Just my experience! It takes desire, effort & practice.

JamesNo

Hello Everyone I’m James, I just found this site. Im glad to be here.

JamesNo

My Brother hid the other day when he saw me!

Amos_P

The basics. They either never talk about it or they know something is up.

Dorkasaurus

The only people who kind of get it are the only 4 people I see, my family members whom I live with, and select doctors who have had the chance to get a lot of information from me. Everyone else I used to have in my life, well, I've had to ghost them because almost all of the time it's not possible for me to maintain those relationships with even a short conversation or spending any time with them. And no one from my extended family has said a word to me. Although I've heard they've said a couple horrible things about me. This level of isolation has been going on for 3 years. I still have fights and misunderstandings with my immediate family about different aspects of my health. But that's gotten better the more proactive I become in my health care and the better I'm able to advocate for myself.

LindaG

They Don't Get It & I Think This Plays Into My Being Sad

ToastyToast

Absolutely not

Sydari

They come from a time where mental health issues weren't understood and they've held onto that. Thankfully, I've accepted that after living my whole life remaining misunderstood. I'm very grateful now that I understand what's going on with me and that it's valid and not needing it to be valid to them.

SanJuniper

My BF pointed out i was a germaphobe before i even noticed myself. He surprisingly follows all my dumb rules and I've never felt more accepted till now. 💕

Plantmom88

I believe they try to understand as best as they can but it’s very challenging to express how your feeling with in your body to someone else . They can read books and articles and go to Doctor visits . But it’s a conflicting situation in it’s self.

uno

Most certainly. I'm on my 3rd round of lung cancer. First one had surgery. 2nd diagnosis I went on hospice as post surgery was worse than the cancer and felt it was a losing battle. After 5 yrs of hospice, was declared cancer free. 2 yrs ago got diagnosed with 3,rd round. This time will not do hospice but get up, dressed, and live my life everyday till I can't. My family has travelled this road with me since 2007 and are my support team 🥰

Naite

My parents shows alot other people would not understand nothing

RCM

Most of my family doesn't really understand - they try, but they don't always realize how much it affects me (partially my own fault, since I try not to show how bad I'm hurting most days). My sister is the only one who really knows how it feels, since she also deals with chronic pain, just from a different condition than what I have.

Sphinx

Definitely not. I’ve stopped talking with my family and friends about it because my mom said some mean things to me about bringing other people down. I used to warn my friends when I was going on a new medication though, because I would get really strange side effects so I’d only be on that prescription for a little while and then I would have to be taken off of it

WRaven

My mother has Anxiety just like me but worse, I dont think she understands that I have it on a lower lvl though cause sometimes she puts her on anxieties on me saying that Im anxious when im clearly not. Sometimes i am anxious when that happens but that only because I have a small fear of talking back to adults.. and i want to say im not but my anxiety spikes making it seem like i am anxious at what she is but im only anxious about her.

WRaven

Sorry "she puts her anxieties on me saying that im not anxious about, clearly."

carrielovelylady

Absolutely not

Pippin

My parents have no idea, I spent so many years pretending to be fine for them. My partners and kids live with me and see me struggle with simple tasks. They understand.

Lil_Orca_Light

Other than my diabetes, no. And the diabetes understanding is only my mom because she’s diabetic. Everything else I deal with is swept under the rug.

CheleKelly

Nope not at all or they’d be way more understanding 😞😢

Pencil

No, I have cancelled plans because I had a flare. I still have to take care of myself through that. So if someone see my outside of my house because I am picking up groceries of had to go to pharmacy and get meds or any other reason I have to go out, I see someone and they will say “ oh, I thought you were sick you don't look sick” then I try to explain and they really have a look on their face like I'm making it up.

EmilyAnn

Absolutely not.

livvie361

No, even my sister who developed one of my conditions ignores I can help her and makes it always seem like she's the first to ever have it happen to her

MiloSunshine

My fiance is super understanding and caring- as long as I'm not pushing his buttons when he's already stressed out about other things.

greenolive0611

Ha! My family, meaning my mom, brother and sister and relatives don't know about my depression. I don't want to tell them and likely won't. They're judgmental and in the past, when I've mentioned other things, they say I'm "just making it up". Yep. I'm just over here loving my imaginary conditions...

queenmspretty_x

Yes, they’re accepting of it more than me even. They’ve given up that I should get a job it seems. And it means I don’t have an enormous amount of stress. 🙏 I think I’m so lucky to have these people in my life. I’m so loved by people…. 💕

Kate1985

It’s hard to understand how mystifying hallucinations can be. Outside of them, I know they’re unreal. In midst of it, I have no clue. To be honest I sometimes wonder even when I’m WELL If they were real or not. They cause mood swings and I only wish to say sorry to them. It’s humiliating

Gingerbunny26

Not in the slightest

depressedunicorn

Thankfully I have one friend with anxiety cause my other friends don't understand

Shaunny

I'm not sure if my fiance knows how to deal with my condition he usually pretends it's not happening...

Crabby279

I think if they really knew what we dealt with on a daily basis they wouldn't push us so much to do the things we shouldn't.

CreativC

It's not their responsibility to validate me, it's mine. 🙌💕

Love7721

I don’t feel anyone really gets it either. My one close healthcare coordinator gets it to a point but I also deal with roommates who copy (medical seek) for attention because they think I get attention watch I don’t just extra meds yuck! Sometimes I wish they would walk in my shoes for a day then they wouldn’t wish this stuff. People are bazaar why would you want to be sick?

katzgoddessa

As much as someone can who has never experienced it.

Ralffy

Not at all. It's always me blowing it out of proportion. & Even if it is in hindsight it's still a problem at the time. No matter what it is I could be getting chased by a Michael Myers and it's just so I need to calm down it's not that big of a deal.

LittlePocketPen

All the time.. My parents go "theres nothing to be depressed about" or xyz

Knightstarr

Not even slightly

Oarkid

Nope they refuse to believe that “feeling better” is out of my control. I have adhd/asd/ocd/dyslexia ALL GENETIC disorders but still.

Harley.Q

I have 2 sisters and a brother my older sister understands more then my younger sis and brother my younger sister is a hypochondriac so when I'm talking to her about my health problems she says she has the same problem and it really bothers me also my husband starts comparing our issues which really pisses me off cause I don't try and compare my pain to his he makes me feel like my problems ain't as bad as his problems which yes he has cystic fibrosis and stomach problems but I don't try to make out like my pain is worse then his but he does that to me just like my lil sis does and it bothers me sooooooo bad

Harley.Q

But also as a recovering addict my family is all addicts themselves so I do get told they are proud of the progress I've made but at the same time they don't understand once I got clean I also went back to my old memories of child abuse from my "sperm donor" and all the mental abuse from his mom and sister and everything that happened to me when I was pg with my second child and my first husband went to prison for messing with my lil sis when she was 14yrs old and then had to have a emergency c-section and my son had to be put in a incubator and transferred to a hospital 2hrs away from where I lived and he had to have heart surgery at 6days old and after that when he was 6 months old and my daughter was 1yr and 6 months old I lost them and dealing with my kids grandma not allowing me to see my kids alot even now that I'm clean she has excuses all the time for why I can't see them and her Only having guardianship of my kids plus she says she ain't had a bday party for my kids since my son turned 1 and my daughter turned 2 but I believe it's an excuse so their biological father her son can be around them even tho hes a registered sex offender.... so the first yr and a half I was clean I stayed in the bed asleep but now I sit in my bed watching tv but doing my best to get back to a normal type of life that allows me to feel like I did before I started doing drugs.... So with all that I'm finding my way through my traumas and I do have my family's support but other then my older sister the rest don't understand what all I've been through my mom knows but she don't care it's always about her and her feelings... but I hope what I'm about to say helps someone it don't matter if you have your families support or not just remember the only person you can control is yourself and you don't need their support as long as you believe in yourself you can do anything you want and I always needed others to do things with me for motivation but I'm slowly learning my life and my actions are on me to do what I want and need it to be so as long as I allow myself to not lose control of my life then my life can only get better even if I have bad days just take it all 1 day at a time because tomorrow is not promised... also a dog does pretty good at motivating me to get up and get outside and my dog is my only motivator I need :)

audRei

The woman who adopted me wanted to put me on zombifying drugs for dissociation, thought it was just me being high and drunk, etc etc. The one friend i ended up telling proceeded to turn around, pretend she had it while mocking the disorder and me horribly, and proceeds to spread misinformation about it. After a few years i had to tell someone else because they confronted me on my behavior and i simply couldnt keep saying "oh yeah im busy, im stressed, oh sorry sorry i had xyz" and they really didnt understand what i was talking about -- despite saying they were supportive. Since then theyre either distant af or theyre constantly asking why im acting wekrd, why im distant, why my writing style is different, etc.

BIGGjon

Absolutely not! I get so tired of hearing people say mental health isn't a REAL thing... if you're depressed just forget it and get happy. Like we can just change our moods and feelings like a light switch. That being said, there are a few people that I truly believe can relate to me but even a few of them turn it into "my mania is worse than yours" etc... like it's a game... really pisses me off

LittleCrow

Absolutely not. My family tries to one up me in pain, and always minimize and gaslight what I'm going through. My partner said I started to get worse after we.got engaged (4yrs ago), and they didn't "sign up to be a caretaker". Broke my heart.

dadoen

Fuck no.

Summer2022

I lost my family because they said I was lazy and slept too much and after I became homeless because I couldn’t work anymore I found out I have SLE and fibromyalgia along with severe sleep apnea with lumbar spondylitis and RA and they still think it’s all in my head even though I have been diagnosed legitimately and my two children who are pretty much grown for the most are witness to my flare ups and pain and they are all the family I want and need and love 💕😊💯

freyaslady

Nope! Its not for lack of trying, but its almost impossible to know what it's like to live with a condition you've never had. Most of my friends do their best to understand whats going on, some have similar issues, but they still admit they don't really know what it's like. But, they're there for me to offer support and that's what matters.

depressed_introvert

Not at all.....most of the time i feel like an alien👽

Fox_Fay

Lovingly, absolutely not. A lot of them experience their own chronic issues but have never taken the time (nor want to) to figure it out and get help. Which means I've gotten a lot of them genetically without warning because they never knew and don't really care. And they mean well, most of the time, but a lot of them just make assumptions and don't actually ask. Or try to tell me something is "normal" because they experience it to. 😥 Yikes.

Riptide

No I feel like nobody does

NoraLeigh

Not a clue. That's why I get secluded from a lot of stuff

Mop

My friends definitely understand, but I think I purposefully surround myself with people that will understand and accept everything about me. As for my family, it depends on who it is and what condition it is. My mom struggles to grasp the concept of anxiety, but is genuinely trying her best and always apologizes when she realizes she wasn't being fair. My grandma is into a lot of weird things and will try giving me rocks for my anxiety or waving her arms and flicking her hands over my aunt who she has linked to me so the stuff she does to her affects me or something like that. When I was at my lowest point in life she called to say she had just done a session of this with my aunt and came to the conclusion through it that doing the dishes and laundry would help me. I was pretty mad.

Kitty83

My husband has had chronic pain and nerve damage for half his life and one of my best friends has lupus, so I know that at least they do. My kids try to understand as best they can, for teenagers. 😅

TyeDarkSoul

They do, each one suffers differently but they understand to some extent.

Lucas.exe

My mom has the same mental disorder at me yet she has no idea

HenriettaHeadache

Not. At. All. My husband is SUPER supportive, but it's hard to know exactly what it's like with my conditions. Most of the rest of my family seem to act as if I'm being overdramatic or exaggerating my symptoms.

ChronicPainWarrior_

Sadly no 💔

notmia

I don't know. My mom has conditions similar to mine but somehow she still doesnt understand. My friends don't but listen to me complain about it all the time and are very empathetic

tea444

friends, yes and no, one friend does tho <3, but family, absolutely not💀

SkylerRose

Where do you think I got all my problems from? 😅😅😅

Vi.Vi

My friend also has anxiety and depression and I got the chemical imbalances FROM my family. But my family "cured" it with alcohol, ignorance, religion and lashing out. So I guess yes and no?

bookishlamb

Maybe to a certain degree but no. I think they're trying to be understanding but that they still don't get it.

Pridefrog

No. My parents always use a mental hospital as a threat when I am so much as upset, keep in mind the mental hospital traumatized me greatly I still have flashbacks to the look and the staff and the experiences and I break down. My friends don't either. I show multiple signs of just giving up everyday and they let the words and signs for right over their heads. Some understand and will let me be open thankfully, but most don't

Corrin

it's sad to know I'm not the only one who was sent to a psych ward and came out more damaged than they were before.

oswinthefox

No.

Corrin

It's probably not something you can understand without experiencing it

Weiss

No.

ellinoris

Lmfao not at all especially my parents they A. Don't belive in mental illness B. Think that I'm faking symptoms for attention but like 🤨 bestie I have not been depressed since I was 8 for attention when you didn't know till this year I haven't struggled only for you to call me a liar

Evantha

No they dont ..

maic

I think that they do. They are very receptive to me when I'm expressing a particular struggle or issue I'm working on and they actively show interest and validate that it's important to them. My family and husband have been on a long journey with me and understand all the highs/lows I experience on a daily basis

MrsBabydoll

not_b00bs

KatGPT

I've had autism for almost 21 years, and sometimes I wonder if people really understand what I go through. I know some people I know are like, yeah I feel that. But the thing is, do they really know?? I would love to get rid of my autism, but I feel like that's what makes me unique. I would like to have some kind of technology to scan my thoughts and stuff that goes on in my head to have people see exactly what's going on in there. I would like to see how someone I know who doesn't have autism have a day in the life of me. It would be kind of hard and stressful, but I feel like it would be worth it for them.

AudaCity

Only my fiance really gets it. Everyone else in my family tries very hard but they are so normal they just can't get it.

minnesotagirl

My sister is empathetic to me as she has chronic pain and has seen the pain I go through amd she has had 1 migraine of my severity once a year instead of my daily ones. But what she doesn't realize how disabled she was that one day is me everyday amd how much energy it takes me just to act like a functioning human and that's where she doesn't understand. She expects me to be able to go do things when she wa tsa family day amd sometimes it's the worst day of the week habi g to force myself to act as normal as I can

Sleak67

No. Everyone says oh try that pillow, go ice up, pray about it, do that exercise oh I've had muscle cramps they can't be that bad. Ya right then why do I have to get deep brain surgery if it's not that bad. My brain is misfiring causing the rare movement disorder. Tremors and irretractable pain. I wish that special pillow or ice stopped or calmed it. I really don't get how intelligent ppl think it's that simple if I literally have to get my deep brain surgery 🙃

History.and.cats

I think some of them try to get it, but they don't actually get it. They don't get how much of a struggle every single thing is.

truly.caroline

Nope. My mom knows the most, nobody else gets it like she does. My friends damn sure don't.

CheleKelly

No not hardly I wish but nope

Nikolas

No I don't. Most of the time I feel like I'm going crazy. I feel alone sometimes. I have my boyfriend and he doesn't understand but he doesn't need to. He says "I know it bothers you and that's enough for me to want to change it"

_Robbie_

Nah

LaveLavender10

Nope and they probably never will

emo_chick

Hell no. And any time i complain about pain or something, nobody cares. Anyone else has any kind of pain and it's a huge deal, but bc i live with it daily, mine basically doesn't matter and it sucks

Joyce2

I am sorry, I feel the same way.

Joyce2

No I don't

laceyandme

Kind of i dont know. My mom and step dad and my grandma yes but everyone else no

Lucas.exe

No and my mom has the same conditions 🤦‍♀️

Titania

No. They don’t understand at all. My mother competes with to say she has worse health than myself

calimomma80

Most days yes. But my hard days no

Bridgette

Eh yah but I don't think everyone has the same symptoms of anxiety depression ADHD so even all us on here can't always relate 100 but yes being empathetic and giving advice is better than someone being mean to you for having your mental illness

jaynox

It's hard for people to understand even if they have a similar condition. Things very so much. My friends understand what I need but maybe not how I feel.

CDog

No, not at all. My step mom has accused me of faking my anxiety attacks because I apparently only have them when it is “convenient for me”. I do not understand the logic in this at all as anxiety attacks are not, what-so-ever, an enjoyable experience. Nor have I EVER received any sympathy from her or other members of my family when I do so. Why would I fake something that does nothing to aid me? When I experience anxiety my dad tells me to suck it up and stop “freaking out”, my mom quite literally yells at me to “BREATHE!”, and my sister rolls her eyes and walks away. I always kind of thought it was rude to pretend to understand/hear what someone said when you didn’t, so no matter how embarrassing, I will plainly tell people that I did not hear/understand what they said. My previously greatest friend once said to me: “Look… I know you have ADHD and can’t control it or whatever but you NEVER pay attention. Can you LISTEN to what I’m saying?! I already her “what?” enough from my family, I don’t need it from my best friend.” I believe that people only say “sorry, what did you say?” Or “what?” When they are INTERESTED in what you’re saying. When I was talking to my friend the day she said that we were in a very distracting environment. There was loud music playing, multiple conversations happening, and dishes being cleaned about a foot away from us. She does not understand how hard it is for me to focus and hear what she is saying. I was making such a big effort, but she does not realize.

Jazzmin87

Yes, my family swears they understand but they will usually bring in someone with similar health problems and compare. I'm usually seen as someone whose not doing all they can to make themselves better. This is why I've given up hope that they will ever understand. My dad still doesn't understand and I'm just sick of ppl saying they understand. I've even explained this to my bf in hopes that he will stop trying to explain to ppl my health problems. Time can only tell.

mnmerritt02

It all depends, i guess. With anxiety and depression my family understands. My sister is currently going through depression and my mom went through depression as a teen, but it's not a big concern.... My pawpaw has spinal issues, so he understands my constant back pain. I don't think anyone in my family understands what it's like, going through DiGeorge Syndrome. I'm just glad that my family has stuck by my side during the most difficult times of my life.

CelticCoffeeMom

I don't think anyone in my family gets what I go through. I'm the only deaf person in my family. I do have good friends who are deaf and they get it. I am grateful for them, as it helps me feel less alone.

Mommabear74

No definitely not! With so many “conditions” I could Never expect anyone who isn’t experiencing it for themselves to understand

Dayze

No cause I'm alone and I'm blamed for having my conditions even though I've had then throughout child hood, they were obvious and some already diagnosed and I was neglected treatment

andooe

Yes and no. My mom also has depression and chronic pain, and I'm pretty sure my dad has autism and anxiety, but neither of them were properly treated (especially not my dad) til later in life. This made it so they tend to mask a lot, bury their feelings, get unhealthy coping mechanisms, the like. But they're relatively stable in day-to-day life. They don't know how to handle what's wrong with me. They're trying, I can tell, but they can't quite figure me out and I can tell I make them so stressed. As for my friends, I'm sure most of them can heavily relate to some of my conditions, but I've nearly stopped trying talking to them about my health. Most of them have their own issues to deal with, and people don't tend to listen to me. I occasionally will post on my instagram story or in our discord server if I feel especially bad, but nobody ever really helps, so I'm not sure why I still try.

gurspaceport

I had to argue with them to take me to the hospital last night, so... no.

PlaslyMeds

No, but I honestly can’t blame them. I don’t talk about it, I suffer alone in my room and even my psychiatrist doesn’t seem to FULLY understand

spicysugar

No. What's worse is they THINK they do, just because they have had circumstantial/ situational depression. Don't get me wrong, one isn't better or worse than the other, but having MDD is just different than that because I've been dealing with it since I was young, whereas they deal with theirs occasionally when they get triggered by something. And then for them it's just depression, they've at least expressed to me that they have no idea what having sustained suicidal ideation is like. My mother has severe OCD, but she tries to compare that to my PTSD, which just dosent work out smoothly because they're different disorders for a reason. If they were the same experience, they wouldn't have separate names. My father has some traumatic experiences, but his brain didn't process them in a PTSD way. My brother has ADHD and mild anxiety. So when I come at them with all these diagnosis and possible other diagnosis that my doctors are looking in to, they either go "Oh I know what that's like!" When they don't, or they just shrug. My brother went into a mental health field, and when he started his classes my parents made the comment "maybe your brother can finally figure out what's wrong with you!" In a passive joking way, but it obviously didn't feel like a joke because I remember it to this day years later. The good thing is, my partner has a lot of similar if not the same disorders that I have, all to a higher degree in my mind, because of their physical disorder that causes their parasympathetic nervous system to constantly be activated, giving them a very high level of cortisol. I say that's good in this context because they actually do know what it's like to have a PTSD episode, they know what it's like to dissociate, the understand my insomnia and MDD and GAD and substance use. It's very helpful for healing to be able to talk with someone who truely does understand.

Catlady121427

No. At least not most of my family

EliteLexy

crash101

No. They might sympathize with me. And they admit they don't understand but they still support me because that's what families do

enbypup

My mom, no. I've tried sharing my experiences (she sometimes listens) and articles/resources/stuff with her, but she doesn't look at them, which makes me feel dismissed. My best friend has similar experiences but not exactly the same. We have a mutual understanding of "idk exactly what you're going through but I relate and I see you". My other friend can relate to some of it (depression, anxiety) but not the chronic pain or psychosis, but is always willing to listen and help support.

wyvernprince

Absolutely not. My partner and former roommate are likely the only ones who aren't being passive aggressive or even sometimes all out aggressive about how THEY view MY conditions. My partner helps me in any way they can and my ex roommate has seen me at my worst... But they both acknowledge that they genuinely can't comprehend how terrifying it is for me to go through these things. I do however have one friend who has many similar conditions to me. They live through the same hell that I do (or a similar one. No two experiences with disabilities are ever the same)

Vyowleta

Growing up, my parents never really normalized mental health issues. Probably due to generational trauma. So when my parents found out I am seeking therapy, they thought it was ridiculous and told me not to trust them with certain info.

Krista_Beth

No, I don't. I don't think people who do not have chronic illness can fully grasp the difference between our baseline and theirs. I feel like my "good" days would not seem good to them. It's not their fault that they don't understand, they just do not have that frame of reference. I feel like the people in my life try to understand, but I don't think they ever really could without experiencing it. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Max_F

They have them..but they still belittle the fact that mine is really bad always saying they have it worse.

Vooligan

They don’t have a clue. They think it’s all in my head (haha). That I just choose to be this way. Yeah I chose to have Bipolar 1, CPTSD, GAD, Panic Disorder, OCD, and ADHD. It’s such a wonderful feeling to have all these mental conditions, who wouldn’t choose it ?

Rico_SD

coming from a law enforcement/military family I can relate to this. Trauma is like a dirty little secret that everyone has but doesn’t acknowledge. Speaking of trauma or therapy is guaranteed to invite ridicule and even resentment. They feel like acknowledging that trauma affects me (PTSD and depression) is an indictment of them and their ability to cope (makes it hard to deny their trauma and severe off-the-charts anxiety). But as I progress in therapy and become less of a traumatized “people pleaser” I invite the ridicule. After surviving cancer I’m not afraid of their suffering disguised as bravado. In fact, they’re now scared shitless of me because I call out THEIR trauma now. I send them helpful info but I doubt they read it.

Creator

My mom does, because she gave me her Crohn's Disease, lol. She's been 1 of the biggest helpers/support system for me. My boyfriend tries, but he doesn't understand sometimes, which can be irritating. My friends don't know it at all, but their words of encouragement help.

Chancla

My mom had a better understanding of the constant pain and we both have horrible anxiety and depression, but she doesn't understand the whole trans thing. Don't get me wrong, my mom is one of my best supports with that whole thing, but she doesn't understand the ins and outs of it like some of my, also trans, friends do.

Snapcracklepop

Short answer: no

Lew_Bear

I don’t think anyone can understand the full extent of how it affects me emotionally. But those who care to learn about it seem to have a pretty good idea, especially my partner who lives with me & sees me go through it daily

EatenByWormy

Family- not really. Friends- absolutely. I actually worked out that I was autistic partially because it seemed like 2 of every 3 new people I befriended were autistic and like….. isn’t that awfully suspicious. 🤭

Rico_SD

the law of attraction is powerful

RaeRae22

My friends do because they also have conditions of their own. But nobody else really gets it unless they have issues

Denotchka

No I don’t. I’m not even sure that they understand what I am going through period. They’re a bunch of guys and they’re not communicating with us a lot. I haven’t really communicated either however and now I feel like I am banging my head against the wall trying to.

Rico_SD

unfortunately, men generally communicate less effectively than women. I find that unless they’ve had advanced communications/emotional intelligence training it’s fairly difficult for men to communicate with each other or women. I used to be what some consider a “man’s man” (worked construction, was a bouncer, power lifter, etc.) but college and later working in a profession in which the best of us are more often female has changed how I communicate - but I am still a man and can still be quite exhausting.

Dcor8

I have speech issues after cancer surgery at 38 decades ago then 8 scar tissue removal s ! Loss of teeth radiation issue! About to start speech therapy at 77! Just exasperated at lack of compassion

Rico_SD

I see and hear you ❤️

Neuco

The only one who could have really understood has been gone for 5 years. The rest of my family tries... But just doesn't get it. They don't really listen until they witness it themselves.

Raesfurdaze

My mother had a stroke in January and as much as I wish she hadn't had to have gone through that; the neuropathy and instability she now experiences have given her a lot of insight into my personal conditions and made her a very good person to lean call on when I need someone. I have had to walk with a cane for about 2.5 years now due to what I refer to as my "jelly legs" caused by post spinal fusion neuropathy, hypermobility, and fibromyalgia. And for the 2 years of living with this it felt extremely isolating bc it felt like there was no one around me who understood. It still can feel that way at many times.

ChristineD

Yes and no. My partner mostly can and 5 others I know do, but everyone else, no.

Rico_SD

here’s to amazing and supportive partners! My wife is the only person with a grasp on my conditions.

Storme25

Nope I can't even live with myself but I put up with it

MatchaBunn

I don’t think so, not entirely. But I don’t know that anyone ever could have a full idea of what it means to live with my conditions without being me. It’s one thing to explain my experience, and a whole different thing actually living it. I still get upset sometimes that people don’t have a full picture of how my conditions interact and effect me. But I appreciate every chance I get to share what I can. And I’m always learning new ways to share and get people on board so they can understand a little more. I’m grateful for the people in my life who are willing to listen, and assume the best intent when I am dealing with symptoms.

MaSa

Absolutely not. My mom consults with Dr Google constantly and makes decisions for me based off of random blogs. I have MS and want control over my life again

LixiKat

if your 18 and above vouch for yourself stop letting your parents do everything I can’t wait for it to be my time I appreciate my family trying but needing real help is hard to get and if your not 18 maybe talk to someone who can understand I’m sure you Got someone around you can talk to even if it’s not someone you see everyday consult with your dr you see even a teacher a dentist a librarian anyone you have to go out and find the help you deserve

Rico_SD

Dr. Google is an a$$hole.

musigal1827

No. For so long I've been told it's my dietary habits or I'm not close enough to God... or x, y, z. I'm in my 40s now and still no formal diagnosis of my mental health issues because of the stigma. My husband sometimes understands but usually I get the annoying response of "just get over it" 🙄

Rico_SD

I hope you’re in therapy. Remember that it’s just a stigma. Those judging people getting mental health care will be remembered as being on the wrong side of history and quite barbaric.

Dezmari

Wow it’s send that we got alot in common

Dezmari

Seems

Pearline

No! Not at all!

knightmare

I can't tell you how many times I've had family sweep my health under the rug. My father, rest his soul, said I was making the choice to be like that. My mother thought it was a lack of faith. My brothers thought I was just looking for attention. This is why I've kept so much close to the chest- I have little to no people to confide it without fear of it coming back to bite me in the rear end.

Mbgjvb

They know something is wrong because I’ve been to the hospital twice because of it. I don’t think they understand though. My dad doesn’t. My mom thought I was diagnosed with did not bpd for almost a year (my partners have did so I guess I could understand why). I explain it to my siblings as much as I can, but one of them asked if I was misdiagnosed. I think the only ones who come close are my partners. We understand each other as much as we can.

Pearline

I don't think anyone really understands unless they have the same condition.

Spuddy

I hate it when people say, “just get over it…”. They don’t have a clue.

VeggieSandwichQueen

Mostly no. My sister unfortunately just got one of the GI strains of COVID and I think she understands a little more now. She called me crying one day and said “I don’t know how you live like this, I’m so depressed and frustrated.” I wouldn’t wish that experience upon her at all, but it was validating to hear somebody in my own life (not on all the stomach issue subreddits and Facebook groups) actively and truly understanding for the first time.

sabbymer

They don't really accept maybe my sister realizes some things about me. They all look at it like I should be taking care of it. They don't get that it's chronic or that I have different energy every day. They don't get how sensitive I am and my parents are antivaxx...They look at it as bad but I just wanna know what I have so I can manage it better.

Fire101

Hell no everybody thinks I'm a b**** just because my Cycles go in and out in my hormones f****** up but I'd like to see them go through the same thing and be happy about it

BreBee04

No, they think all of my medical conditions (especially my narcolepsy) are caused by either being lazy, or me wanting attention.

NelsamWhiskers

Honestly I'm still figuring out what it means living with my conditions. That being said certain people understand better than others.

lexzeepoo

Nope. Certainly not at all. Heck I don't even know what's going on with me! I believe I have been mis diagnosed and should definitely be tested for ADHD and medicated. I believe I have had issues from the age of 10 or so and I'm 48. UGH!

juliecarlstan

No. Not really

Anthea

my sisters do to an extent, because they both also have hEDS, but it affects everyone differently. i've had a lot of other medical issues that arose because of it, and i don't think they really understand what i'm going through, even if they understand it from the medical pov as they're both medical professionals. there's also a lot of things i don't tell anyone, so there's that too

jdog54321

That's why I'm in this group because no one else understands. I don't even understand. Sometimes I feel like I'm faking it and I just need to try harder. But whenever I try to talk to someone or do something I really struggle. This group helps me feel like I'm not so alone and that it's not all in my head. 👍

SarahEliza

Not at all

TuckerDucker

Nope, my dogs are the only reason I'm still alive and my mom suggested I get rid of them because we were having a hard time finding a place to move into. Luckily we managed to find an apartment before we had to seriously consider giving up our dogs

LixiKat

Nope but I have my cat

Crrom

Heck no

Schiele

My mom still thinks I’m able to control when my seizures happen and the rest of my family thinks that you can just “get over” ADD and depression. So yeah, no. I just don’t tell them anything about what I’m going through lmao

stache

No.

h0ney

no, that's why im here lol

Lavabasically

Kinda. Both me and my mom have PCOS, so she understands me there. But every time I bring up the fact I have autism or autism in general she’s like “it’s a superpower, don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. All the greatest people have autism” And it just feels like I can’t bring it up, even jokingly, without getting lectured about it. Even though I knew I had it for 8 years now and have come to terms with the fact that I’m autistic YEARS ago.

Captain333

Absolutely NOT. Nobody can imagine what this is like without going through it.

Heiziam

Sometimes I wonder. I know the children only see me as being old. But even though my daughter is my caregiver, I don't think she gets it. I struggle daily and more so in the early evening.. She feels I can reverse this and I can control my anxiety by just placing positive thoughts in place of whatever I'm thinking. Sometimes I'm not thinking of anything and my body just starts to react! It's one of those sicknesses that don't show until an episode occurs. Sono, not always do those who you live with understand us. 😢👍💞

poodlelover28

They don't but they try their best to understand and that's what counts

tatertot731

they almost never try to understand and think that since im young that i can do everything an able bodied person my age can

dstbny

No, my health makes my friends sad so we don't talk about it.

A424

Not at all. I only have my mom to talk to and she constantly says that I’m using my conditions as an excuse and that i’m lazy when i’m trying to communicate how I feel and how hard things are. It’s really hurtful and invalidating having no support.

TaetaeRyn

Absolutely not and it’s very frustrating. My immediate family is very self-assured, and they can’t understand what it’s like to question every decision you make. I brought up once how no matter what I do there’s a part of me that believes I don’t deserve anything, and my stepdad said “I have plenty of self-hatred, trust me.” I think he was trying to be supportive, but it made me feel like he was saying since he’s been through this too I should have no problem doing things his way and thinking in the way he does. I don’t even think that is what he meant, but just the notion that his self-hate is anything close to mine pissed me off. Obviously I don’t know what he’s going through, I’m sure he’s got plenty he hates about himself, but he’s also got A LOT that he’s confident in, to the point where he will criticize professionals because he believes he can do it better. I hate myself to the point where even if I’m confident in something I don’t feel like I have the right to give my insight. I feel like if someone does something differently I must be the one who’s wrong. And it’s all constant. It’s just not something you can grasp if you’re not going through it.

momofseven

Not at all none of them understand any of my issues and it has turn us apart

bloopdot

same

BonnBonn

Honestly anyone who doesn’t experience it doesn’t have a good idea. But they try to understand as much as they can and be supportive most of the time.

wanderingSOUL

They just ask me if I'm ok and ik say I'm fine because the will never know what its like..

TheLovelyLeo

I try and explain sometimes and it’s so uncomfortable.

TheLovelyLeo

Not at all. It’s obvious in their behavior they have the barest clue.

latashiastary

Sometimes I feel like they don’t understand

Ella101

Absolutely not

mothful

NO i feel undermined by everyone in my life, even by the two friends i have. especially being autistic and friends w someone who is neurotypical, most ppl have this idea that autism is one way. it’s a spectrum and even those who “pass” as “normal” are most likely masking, like me.

bloopdot

mood

D3stiny

I haven’t told my friends about my conditions because of the judgment I’m afraid I’ll receive. My girlfriend knows of my conditions and half of the time she forgets I even have them and that’s a big problem but at the same time a big win because she’ll forget why I’m acting the way I’m acting, but I don’t really like talking about my disabilities anyways. My family knows because they’re my family and they’ve lived with me through this disability. Unfortunately my dad over reacts to it all. I’ve been seizure free for 5 years and he still says that I can’t wear neon colors or to “turn down the brightness on my phone” because I’ll have a seizure which is not true I’m not photosensitive. He’s just trying to be a caring dad, but it really limits my options

Tomatoface

Awww.. that’s why I don’t tell ppl either. I don’t want them to change how they act around me. I just say my eyes are “sensitive” and I get headaches…

JaBrSlFr

Not really. I have so many different problems that worsen the other problems.

bloopdot

No. Not to be dramatic but they have never ever ever ever ever bothered to understand my condition and are the reason I’m messed up :)

Tomatoface

NO not at all!!!!!!

tangledupinblue

To some degree maybe, but honestly nobody understands what it feels like to know i’m going to have to cope for the rest of my life. it’s overwhelming

Cancer

No, not at all

Toomin

My fiance just told me that she can't accept that mental health can be debilitating

_Robbie_

🚩

Nicole_J

Nope

mothful

hardly. the biggest thing is trying to explain that i will be experiencing these issues for life bc that’s how my brain is wired; but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. there’s a difference between “woe is me i’m never gonna change i am who i am” and accepting that you were dealt shitty cards but you don’t have to let it ruin your life

amandasnyder588

Sometimes.

Coffee_hound

They think they do, but I don’t think so.

Manchetta

They can't understand it

_Robbie_

Nah 💀

itsnotmefr

I don't think so and I don't think they ever will, but it's the thought that they're trying to understand that's nice :3

Willowluna21

Not all the time because my dad pretty much died and I never knew him my whole life my grandmother died last year my Grandpa died at the age of four that's where I get my PTSD and my mother was a drug addict so I never really knew her for like 18 years till like this year so at the same time no but at the same time my aunt does now

NiiTA

No. My mom keeps yelling at me and my siblings don't pay attention to me most days 🤷🏾‍♀️

georgielane

Not at all, I think especially with POC parents who grew up in a certain era, the complexities of how mental health conditions manifest are lost on them. Even through educating them, it’s a huge “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality. Wishing you the best! ❤️

writaholic

My family needs to be reminded. My anxiety has come out more with my son, because I'm so used to my own space being an only child. My parents and husband do their best, but out of everyone my son who's still only 4 knows when I'm not doing good. When to love me and when to not.

wyvernprince

Absolutely... Not. Whenever I bring up my seizures they're under the assumption that it's simply psychological and that I "just need to calm down"... As though you can just calm down immediately. Even if that were the case, they don't seem to care just how badly it affects me. How often I avoid being in public for fear of causing a scene. How lonely I feel bc I'd rather seize all alone in my room and risk dying in my bed than deal with their comments. How the condition stole my senior year from me. How much I miss out because of it. It doesn't matter to them and I hate it

Jojo1986

Nope

Skittlemasterrawr

Not at all, the last couple of days I've been having severe lower back and neck and pack and jaw and headache pains I've been back and forth to the hospital with no real answers and my husband and his family on top of my own family don't believe me , When I sit down to go to the bathroom everything is numb and cramping I have the constant urge to pee I have palpitations because of the discomfort and I can hear and feel the bones in my body cracking but nothing seems to be wrong with me at all. I'm not a healthy 26-year-old Disabled wife who has to live with her overweight family while I'm over here suffering.

ATrainwreck

Absolutely not. I don't think they'll ever fully understand just how much it affects me. No matter what I've said my parents (specifically my dad) has always had a "you're just being lazy, get over it" attitude. Being manic doesn't help either because they only see the elevated mood and energy side of it. They will never understand that it affects every aspect of my life.

trademarkspoonie

I’m extremely blessed in this. My family always has and now husband have tried to get it the best they can, but the biggest blessing is that they know not being me that they can’t get it. Those are the kind of people everyone needs. My first diagnosis of many (and waiting to find out potentially more) was CRPS. I was 13, and had my parents not fought for me with doctors saying I was making it up or writing me off because they couldn’t figure it out, I don’t know where I’d be today. For everyone who doesn’t have these people, I’m so sorry. And I believe you and am here for you!

valossadei

My family has gotten better at understanding over the years, I don't have many friends and the ones I do have don't get it at all, I'm not the best at explaining myself either cause of the conditions I have..

Venni3

Sort of? After they found out it was relatively soon after that pretty much all stopped asking about it and now ignore those parts of me. Occasionally brought up now and they whenever that’s the case they will attempt to throw solutions at me that absolutely don’t work for anyone with a chronic illness… so to answer the prompt, sort of.

jadedphoenixburning

Nope. Not at all.

kookie2020

Not a clue 😫

srea

My current partner does and it’s such a blessing 🥰 my parents, though? Nope. Siblings? Yeah, kinda.

TheKandiCollective

No. Not my family at least. They've never showed understanding or empathy for our struggles. Our friends understand, but only partially, some of them are systems, some of them are autistic, etc. They don't have the specific combination of experiences I have because of my neurotype, disorders, and identity, so while they can imagine something close, they'll never experience what it's actually like for me.

TheKandiCollective

(Most I's are a speech mistake except the first one)

Korbyn

I think my best friend thinks she knows how it is when she doesn't

EmilyG

Definitely not!

LyricRainn111

No, because they refuse to learn about it. They don’t care at all.

bptomboy

My parents, after 6 years of ups and downs, finally somewhat understand where i will be at in terms of bipolar episodes (mania or depression) but no theyll never truky know what its like to ne me

Nikki03

No they have no idea and I don't think they want to know

kingseijuro

I truly don't believe anyone can understand how a person's experience is with a certain identity, condition, etc. unless they have it too.

NiqueMK

Hell no, nor do they seem like they care.

Laner

No I feel very alone a lot of the time :/. They tell me it could be worse and I need to get over myself.

Amnesty

No. I’m alone. I know everyone says “you’re not alone” but the reality is, you are alone. No one understands the way you think or the way you react or the way you cope, only you do. I’m in pain every day and no one will ever understand that.

Binbin

Not really :’) members of my family deal with similar issues I’m sure (all undiagnosed) but it physically pains me sometimes that they can’t see what it’s like in my head every day. grew up hearing a lot of invalidating language that I’m still working through in therapy

AsianSunshine

No my d.i.d. is different than my friends d.i.d. in the way they handle them

abbz

definitely not lol

Redvelninja

No not really some of them sadly just either don't care, are deniers, or just don't get it.

Aive

No because I still live with my mom and I hate people yelling at me or being loud and she still does it when she already knows

Redvelninja

Not really no. I sadly have to avoid mental health with one of my family members because she thinks that I'm making it up or exaggerating to get attention. She thinks that I don't have ocd or anxiety because I'm lazy, disorganized and gets to be judgemental at times but she does the same thing that she complains to me about so backwards logic I guess..

eire

Well growing up I was always given the medicine. Hypothyroidism sucks.. my siblings thought I took "crazy pills". Sometimes I would have to stay indoors because it was hard to run around. I hate the cold weather because my bones hurt lots. Some people in my life know what's up. But not in detail. Currently as a adult I am struggling with a lot of digestive and liver issues. People think it's a virus but noo.. it's my prescription being too high.

aries02

Honestly no. And I don’t think I have a good idea of what it means to live with theirs. I think we try our best to understand and at the very least be sympathetic of each other, but there’s no way to truly understand another person’s lived experience. Most of the people in my life have multiple mental illnesses, personality disorders, chronic pain, and/ or other medical conditions. I’m not sure how I ended up with such a ragtag bunch, but it keeps things interesting to say the least.

Greenie23

Absolutely not. They have always believed me to be exaggerating. But, now that I’m getting diagnosed with things, they are acting like they understand that I’m disabled. They don’t want it to “be my personality” though, and so they shut me down whenever I’m asking for help or talking about my conditions.

d1sc0haus

My family always accused me of overreacting or making excuses. My friends don't fully get it, but they're worlds more supportive.

Beeble

my disabled friends? yes. my family and other friends? no.

pammd

I will say I used to have a roommate that is disabled and always had pain here or there and honestly I wasn't real sympathetic. I didn't think she was lying by any means just maybe exaggerating. But now that I'm in constant pain she's the only person I feel who understands.

Marcaroni22

No because my family believes nothing can be wrong with me because I am young and I don't really have friends.

Storme25

Pretty much never

Denotchka

I don't even thinl thry understand what's wrong. Bern reluctant to tell them. I just want stem celltreatment and to get back to my lifecand going forward with school and miniatry training.

Rico_SD

They don’t have a clue. There’s nothing like getting medical advice from someone whose sole modern medical treatment for their adult life has been urgent care and ER visits. Even more ridiculous is that they cut me off to tell me about their health issues for which they refuse to get treatment. Half of my family is from or in New Mexico (I’m a Californian) so their “medical” advice usually involves some red chile and a few rosaries - completely f’n nuts. So no, there’s very little about me, post-19th century medicine, my conditions, or even the world itself that the older generation of my family understands - but their hard work paved the way for my education and modern life I enjoy so I still listen to their nonsense.

MrsHolland18

I was told I might have to have my v@gln@ removed due to my Cervical Cancer spreading to my v@gln@l walls. A dear family member thought when I was saying "surgery to remove everything" that I was talking about a hysterectomy. I explained that mine would be worse than that and she was like "OMG I had no idea they would or could do that!!" I feel like a burden to my family because I can't work and I always need help with things. It's been a rough year and a half...I think they TRY to understand but you can't really know how you'd feel unless it happens to you. I'm glad some put the effort in!

moon.stars.oceans

My mom has come to understand better. But besides that, most people do not understand the extreme struggle I go through on a daily basis. It hurts and makes us feel unseen or invisible.

vctr

most of my friends don’t have allergies but they do understand my mental illness!

Adventuremom

Some do, most do not. One day after being released from the psych hospital my husband was angry that the dishes hadn’t been done and said “You told me things would be different when you got out!” Mind you it was a ten day stay for attempting to end my life and I had spent the entire first day home running errands and grocery shopping since he neglected to do so. My siblings see my mental health issues as “drama” and several family members believe my physical issues are mild. I give them a break because they don’t walk in my shoes and oftentimes how they approach it (or simply ignore it when I’m reaching out for support) is not ok! I do have friends who do not understand and don’t pretend to and they also don’t treat me differently or judge me because of it.

Moomoo72

Not at all. My mom I think is also autistic, but has never been diagnosed, so she's always just thought the way I am is normal although I really struggle with it. My dad in the other hand is the most resilient and optimistic person I know, which is great for him, but he really lacks the empathy needed to understand someone who suffers with anxiety or depression because he has no experience and thinks you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps. My husband understand depression and anxiety well, but he doesn't understand my autism because he's the complete opposite. He's so extroverted that he can't stand to be alone ever and wants me to constantly be on the go with him and I'm always out of spoons so he gets frustrated easily with me.

RaeRae22

Nope. My mom told me the day I was diagnosed with GAD that "everyone has it it's not that bad"

NessyMonster

My dad does but my mom doesn’t have a clue

Sarahjean

My mom doesn’t believe me and she’s my caretaker…

AsianSunshine

Kade229

Absolutely not, just to make this make sense I'm 16, my mother believe that I can't have depression, can't be stressed, and can't be exhausted. I absolutely hate it, I love my mother a lot but I can't have a normal conversation with her because of it and I wanna be done but yk.

anotherlostsoul

No way. They don’t understand at all and usually tell me to get over it

AnotherSDhandler

Nope! My dad says my service dog is pointless, I don’t need to do any compulsions, and that since I’m young I can’t possibly be this sick

AnxietyGirl79

Definitely not, I'm just told that it's all in my head and if I would just get out of bed and get a job my depression, anxiety and PTSD would just go away because it's "not real"

Duckyqueen123

Definitely not, a few ears ago I was 18 and my family refused to let me sit with the adults and their reason "Your a child mentally bc you are Autistic." Most of my friends with ADHD from when I was in school got mad at me when I told them that I have ADHD bc they "knew what adhd looked like" but I'm also diagnosed with it. People get mad at me when I do something that's related to any of my conditions and I say I'm sorry that's just my ________. Then they say "of course it's always something else can't ever be your fault." Although I always admit if it actually was my fault.

rorose

HarryPotter

No they don't understand how much it hurts and how hard I have to work to make it not hurt just for like a second

Mellow_love

I think that they try to but that doesn't mean that they get it. To them I'm still just hormonal and a bit better because I have outburst. It's really hard being how I am.

Bre19

I think as much as they try to they won't ever get even close to fully understanding what it's like to be me

housesucculent

nope, it’s not their fault though

Nikki03

Absolutely not but they try

blood_rose

Yes lol but some times my way of expressing myself can be a bit much for them to handle

HarryPotter

No not at all 😥

vmartinez6

Nikki03

GN008

Unfortunately no. Most of them try but nobody will ever truly know what it's like to live with migraines until they have them: the sensitivities and the triggers.

mx.mistoffolees

A lot of my friends have similar issues! Even if we differ a little we still have a lot of common ground that can allow us to like, properly empathize. Even with my friends who aren't personally chronically ill or autistic, they have enough other people in their life that are that I don't have to explain too much (which is great!) I'd highly reccomend finding friends with similar conditions. Its helped me immensly in accepting my autism and illness and understanding myself. I dont really think my family gets it. I have a lot of trouble communicating with them and even more with getting them to listen. I just dont think they understand, but hopefully someday.

WilburEffingSoot

My mother has almost the exact same things as me, but she treats me like I'm a baby. I'm a teenager and can handle myself quite well, down to food and basic needs and all the way to working. Yet to her, I'm always going to be her baby. I understand she cares, but I hate being coddled when I can handle it by myself.

Foxlover

In a way they know what I’ve been through, and what I’m going through now. I have a big family so only my parents know what’s going on, along with my boyfriend. He’s been there for me though, so it helps out.

jam064

Some of my conditions yes, some no. My mom, sister, and pretty much all my aunts and cousins suffer from depression and/or anxiety, so they all understand what that's like. My dad has enough people around him that he mostly gets it even without experiencing it himself. But I'm also trans and epileptic. There aren't good words to explain dysphoria to cis people, because no words can truly encompass what that feels like. They're supportive but they don't get it. Then with my epilepsy, my mom is so worried that I'll forget my meds that she forgets that it isn't her life (I'm 29 and live alone). She can't seem to grasp that my entire life centers around making sure I don't have a seizure. There are so many things I can't do and no one seems to grasp that aspect of it. They see 'if he misses his meds, he has a seizure, he can't drive for six months.' They see and sympathize with how that affects me. But they don't seem to grasp how much it controls my life even when I'm not dependent on others just to get from place to place.

CozyVibez

Of course not. I'm the first of my family and friends to battle fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, and IBS on top of anxiety, depression, and bipolar. They give me slack if I'm not up to some things, and I truly appreciate that!

Nenna

Not everyone. My parents definitely don’t but my mom is trying and I really appreciate that. My partner and his families really do tho. His step mom has a a slew of chronic illnesses that’s affect her everyday so they all have had exposure to another person they love living with chronic pain and poor health. His bio mom is also and emt so she has a lot of professional experience and really sympathizes. It’s really nice to be accepted and seen as I am and not feel pitied.

Pooge2255

My dad slightly understands. He told me growing up to suck it up thought instead of talking about it because it makes you a stronger person to be able to bottle it down. My mom doesn’t understand. She’s kinda in her own little world.

MorganVL

dog6ude

no, not at all

Nal

Yah I got kinda lucky in a way,I mean one of the conditions I have I got from my dad so he knows what I go threw with that cus he has it too, he doesn’t have the other ones I have but he’s empathetic about it. I feel like he’s the only one that understands me even tho I don’t really talk to him abt it, I just recently told him I have major depressive disorder, nd he was understanding

puzzle

no. none of my family members that i have talked to about my disorders has understood me no matter how many times i tried to explain and they don’t even try to understand them, ask questions, or do any research. they either ignore the existence of my illnesses or once i remind them that my brain works differently than theirs, they pretend that they understand when it’s clear they don’t.

Scepterina

No! I've spent years trying to explain but if anything, they seem to be trying to make them worse!!!

Eren2273

Both yes and no. My mom understands the basics of my disorders but not enough about how they effect me specifically and what can be done about them

Olivebutter2236

The only people who know what I go through mentally and physically are the people I have lived with with for long periods of time because unless you spend a ridiculous amount of time around me I'm so well medicated at this point you'd think I was totally normal but in my own home where I spend the most time I have a lot more moments of struggle. So that's pretty much only my mom and my siblings and my fiance. Everyone else has a hard time believing I actually struggle with the things that I do.

mermaidap

they didn’t realize until i went to intensive treatment and i think they still have trouble with some of my diagnosis’s

Clockwise

No not really the closest family member that can relate to my depression and anxiety is my mom but other than that they don’t know me as well as they think due to my depression making me keeps me from talking with them about it

Buffering

Not at all. I’m “too sensitive” “too negative” “need to smile more” “need to just be happy” etc It’s almost as if they honestly want to feel the way I do 😥

Viynyl

Absolutely not. My family has always minimized me and what its like to live with my conditions, its always "Your being dramatc/Sensitive" along with telling me to do things I physically can't do. Its always met with "It's not that hard/your just being lazy" when I barely have useable eyesight. They are also unrealistic when it comes to my tics and think their something I can "just quit"... My friends on the other hand are trying their best to learn and come up with solutions so I'm not mad at them.

anxiouslywaiting

Deep_Feelings

Some do, some don’t.

mydragonmoon

Some of them seem to understand. But the majority do not have a clue and don't seem to want to get one.

OurLadyOfChaos

Ish. They try? But no.

lowempathyhighenergy

Family; Not unless it immediately benefits them. Friends; Somewhat, they try but it's hard to connect with them sometimes

Paisley85

Not one bit.

katkall

my dad texted me that he would help me with disability paperwork. A few days later I ask him in person when I’m getting the papers and he straight up says “you’re not disabled“ 🤨

Jo420

Not at all. Especially my step mom. She’s very much so a pray and a get over it type of person. First of all I’m not even religious and second I don’t HAVE to just ‘get over it’. It hurts. I’m not going to push myself until I can’t move or stand to be around others. Everyone else acknowledges it but I’m young so I just have to be capable of rebounding quickly I guess.

chaitea17

Luckily, yes. All of my issues are genetic. Mom and dad have my adhd and anxiety, grandmother has my heart and spine, mom has my autism, my little sibling has all my mental stuff. We can all rely on eachother due to all having the same problems

AudaCity

Only my fiance really gets it, they also have some mental illness and they get to see me every day to see what's actually going on. The rest of my family has good intentions but they aren't as good at helping with everything

Soskae

No. I honestly don’t think anyone will. Even people with almost the same conditions have a different mix of severities that drastically alters how it feels. I think people can grasp my condition individually but trying to put them all in one experience I think is like trying to comprehend how large our solar system is. We know it but we can’t actually take it all in. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, we all have a different life experience that we can’t fully grasp. Medically I think I’m too wild to relate too lol.

FTW

Absolutely not. My family just dials 911 when I start having an episode

ForbiddenPretzel

No. And no matter how many times I try to explain it, I am called crazy and told that not how it works. Like yes, I get no 'normal' person works that way. I'm not normal ma!

Lilshrimpygirl

No not at all

Kittypop

100% no (except my husband)

Rayningtigress

No but then again i dont either. We work together to get through this

lostinbmore

I grew up in a deeply Baptist Christian family, was sent to the deeply Baptist Christian School run by the deeply Baptist Church we all attended. I am... A master at faking it till you make it. They have no idea what I'm going through. Thankfully, for the most part, I have made a lot of good progress in my heart and mind so there's not as much a need to explain it to them. But, I seriously doubt they would understand if I were to try. Their world is ruled by the concept that negative things are either a test of faith from there spiritual figurehead or a direct result of some deficiency in there relationship with their spiritual figurehead. Besides, it's kind of fun being the uncle who is a little... Off.. ROFL

Captain_Honey

They have little to no idea. They don't know how my symptoms work. And too often they try to force their solutions onto me

Sapphire34

Some of them do but most of them don't they are always you look fine to me well just because I look fine on the outside doesn't mean on the inside my body isn't screaming at me to run get away from people or to stay in bed people don't see that side of mental health

summershimmer

ItsErin

Nope

Tracks

My able bodied dad and brother say they know how I feel, but I doubt that 150%. My mom who I has a less severe version of spina bifida than I do, think she has more of an idea.

italianxpeaches

No. Even my mom who has the same conditions doesn't even understand or believe me alot.

BeanBetter

No and thats okay

Satans_lil_devil

Absolutely not. Not for lack of trying to explain and educate

LilacBell

nope, they don’t understand

sleepyhippo

To a certain extent yes, but at times they forget or have no clue the extent of things...

hydroepilepic21

No, they say they do but they don't

Zenthepiglet

No, I don't believe my family does, the fact that whenever my symptoms do show up they always forget that it exists and quite frankly I've given up on trying to get them to understand bc they feel like I'm just making up excuses while it takes so much courage and determination to do what needs to be done and they just don't understand the struggles I face but luckily I have people in my life that gives me encouragement so that I can do it

PrincessEmerald

No, not at all not even a little. I work 60 hours a week, I’m the breadwinner, and raise our 2.5 year old with very little help from husband and I still get called lazy. It is so heartbreaking. I think I just prioritize things differently as far as what needs to be picked up/cleaned/ etc and when because I have to cater to my chronic fatigue.

IceGoddess

No, if they understood, my life wouldn't be so stupid hard...,..

el6

Absolutely not. I don't even understand it

Tigeress667

No especially the father of my baby. A lot of times I try to explain to him that some of the things he expects are just not realistic because of the pain I live with and that sometimes I'm just not gonna be able to do things. That sometimes my ADHD will get in the way. But no matter how I explain it he doesn't seem to understand.

The_Pained_Dinosaur

My partners try, but for the most part my family doesn't. My dad in particular doesn't "believe" in depression and tells me that "things aren't that bad, I don't see what you have to be sad about". He also doesn't believe in taking medication and says that most things can be walked off or that they're made up (despite he himself taking pain medication when needed). :/

walkerstalker

partners?

VeggieSandwichQueen

My family and friends seem to, thankfully; I think because they’ve been with me on the diagnosis journey that took me almost 2 years and have witnessed my flares. Other people though, not so much. When people find out I have GI disorders they tend to think I mean IBS (which is super real and valid!!) and don’t understand that I mean chronic gastritis, nausea, and vomiting/dry heaving. Having professors understand and respect my accommodations has been really rough because of this. I feel like most people don’t understand how much chronic nausea takes over your whole life unless they’ve been through it themselves at some point.

Something_Strange

Absolutely not .. my family doesn't care to accept that I'm trans .. so why would I tell them about my struggles. My friends?? I don't know?.. they're supportive tho -

RainbowKai

No my grandpa keeps suggesting I wear better shoes, eat less, exercise, take ibeprofen, or go to physical therapy for my endometriosis and it is so frustrating

colourfulburrito

No. I mean, I think my mum tries to understand but she's not me and I guess will never truly understand. With pain, "oh you're young, you should be going on hikes like your brother" or with my eating disorder and I say like "can I get a takeaway" and she's like "I thought you were trying to lose weight" honey if I want to eat a takeaway and I feel mentally prepared enough to do so, don't go saying those things cuz you're just gonna make me regret it and cause myself to do things I shouldn't do.

phaed

no not at all

Taser

Sometimes, it feels like my mom knows, but sometimes she doesn't give me a break. 😔 😪 😕 💔 😞

Coke

No I’ve sent articles about my condition and had someone tell me it was too much for them like imagine how we feel

chronicallysteph

I don't even really talk it about it with my family anymore because anytime that I dare to, they say that they're sick of hearing about it & that basically it's my fault because I'm fat even though there is no link. If I try to tell them that they say that I'm just making excuses. Even if my conditions were caused by being fat, that doesn't mean I should be treated horribly & not cared about. It's either, they don't believe there's anything wrong with me because one person can't possibly have so many health issues if they're not old (apparently chronic illness isn't something they believe in unless it's my mum because she's 70) & are sick of me talking about things that I'm making up, or, that if there is something "wrong" with me, it's my own fault so they don't need to accommodate me. It really just depends what they want to get out of the conversation. That's why I don't talk about it anymore (& probably why I haven't been to a doctor since 2018) because it always seems like the conversation ends up being about what other people think about it & how any accommodations I need don't need to be fulfilled because I'm not really ill I'm just fat (apparently to some people fatness equals illness but that isn't true. I'm fat & have chronic conditions that aren't related to that). I've internalised that to an extent so I just have to get by without support or feeling cared for. I need to go nack to the doctor at sone point soon & that's daunting due to weight stigma in healthcare & the dangerousness of how broken the NHS now is. It's scary being chronically ill whilst being fat.

jodie88

I couldn't agree with you more I'm in a similar situation, chronic illness and fat and the amount of people that put the two together is mind boggling! I don't think many people can even begin to comprehend what we have to go through so they don't even try or assume we are "making it up" or "it can't be that bad" in.other words they can't believe it because they aren't in or experiencing it so it must be a lie. Being fat in a chronic pain world is not only dangerous and scary its very frustrating and will always lead to other issues ie, mental health problems etc because we aren't getting the help that we need x

SomeKindaKid

My family shares a lot of the same issues but i only have them when it’s convenient for them

panubino

heck no

Mr._Dank

Fuck no. They’ll never understand it. My friends care and try to. But they won’t ever fully get it. My family, most of them, don’t even care.

walkerstalker

I don't have friends, and my family doesn't understand at all and just makes my OCD worse, only my fiancée understands but obviously not fully but she does whatever she can to help me, we're long distance though and won't be able to see each other in person again for a while.

KratomEater

No one ever has unless they’ve had it. Only then did they relate. I was diagnosed as kid, but that was back when it was a lot less common. I’m 35 now. So I was only on the medication when I was a kid until a few months ago. I tried it a few years back again but it was Adderall . One day I had a massive panic attack. not knowing what it was I thought I was dying. I was on that and caffein so I don’t know if it was the combination or what but I had them everyday all day for two years. They eventually went away but I had to get off any kind of stimulant entirely. Anyway now that I’ve com full circle ⭕️ I still don’t think my family quite understands. But I’m very lucky they are supportive. A lot of people have been pushed away by family because of their conditions.

FiberArtist

My husband and mom get it because they both have fibromyalgia too. They understand the pain. Others don't. I have had partners in the past who didn't understand and that was so hard to deal with.

diddle

Nope.

Serena040893

I find that some family and friends prefer to call me attention seeking rather than actually trying to understand from my perspective. Some don't understand but sit with me and just let me be me. Either way, no they don't understand.

ATG

what is this friends and family thing you speak of? Sounds unsupportive and stressful.

MixedBag0fMess

No I know my parents think I’m just lazy, or at least somewhat lazy My dad is particularly confused as to why I can’t just get a therapist if I know I need one, he knows that I’d have to go through my insurance and then call a bunch of people, he just doesn’t understand how demotivated I am

MixedBag0fMess

My friends are amazing, and I do not deserve them and their support

woodlandfolk

No especially not with the comments they make about things like my room

Love._.kookie

No not at all my friends all ways think I’m joking and my mom just doesn’t understand

Cara55

They try to understand what's going on in my head but it's hard when I barely understand what going on in my head.

MLee

they don't even try, and even if they did they'd never really be able to empathize with what I go through daily

hydroepilepic21

Nope, but they are super opinionated about my life though.

yumzy199725

They try so hard to understand and they support and cheer me up when I'm upset but no I don't think they can fully grasp the consempt of having a chronic illness and that you will have good days and bad days 💔

KittyGreen

I wish they cared enough to try most of the time I have to get throught stuff my own

KabaneDaTo

No but the fact that they listen nowadays to even half my words means that they understand enough to not make me mad or disappointed.

AlikeYou33

Not even a little.

LorrainK

I believe some of my family understands some of my issues

SpaceCase92

I believe my husband refuses to understand 😥

KayTBB

It depends on the person(s), what mood they are in, etc. I feel like mood disorders run in my family, my ex- husband's and my husbands

Nimah

No they don't - maybe my sister.

Lkbmotion

Not at all

Bellea606

Absolutely not. I feel so alone

Soft_Boy

yes and no 😥

hurt_copain

Not at all, except 2. Depression and anxiety are common

LaEly

No, my family tells me to suck it up and be happy. If only it were that easy😭

Wednesday_7

No, they are so annoying and speak over me in 504 and doctors meetings as if I don’t know my own symptoms.

Mara.Vaughn

I don't feel that my family understands well. I have been self-employed because my conditions limit my ability to work at a business. However, my family does not want to understand that. I am told often about how I would earn more at a business compared to being self-employed. I am aware of this, I am not able to do much about that so I wish I wasn't constantly reminded. I have already tried to work at a business multiple times. I am doing fine on my own, so I don't know why family are refusing to listen to me about my health

Tracks

My mom does, she has a version of spina bifida also like me. I don’t think my other family members understand.

Leopuppy

Never my own mom has bipolar like I do and she doesn't know how I feel at all

OceanH2O

No, definitely not.. they always tell me to "get over it" and tell me it's not bad like I say.. sometimes I just think about how they'd feel if they were me.. nobody has the right to judge. You're all amazing and beautiful the way you are!😥❤️

faerywyrm

My family finally realizes how bad off I am, after 20 years. Now I am a burden. At least they'll pick me up for Christmas.

MaryLemon

Nope. Even some family members with the same condition will tell me to talk it off, or it's not that bad, mind over matter... Bs like that 🙄😒

MaryLemon

*walk it off

Levi_

Nope

Melissa28

Yes, 100%. I have dyspraxia and autism and no one understands how hard it is for me to do simple things like tie my shoes or walk. It sucks. I try to explain it to people but a lot of them say that I'm either making it up or that I'm using it as an excuse. There are people however that do show empathy and take the time to listen and try to understand my struggles on a daily basis and I'm greatly for that but I feel like unless you have what I have you'll never properly understand it.

Njade

Absolutely not. My friends and family are supportive and would understand but i just feel unable to express and talk about my emotions and struggles. I am very private especially with my family for no reason. It just feels safer that way. Even though there probably is no danger in sharing. I just hate feeling vulnerable about sharing things, even though i know theres no shame and nothing wrong with being vulnerable.

Ankysaurus

No not at all they have no idea they try in their own way to be supportive but end up making me feel worse, I literally have no close friends to talk to at all so end up feeling quite alone

hydroepilepic21

No, they just dis me all the time more my fam than my friends

Scampilou

NO!!!!!!!!

Locien

I think only a few friends have a good idea, but it's always been their decision to learn more and try to understand to the best of their abilities

VaehVaeh

Yes bcz we all have something in common lol

HiddenGem

No. I think my friends just feel bad for me and my family thinks I’m being too dramatic. It feels like no one is listening to what I’m saying and just hopes it’ll go away so they don’t have to say anything to me

ashbear2022

No. Even though my spouse and kids do attempt to understand (or at least they say they do), they don't seem to get that it is causing more emotional trauma to me that they are suddenly extremely unforgiving of my actions despite me not having much control ATM of them. Sommething occurred within me over the summer and long story short I had a 2ish month long blackout. I don't remember anything but a few monents here and there but still no sense of a timeline. Point being they blame me and won't let me forget that I wronged them/hurt them (emotionally) and they had to take care of me. Its like I'm living with semi- strangers and I am some sort of monster.

StarrKeats

no they just call me lazy but I have a chronic disease

stayfrosty

my girlfriend and my close friends definitely do, not so much my family except my mam. the rest of them just cannot grasp the fact that i'm 21 and can barely walk, let alone the mental health stuff

Rory_

Sadly, no. Amongst my family, I am one of the only ones with such a complex medical background at such a young age. The only other person in my life whom I know has just as many ‘issues’ as me, is my grandmother, which is expected with age. I truly do not think my family + partner understand or could ever comprehend the daily struggles I encounter, nor the overbearing sense of shame that being labelled as disabled at age 18 (that was when I was first written off as disabled by a GP, I am now 21) can bring me on the days I feel severely low. My family are also fairly emotionally closed off, more so there for practical/physical help opposed to emotional support. Which doesn’t help, but I take each day as it comes and have understood I need to be my own support network.

allymwa

definitely not. i think they so so greatly underestimate how hard it is every day and because i have mostly mental health issues, it’s even harder for them to grasp bc its not like a universal experience such as physical pain

mjn13

no, it’s difficult for them to understand especially when they say i’m just being lazy but actually it’s because of my adhd

lazydaisy

Not really, but at this point anyone who tries to understand is enough for me ❤️

Peechii

My mother is starting to try and understand and i havr one friend who is very considerate and understands as much as she can without experiencing what i do but everyone else in my family and friend group think im lazy and annoying and looking for attention and milking it or being stupid. Its not a nice place to be in but its lovely to have at least 2 people willing to understand and its such a relief and so overwhelming (in a good way) when they actually do seem to understand or accept you cant do certain things (even if you can at other times)

beccabeme

Family yes .. husband no😥

Boat

Kind of

SuicideShrimp

Not even a little bit

Gnomia

Only my best friend because she is going through it too. Everyone else… “you look healthy, I’m sure you’re fine.. it’s probably just mental” 🤮

Athena80

No. My cousin has depression but she always ignores what I say and tries to act like she's the only person who can be mentally ill in our family. No one understands me.

SecondChance

No I am in so much pain. I would never wish this upon anyone😥

illdothislater

I was raised with enough toxic positivity that i know if i share anything like that with my mom she'll just say something like "you can't let this stuff get to you!" or "you can do anything you set your mind to!"

anniev

absolutely the same for me

anniev

Nope. They say it's all in my head

Cookielady

No they don't get it at all 😥

Nicoratboy

My friends do my family doesn’t

sarcasmic1der

I have some friends who don't get it but totally empathize... I know my kids don't understand but they see the pain so they try and help. My parents absolutely do not get it. My husband tries but still is pretty clueless. I feel very alone feeling all of my feelings

JJ_Likes_Bees

My friends understand all of them and accept me, i only need to explain the DID to them

Harli

I feel that the friends in my inner circle do, but I don't feel like my family understands at all.

mthebrave

Parents have the most understanding, then friends then some other family but even I feel they understand and then suddenly, they don't. I've had friends say my illness reminds them of trauma with their parents, get angry and guilt me when I can't physically help them, doctors gaslit me for 7 years and my sister said I was wasting my life and I'm pathetic when I was bed bound before I was diagnosed, exes have split up with me when I haven't been able to be present due to being in hospital. They just don't understand it because it's hidden but even wheelchair users are misunderstood at times, people really just don't understand till they've walked in your shoes and that's why meeting others like on this app is helpful :) PS. I have ankylosing spondylitis it's a form of arthritis

Wheezy_Painful

I know they’re trying their best to understand, and with my chronic pain they’re very helpful and do anything they can to make me comfortable and relaxed, but with my autism they do very little to help me out in moments of meltdown or sensory overload and even sometimes tell me to ‘get over it’

Denotchka

No apparently not.

Kaislyn

I feel like some try more than others, but no one really understands. I don’t think anyone ever will though because it’s always so complex and difficult for them to understand sometimes. What I go through I don’t think people fathom is possible sometimes for someone to go through.

kk062001

definitely not. my family has no clue. they think i’m being dramatic or I have a low pain tolerance.

ceruleanstar

Ha! Absolutely not!

Semiz

Mine do. My wonderful support system is what keeps me going, my boyfriend especially. Everyone who I'm close to is very understanding of my mental illness and tries to help whenever they can. I'm very lucky to have them

TraumaHarley

I feel like they don't. My uncle is on meds and sees a psych and all that but I feel what he forgets is not everyone's trauma or life is the same an not everyone handles theirs the same... So I feel like even tho he should understand, he really doesn't. Which sucks cus it's like being hypocritical of someone with like issues as yourself, and he feels like he helps when in reality his steps are his and mine are mine and they are not the same, just simply alike. Bitter sweet cus I wish I did have him to lean on.

sageblanl

Nope. I explain to them that social interaction stresses me out and that's why I become violent and agitated, their solution? Send me to group therapy.

Gaz

Depends on the disorder. Autism - no one in my family is diagnosed but me, but a lot of my family members are... what's "fruity" but for autism instead of being gay? That. My partner is almost definitely autistic and is working on nailing down a diagnosis. ADHD - Two of my siblings have it, so they get the basic gist, executive dysfunction, hyperfixation, the absolute drain on spoons it can be sometimes, but other times they're less undderstanding. I also have friends with ADHD I can speak with who will get me. IIH - NO ONE. My parents use my disorder as an excuse to try and guilt trip me into losing weight. Dieting made me miserable. It made me want to [redacted]. I would LOVE to meet other people with IIH. PLEASE.

StarrKeats

definitely not

Joany

It's been 20 since my mother brought me to this world, and no other family member has known me better than she has. She knows me better than I know myself! ❤️ But sometimes, It's not a matter of who knows you, it's a matter of knowing someone else who's been through the same things you're currently going through, or have personally been through. There's a difference in receiving support from many of your loved ones, and finding just one person who, not only gives you support, but becomes your motivation to keep pushing forward in this world, knowing that you aren't physically or mentally dealing with your condition alone anymore 😅❤️

lucyj90

Not at all. They say they do. But I've overheard them talking about me saying I'm lazy and I don't try. But no e of them realise how hard having Fibromyalgia is just to do daily things add depression and anxiety into the mix and it can immobilise you entirely. They have no clue how hard it is just to get out of bed somedays and because of this I push my self to my limits to try and be normal which takes its toll 😥

Pain_Warrior89

it's horrible when u hear thing. My dad didn't but the phone down properly n him n my siis were talking about being lazy waste of space etc... after 10min I hung up cus I cudnt hear anymore.anyone would think I like and asked for my chronic pain an other things. To my dad ill never live up to my sister he even treats our dogs differently that it makes me not want kids (found out I cnt have them now anyway

Saviiii

I feel like my mom understands my feelings and conditions the most. I know my dad tries but sometimes he just doesn't understand.

darklover

No my cousin's and aunts and uncles try to fix me and say that I am overdramatic but my parents and sister always understand 💕💕

Kupkake96

Not at all…

lune_mermxid

I feel like they don't really understand until they see first-hand what I'm actually going through. For instance, I can't tell my mum I'm feeling depressed; I have to experience the depressive episodes for her to finally get that maybe. JUST MAYBE. I'm not actually doing okay.

Bombus_Flavifrons

Really only my stepmom and even then I feel like she's mostly projecting her own experiences with chronic pain. I asked her for knee braces because I think they're pretty bad but she says they aren't bad enough for that and got me a cane instead. Most every is respectful but I get so many questions about my cane and why I'm rarely in class and it's infuriating.

blue_hearted_rose

They're trying. But they really dont get it, mostly because they don't have the same cocktail. I think my mom is the absolute closest, but we still differ within our conditions so she's never gonna get it 100% right.

upsidedownsmile

I feel like no one can understand and no one really knows how bad its been but when it's really bad I'm in denial and when my depression isn't as bad I'm scared to tell them about how bad it can get. They know I'm depressed but not the extent of it all. It's lonely and scary

moonlit_shiv

I don’t think they do fully understand, and I think it’s better this way. They know enough to understand how best to support me, but not more than that where it becomes an unnecessary burden in their well-being.

Melancholyghosts

My dad does but I don’t think my partner fully understands that it’s a life long condition and they will have to be my carer if we move in together

Abigailborja

Not really 😕

J.ess

Not in the slightest

aminapp

I don't think anyone can fully understand what you're experiencing. With my family, I avoid speaking to my parents about my mental health because I know I will get responses that are misunderstanding and/or negative. I have learnt not to dislike them because of this, because I know they come from backgrounds and life experiences where they were raised with different teachings and thoughts of mental health. Yes, sometimes I do wish they would put in the effort to understand, but that is a losing battle. With my siblings I find it easier to discuss and through the years I have seen their response to certain circumstances be a lot more comforting and understanding. With some people it requires patience and the understanding that it takes time for some to learn and understand how to provide you the best support. I have friends who are empathetic towards my circumstances, learn to understand my mental health and are always prepared to listen to me when I am struggling. They also have their individual mental health circumstances they are dealing with, which allows the whole relationship to be more understanding and empathetic. And because I have that support I am so grateful and content that. Through the years I've also had professional help, which has guided me to deal with certain situations better and understand & deal with my behaviours and thoughts better. Sometimes it's not your family who can be the ones to support you. I know that may be upsetting to think like that, but it is sometimes looking at who else is there. Sometimes it's family, sometimes it's friends, sometimes it's a stranger or someone on an app like this and sometimes it's professional help (and sometimes it's the latter) 💕

KayNF

Yes and no. Sometimes they understand stand and others they don't understand what it is like.

Rueuwu

Yeah they definitely do they’re so understanding :)

AnxietyGirl79

Not at all, especially my family because they are emotionally abusive towards me every day, I'm trapped with these people and have no way out

FS_cookielove

I felt the same way, tried calling the cops and my mom told them I was crazy and needed to be locked up in a mental health facility

Sarahaap602

I used to be like this I recently got my own place and it has helped so much it’s so hard when ur there and everyone says it will get better and it will but Ik how hard it is to keeping going until it does I’m always here if u need a chat 💕

Geegee9

Never ever 😥

theresa24

No 😥

Dominemors

Nope

AriaS

nope

FS_cookielove

Absolutely not

Tips

No remotely

Redvelninja

No don't think in the slightest they have any actual idea. They think they do, but they don't. When I ask to try to meet me in the middle, it's like they can't because apparently to them I have to meet them in the middle but they don't have to. So frustrating. So I just don't even bother them.

Sarahaap602

They try but I think it’s hard to try and think about how it is to live in my shoes as they can’t imagine the pain and stress and I out of a brave face constantly so sometimes they can’t even see anything is wrong

EllySmelly

Absolutely not. My mother routinely tells me to just get my license even tho I'm legally blind... She has also expressed that she believes suicide is selfish. My brother is Bipolar like me and he doesn't get it either. The only people I can actually talk to about medical stuff is my fiancée and my friend who also struggles with the same/similar conditions as me. It's hard being a spoonie and having invisible illnesses tbh.

moonlitforest

My fiance and I are constantly battling against my family. Hers has become more understanding but I think there are still things they don't believe. My family on the other hand calls us lazy, that we mooch of others and that our pain isn't real because we to young to understand it. And that if it's not medically diagnosed we don't have it. My fiance and I both deal with invisible disabilities and it hurts a lot knowing those Im supposed to love, don't care.

AnnikaS

My mum surely tries, but especially the fact that I still need to be careful with Covid makes it hard. My family lives in a different country so I’m visiting very rarely and need them to be careful as well while I visit, but mask slip a lot, are just „being forgotten at home“ or I get constantly asked „can I take it off now“? It‘s just frustrating and it’s making me really anxious during visits. My boyfriend however really gets it.

Josephine2356

No, but on some level they do. They don't understand chronic illnesses but they definitely try to be helpful

ickyichthyosaur

People act sympathetic and all but I still can't talk about anything. Even my purely medical conditions, hypothyroidism ties into lithium as a possible cause which I'm on for chronic suicidal ideation. When I say I'm autistic people picture the polished and selectively shared version they see on TikTok then get all [surprised Pikachu meme] when I can't always talk or keep up with hygiene or I have meltdowns or get stranded downtown or get stuck on basic social things or have incontinence problems from low interoception, etc. Also my dad's side can be rather transphobic.

bubs34

Eh, some of them share my mental conditions. But others just say "it's a hoax" or things like that

Ziggy_B

Absolutely not. I think they think they do when they get the slightest taste of anxiety or depression but they don't. They don't deal with the tons of stuff that comes with it.

Squire

Most of the time

immanentlight

Fiddlesticks

No. I’m expected to be perfect and do everything as the oldest child still living at home. My brother can do anything or act however he wants and it doesn’t matter. Even though I struggle with so much and he doesn’t

Littlemisssickness

Not really everyone still expects me to do everything a well person would do x

Arianwen

Absolutely not!

Fernoooo

No, I find some family deliberately try to ignore my chronic health problems because it’s uncomfortable to think/talk about. It does really annoy me though

dinky23

Not at all. I think some of them try, and maybe understand parts of it. But one person in particular doesn’t even try, and honestly tries to downplay my conditions any chance he gets. It is extremely frustrating and hurtful.

Angelbabz

Hell No! 😥

JessJesse

Nope

Keisha

depending on the condition, yes. i share a handful with both my family and friends.

Jennifer81

Nope 😥

Jaejae

Shebear13

No idea

justdoingmybest

My health problems stem from my family history, so I guess they understand, I just have the ultimate mashup of their issues. The problem is that they don’t seek out help for themselves, so it’s hard for me to do it for myself. My family sees chronic pain as normal, and I’m still learning that so many of the things I experience are abnormal and resulting from my health conditions.

SuicideShrimp

Nope my dad once told me if I wanna die so bad I should just do it

betsybetsybetsy2021

I am so sorry. That must have hurt. Glad you didn't. 🫂

Misanthropic

No. They basically tell me to get over it and life goes on🥲

avian

no. my mom has always been severely chronically ill, but even she never believed me about my symptoms growing up.

Zebragirl

No, they don't like me to talk about it. They don't understand and don't seem to want to. They want me with abelists on MY health and care. My mom has her own set of physical issues and is the kind of person that says "just be positive" when I talk about my symptoms meanwhile she's always talking about hers

motor

MerlinTheWizard

No. I got my mom saying. "Oh, people just get sad sometimes." When I have suicidal thoughts. And I don’t know what my parents were thinking but takeing me out of school and just putting me in a playroom by myself while they worked did....sometimes to my psychology and self image as a person...... I like to think they at least thought they were doing the right thing. But if "school is a prison" then that playroom was solitary confinement.

betsybetsybetsy2021

I relate strongly. So glad I had school. Later in adults I had people who thought I needed more solitary time. I am great at self-reflection. I need a peer group of others with the same goals and similar experiences. I hope you can find the same.

LynnKenzie

Nope, not a clue. I try to explain it to them but they don't think it's that bad.

betsybetsybetsy2021

No, the people I live with tend to make up their own stories and add stuff to mine that isn't relevant. My search history isn't usually about me. Sometimes it is for a friend. Sometimes it is for a freaking crossword clue. I belonged to a group for older adults and I looked up a picture of Hitler to reference the atrocities... I am perfectly capable of speaking for myself but few let me or give me space to speak.

SEVIN

NOPE

KittyGreen

Hahaha no hell no I hear a lot of "oh sometimes my muscles hurts to" and "I have sad memories to"

Trudie_tootie

The ones that would have all passed away. . The rest make me feel like I'm a burden even when I don't ask for anything.

Pain_Warrior89

yea I get that

SecondChance

Have I said no to this.....well it's a no from me Simon

AmethystRain

Not at all

MerryHell93

Some do some don't and I think it's really difficult when my family continuously forgets I need help or adjustments I feel like they don't care even though I know they love me 🙃

jh51racer

Not the slightest bit , it’s a battle just to get out of bed.

ThymeTea

Somewhat but not really

Skippyskep

Just my oldest sister

Fawwn

Nina716

Some do, some try to and a few don't even try and think I'm lying about how I'm feeling.

thestinkmaster

not really. my mom has been recently feeling bouts of anxiety so she kind of gets it now, but im still misunderstood for the most part even with my paper diagnoses.

Ealex44

No... even my boyfriend sometimes will surprise me with his ignorance, and he's the most accepting person in my life.

Pain_Warrior89

Not in the slightest 2 out of 3 don't believe it

Pain_Warrior89

I can be screaming on floor in pain and my dad's lines is 'do more exercise'

Knees

No, I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and one of the main things I struggle with is my joints dislocating. I don’t think my family began to see these symptoms of my illness until I got a concussion from my knee coming out and falling in the shower. More recently, my family has seen my Eds get more progressive and have better learned what it is like. I think some of them understand but definitely not all.

Mommaspoondani

Absolutely not! I think they try their best though. I spent years trying to get my family to truly know what I’m going through- but it’s impossible. They never can truly understand chronic illness or pain being able-bodied. They can sympathize but not empathize. But Ive discovered that their validation isn’t necessary for me to feel confident in my skin and conditions. I took the time to grieve my old life and the desire for pure understanding. It’s very lonely at times but family can support you in so many wonderful ways without understanding the pain you experience or what you go through.

BlondeGirl1216

No. They can try and sympathise but they never truly know what it is like. Sometimes people with the exact same conditions struggle with understanding how you maybe feeling. No one person experiences things the same way as another. It takes time for everyone to adjust after a diagnosis. The biggest thing to remember is: Be Kind, to yourself and those around you. Its not always easy but just as you are grieving losing your old self and accepting the new 'normal' they are adjusting too. Sometimes I want to scream at my family/friends, comments like "Just keep your head" or "Oh aren't you looking well" drive me mad when its taken me everything to get up and dressed. But they are trying to be supportive and trying find something anything to say to make me feel better. Their intentions are to support me and comfort me and I know when I need them they will be by my side. Its just hard on everyone but without their support it would be a hell of a lot harder.

avocadocherry

yes. i think my parents understand because i’m 18 and living at home and they see it and experience it with me too be honest.

avocadocherry

but of course i think its very difficult for anyone to understand it fully unless they have experienced it themselves

Flowertulip2340

Nope not a clue not even my partner understands fully. I think your best judge is always yourself.

Birdies

Not at all, I stopped talking about my health to mostly everyone

Memeoid

No, unfortunately they really don’t. 😞

BeeMarrie

Partly , my dad tries to be supportive and understanding same with mum but my sister has no idea

BeeMarrie

Its like she judges me constantly

IndigoBro

I come from a family who is very ignorant about mental health and it is very stigmatized. No wonder everyone is suffering in their own cycles. We have very limited vocabulary for describing emotional experiences, which are mostly invalidated. If you asked them “how do you feel” they would get confused and not know how to answer most of the time. I know I still start describing events when people ask me 😅. Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD = “It’s all in your head, get over it”. Signs of weakness. Gender = what’s in your pants. Trans people are crazy. “Stop pretending, be honest with me” “you’re not being honest with yourself” So no, my family has no idea what I experience, and if/when I tell them they don’t believe it. I feel sorry that they fear emotions so much. I try to educate myself and then slowly educate them.

Pinkdreamer

No. They tolerate me but do not have a clue what I live with every day. Sometimes they just get irritated with me.

TheNewNormal

I wouldn't say they understand but for the most part they are respectful, work colleagues/managers on the other hand 🙄 Everytime I'm told 'oh I've had a bad back before, just grab an ice pack out of the fridge' or 'ohh I have to go to the toilet alot, it's only about 20 steps from ___ you' ll be fine'... I could scream...

teiovex

nobody will every truly understand, they can’t, but I know how much they understand because they see all amd go through it with me. these conditions we have… they can and do affect others in our lives (not implying a responsibility/ETC) and it’s crazy to be connected like that.

WitchyWoman89

My friends try, my family though not even close. I have a small circle of friends and my bestie understands what I go through better than any mostly healthy person really can.

Demon

Most of my immediate family is disabled but so far no one truly understands even if we have the same conditions. I have far more than anyone I know and they impact eachother. I don't think anybody really knows how hard it is for me to get up every day or meet deadlines. Some of them try...but most just don't care because "I have the same thing and I'm fine" but it's not the same...because it's not just 1 thing its every condition all day everyday...

SizzleNickel

Not My Biological Family

Coraciidae

I think the people I'm truly close to do the best they can to understand, but most people that are really close to me don't have chronic conditions.

CraftyMama

Considering I have so many of them.... Not at all. It has an impact on socialization, relationships, mental health. I've taken an interest in the medical field and have been mistaken for a nurse only because I could articulate what I had going on with me. I can't use that knowledge in the industry though... because of my conditions.

MarVell84

My ex couldn't understand my conditions or how they affected me

Ashcookie

My grandma no but my mom and dad yes.

Redvelninja

Not really no

Kelso9344

My best friend? Yes. My family? Absolutely not

011_Eleven

No. Not at all. And no amount of explaining will ever make them understand.

zozo131

My mum understands quite well as she has the same symptoms but my stepdad thinks I’m lazy/cba but is completely the opposite with his daughter, who has similar problems to me. It’s like he tries to d***-measure between me and her. My two friends understand pretty well but I try and push through it when I’m with them because I don’t want to be a burden on anyone, especially them!!

Boos_mum

My adult children do but my mother doesn't.

ImTlc

Fibromyalgia is hereditary in my family and affects my mom, brother, sister, and son. But the rest of them either don't try to understand or care, they just think it's my excuse to be lazy and get attention!

HocusFocus

I hear that. My family told similar stuff for years and dismissed me. Said it was my fault my stomach constantly hurt or something. Now that it's been diagnosed they're sorta trying

reallyrocks

No. Was disowned.

HocusFocus

I'm so so sorry. I'm here.

JustJessNess

I try but they will never fully understand. No one can unless they have experienced it.

Nicole_J

Kinda

Larry_Larrison

HocusFocus

Hahahaha that's funny. HELL NO.

purpleSheep

no & they don’t make an effort to either

MarVell84

Hell no ❤️

RedMeerkat

Absolutely not

LilyUnicorn

My husband never understood my migraines until a few years. They had that commercial on that said if your migraines are like this.... It really scared my husband then shortly after that we were at the dr office and we were looking at the mri of spine which is sitting 2/3 out of a lineament. Nobody understands my nerve damaged spine and organs. Or the severe daily migraines

thestinkmaster

nope ❤️

SuccinctAbilities

My literal physician parent doesn’t believe any of my symptoms, even after being hospitalised. There’s some folks you just can win over, and that’s not on us. Still sucks, but I’ve found it better to put effort into relationships with folks who are willing to understand and care about my well-being 😌💕

Pinkdreamer

Not at all.

ClaireAngel

Hubby yes, everyone else...no 😢

The_MothMan_035

I do but I dont.. I'm not 100% sure they /understand/ me. But I know they love me, and even though sometimes it's harder than others. I know they'll support me, even if they don't understand.

Scoutie

Not sure

sarrosieposie

I believe my partner and aunt and uncle do. My dad spent 4 months with me in a different state to under go treatment and I believe he gets it now. My mom is starting to get it more as she's seeing how fast I get a rash or hives to the smallest things. I've also been showing her subluxations and asking her if things look even. It's made a big difference

Annye

No. My husband says he understands but yet gets annoyed when I need to rest, or I am feeling more sleepy than usual. Doesn’t understand I need extra rest in order to feel better. My mom and sister think I’m just over dramatic and don’t believe in my conditions. They all think I’m just taking my meds for “fun”. This is why I joined this group. Because I know no matter what I post I won’t be judged and I can vent on here if I want to. I Can talk to people who actually understand and are going through similar things.

ZebracornV

My family is pretty agreeable, which sounds nice but also means I don’t know how much they understand or believe my symptoms vs just being nice. I tend not to talk about it much outside of my nuclear family and am constantly notice when their minds start wandering to other things. I get it though. I’m certain I have responded the same way to others before I understood the struggle. It’s really hard to understand when you have no comparable experiences.

Q31525

no, but they’re trying their best to understand me. so A for effort.

MashedPotatoBrain

My partner is very supportive, however, she sometimes struggles with my mood swings, but that's understandable. My daughters help me when I have a seizure, even though it can be very scary for them seeing such a thing, my eldest has done some research into different seizure disorders in school (she's only 12), in an attempt to help me through it all, my (autistic) 8 year old though, she gets me a drink when I come around, she helps in her own way and it is really good for the after seizure dry mouth. All in all, I'm in a really good place for support, even though these days it feels like my girls are caring for me when I should be the one caring for them.

UnknownGalaxySystem

My friends do, and so does my partner. My family I don't think should know.

Rizbit

One does, but the rest don't. 😥

FreyaB

No no I don't think they do or will until they experience it for themselves. 😥

kateafranklin

My boyfriend is so accommodating and understanding. He doesn’t understand my situation but wants to help in any way he can and I love him for it. He’s truly a blessing. It’s hard because we are long distance and I wish we were closer!

PickleNew

Not at all they just scold me and tell me that I need to change. It makes me mad.

PickleNew

Or they try to "fix it".

LaurenRomero

No I’m the only one in my family with all these problems and no one knows how I feel.

Marmie

same here my family isn’t supportive at all makes me worse xx

Sissy2

My family understands my issues they all have their own medical problems

Hotwheels

Not even close. They think they understand because of their own conditions, but they do not understand.

BbyBunnny

My family tries but I don't think they have any clue, whenever I speak about any of it they respond in a way that shows that they think its not even close to how bad it actually it. They mean well and they do try to understand, but they don't fully. My friends happen to be chronically ill or deal with chronic pain as well. So I can tell they understand to some extent, but only with some of my symptoms. But they try and understand the parts that they don't experience as well too

PhoenixValkyrie

Some. But certain ones don't understand how treating mental health with therapy and meds is just like treating any other medical issue. Which I think is why some of them struggle themselves.

DogWhisperer

My parents don't understand or care at all. With the pain I'm in on a daily basis, some being worse than others, I dont want to be out of bed. Standing doing dishes or making dinner kills me. Sweeping the floor kills me. Other days I'm ok for just enough time to do one of those without it completely wearing me out. My anxiety and depression and all my mood disorders make it hard to want to get out of bed at times too. One day I want to stay in bed, the next day I'm eager to help. I don't pick and choose which days I want to feel good. When I try to explain it, all I get is oh come on, give me a break. Or I hurt too you know. I've seen them in pain. Never knocked to the floor from sudden shots of sharp pain, or flung to wall because your back spazzed so bad it jerked you. Or your hip/groin area give out and you barely catch yourself on the counter. All of this and more and I can't get disability. I was also told by a damn Dr before that this is normal for a person my age!! Im only 43! I have also lost strength in my right side, which I lean on more than my right. Told that by a dr as well. With my physical and mental issues, I can't work. But it's normal. FML

AngieBear1025

No I don't think they can even imagine what I go through. I was born with birth defects of the kidney from my birth mom using drugs while pregnant with me. I get infections constantly and the bacteria gets resistant to the drugs so I have to wait it out and suffer. They will never understand 😥

Len

I don't think so. It's hard to grasp the condition capgras syndrome alone, even more so in someone so young. Most people just try to avoid talking about it because it's kinda crazy honestly.

FaeFlower

Not at all and I don't really understand them either. I think its more frustrating with my mom since my adhd is a recent diagnosis that i am learning about as well

SuccubusOnWheels

Luckily I feel that my mum understands really well, as she has fibro herself now too... it took her a long time to realise how much pain I was actually in, and that I wasn't just "putting it on", but once she realised, she was a lot more understanding and caring about it, and made a lot of effort to learn about my conditions and how they affect me. My partners are also absolutely wonderful at this, and they listen to me so well they know when somethings wrong before I do most of the time! - they can see just from how I move whether I'm in a lot of pain or not, and they do their best to take care of me, even when all they can do is be with me through the pain xx💕 It is possible for people to understand or at least try to understand what you're going through. And if they don't want to learn, they aren't worth your time and effort to teach them - your energy is much more worthwhile elsewhere xxx

Scarletteve

To an extent they do but sometimes they forget. Sometimes I wish they could spend a day in my shoes

thepatrynreader

Absolutely not

Harley100719

Not even to the slightest bit

doremy

nowadays, they’re learning. it took a long time for them to realise the severity of what i deal with - even now i’m sometimes labelled as “lazy” and such. it helps that my mother has chronic illness too, and whilst we don’t share the same symptoms necessarily it does allow us to empathise with each other more.

Chrissyposi

Not one bit

Marmie

They don’t care !

Babegirl2012

My family accepts it because my sister is a Nurse RN

Karrieanne73

Nope not at all. My kids like to pretend nothings wrong with me. And my boyfriend likes to pretend he understands but he really doesnt

QueenBee90

Literally NO ONE understands and I've died trying to explain over and over, I cry everyday about this. the thing is they need to understand so they can support me but its gotten so bad I've just given up and isolated myself and suffer in silence and sometimes they make symptoms worse and don't even notice or realise . My kids don't understand at all my son is starting to help me a little more as all he sees is me stressed out or upset but thats a start, my daughter is special needs so she may never understand bless her. ive literally spent a whole 6 years of my diagnosis telling everyone,l close to me trying to explain what its like and how it affects me, screaming out for help & having breakdowns. Its changed my life i had to leave a job i loved, and completely change my life around due to fibromyalgia, im literally telling them everyday what it feels like so much that's all I talk about and it's making me feel even more depressed 😔 ugh... that's only scraping the barell right now

LexaPeach91

My friends do their best, and some of my family sort of get it? But typically no, most people have no idea what my individual experience is like.

mummyof2

No! Not at all I'm just lazy and need to grow up, I no longer talk about it because of the criticism and negative remarks people make.😥

TattsCatsNaps

Sometimes - now they’re diagnosed they “have to” accept it if you will. Defiantly now it’s official. My friends are more understanding than my family. Many of my friends are also neurodiverse and we understand each other really well. I think my family dont like that many of my mental health concerns are caused by historical trauma - many of which they contributed too. They understand the physical health - but don’t take responsibility or like to recognise mental health struggles (e.g. PTSD).

MetalheadRobb

Honest answer my parents nope never really have and my partner actually uses it against me and makes me worse 🙃

Pastel_Elf

Family, yes and no, certain things they understand, others, they don't. Friends don't understand the full extent of it, either

100p

Yes my mom has a veryyy good idea of my conditions because she loves me a lot and always analyses my lows and downs, my medication regimen etc… i am grateful. Honestly it helps when it truly loves you and wants you to be better

pandamoose

No not at all

Thymee

My best friend yeah since we're both autistic, depressed, anxious, etc. I mean obviously it affects us some kind of different ways, but my family definitely doesn't understand at all

DrakellaEuphrates

No, but then agian... Somedays I can't believe I am living.

thrillsnchills

They have no idea and think I'm making it up.

MangoPoptart

I got everything FROM my parents. My little sibling is also on the spectrum and my older sibling is autoimmune. 😄

florals.and.fatigue

My dad is starting to get it. I think he's surprised that I can be bedbound on occasion. The rest of my family are used to me complaining about my conditions though lol

Rustyrobot

Some of my family, mostly my mum and dad, have chronic illnesses, and some of my friends do to, but no one gets it, no one has my exact combo of needs and symptoms, and it doesn't feel like anyone really tries because they have chronic illnesses so they feel like they do get it when they dont

lonelypotato13

Partly, but my exs parents never did and thought i was useless and lazy

elvendork

I don't tell my parents about most of my symptoms

Liffy43

I try to hide it when I am in a lot of pain with my back. I think everyone would get sick of hearing me, and about how tired I am x

phaed

no.

LofiBeanie

Friends who gave similar conditions understand a lot more than my family does. I wish it was easier to help them understand and accept that I struggle with things rather than making me feel like a failure for having trouble with things.

SueLaBear

I think on a certain level, yes. But in other levels? No.

Overcomer

No most don't but I can say only two does because they both has their own conditions. We talk about it how if one is not going through one will not understand

Overcomer

It can be a cold experience

LeonardMartin

Absolutely not. Most of my family is convinced that my genetic conditions(one of which my mother has) can be cured if I stop using my phone and exercise more. All of my diagnosed conditions are incurable and degenerative.

Dusty7850

Absolutely not.

GraveKeeper

Not even a little

HighlyMagnified

My family sure didn't. I have the highest degree of anyone in my family (master's), and I became homeless because I am not able to stand all day and couldn't get responses to my applications for desk jobs. My mom's attitude was that I should have majored in STEM even though the teachers discovered that math was a struggle for me as far back as second grade. I excelled in other things and was in the gifted program, so it wasn't treated as as big a deal as it should have been given the state of the economy this century.

hydroepilepic21

No, they say they do but I don't think they do

HiddenGem

11mo

Definitely not. I try to hide my feelings but I can only do so much. I think that people know I’m struggling but don’t understand how seriously.

ProudDuck

11mo

Most definitely not. I have autism and many allergies but I don't feel like I'm understood.

Zebrapotato37659

11mo

People tell me I just need to exercise or rest and I’ll feel better. But it’s chronic 😂 as we all know it doesn’t just go away by resting or exercise which can flare up your conditions. Some ppl are in denial

ikigali

11mo

nope

destinni

11mo

My mother does because she suffers from the same issues but at the same time I feel that makes her slightly unsympathetic to mine because if she can cope then surely I must be able to. My friends don't really know, but I feel like they would understand more than I think they would.

wheely_kismet

9mo

No I'm constantly having to explain

Overcomer

7mo

I hope so

idk83

7mo

Fuck no and they have no empathy for me they all hate me and it shows.

gbowie981x

7mo

Hell no....if anything all they do is judge me tell me its not real I'm attention seeking....!!!!

luke95

7mo

✋✋❤️❤️

luke95

7mo

😥

missey217

7mo

No. Nobody in my immediate circle knows. I've had to explain why I'm on my diet and why I take so many medication/keep getting switched to different meds so many times. The most that happens is people will say I'm being a drama queen. No, I'm not. I'm in constant pain for various reasons.

Tony51

7mo

I don't think anyone understands how it feels to suffer from depression apart from people that also have depression

Jay13

7mo

My mum does because she has the same stuff. It's all hereditary 😂 My dad and friends not so much. My friends have just one of my many conditions and they think that they are in so much more pain than me but I can't do most of the stuff they can. I brung up my pain once and they ignored me. They talk about their pain all the time and I can't

DancingDragonflies

7mo

No. I also don't often share what I'm truly going through. The 24 hours a day of pain, fatigue, and feeling sick... I keep a lot of it to myself.

mizzcali19

7mo

same here too sadly

mizzcali19

7mo

Nope it's sad that family thinks we can just ignore it and push through it. I feel nobody will get it, or understand what we go through unless they go through it, but dealing with this mess I don't wish this on nobody. Anxiety, dizziness, panic, headache. Scared to move etc....

shady89

6mo

Most of my family understands\wants to understand zero. A few exceptions who seem to try to relate though.

Pumpkin4649

6mo

Absolutely yes, but took him 2 years to understand. Even family members are not able to understand because I myself didnt even understand it and still don't have answers to many whys.

warriormama

6mo

When my husband and I stared dating him I told him a bit about some of my conditions and he spent an entire weekend researching them so he could have a better understanding. So he does because he makes the effort

Cat501

6mo

I feel that my gf and best friend are the only two that have tried to understand my BPD and what's it's like to live with. My gf is learning with me, and my best friend researched it a few years ago when I told her about it. Other than that, people are just aware that I have it and have misconstrued views on it because of stuff they've heard.

QuwnnLadyJ

6mo

✋ they understand. I know that they know when to stop too.

Viking1879

6mo

I would say when I got diagnosed with autism my senior high school. Family members on my mom's side of the family started to get it better understanding even myself.

ChelleyBelle

6mo

😥no clue at all do they.

Teriyaki9Chicken

6mo

Not really, although my condition is quite mild, but my dad and my brother keep telling me I'm wasting their money when I ask to go to counseling 😥

justmee29

6mo

Not even a little.

MeRiCa

6mo

😥 nope ... And they don't care to try either

kj11

6mo

No they don't understand me at all

CassAnne

6mo

No, not at all.

_Rat_

6mo

Nope! It’s too tiring to even explain why but they most definitely don’t understand.

Willowtreeblues

6mo

Lol no.

ole

5mo

Not alot of times when my body is not cooperating or pain or fatigue..sometimes I don't understand neither. MY HUSBAND wants a solid diagnosis of ms, had stroke and lesions on brain Nothing on spine and have all the symptoms, but can't help docters timing. Which have good docter Just wish my husband would be patient.

Sav989

5mo

ArdieBurns

5mo

No. From the few glimpses of normalcy I've experienced through medication, there's just no way they could even imagine it.

OnlyRhinoSD

5mo

To an extent, my older sister is actually the one who first noticed I have adhd but my family still doesn't fully understand my issues 😭

Amtayan

5mo

Not really. My dad always says he understands but he never acts like it. My cousins and my aunt do to an extent, same as my sister.

jeannie1953

5mo

Really don't think they care.thats why I am alone

Noir

5mo

Their first responses are usually dismissive as if I am just working myself up. I usually try to tell them it is more than that. That they are lucky not to be overly self aware.

Overcomer

5mo

Only one person understands or tried to. Some are supportive but they just supportive and don't really ask questions. The others are in the their own world. The few who thinks they know are the most hurtful because they don't ask and they don't understand how their behaviors or what they say are damaging

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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