Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

Fair or fair weather?

Barniecle October 12th

My sister and her husband were not there for me during a very difficult time in my life. In fact, they found reasons to be mad at me, even when they were at fault for things. Years later, when I brought this up to my sister, she acknowledged it and proceeded to explain that her husband sees mental illness as"disruptive" and "inconvenient." I got the sense that she was really speaking for both of them but was just putting it on him.


I'm still torn on how to feel because, well, mental illness is those things, but aren't you supposed to be there for someone you care about anyway? It really seems like they care very little about me.

7

@Barniecle. It’s a hard situation for sure. Unfortunately it can be hard to get support for mental illness from some friends and family members. I think that there is still a lot of stigma and misunderstanding around mental illness. 

hopefuloutlook October 13th

@Barniecle  Bringing it out after years and this doesn't help anyone, in fact makes things more frustrating which has clearly happened. I this suggest to accept your sister and her husband the way they are. Many people are not accepting of mental health  sadly and we cannot force them to change.

1 reply
Barniecle OP October 14th

Strongly disagree. When we stand up for ourselves, it helps us. I do not think we should accept bad behavior.

load more
goodSpruce3041 October 13th

I know the feeling. All through my cancer drama, my lone living sibling ignored me. If I wanted to talk, I had to call HER. No call, no birthday or Christmas card, nothing.

She's suffering from Alzheimers now.


SERVES HER RIGHT.

1 reply
Barniecle OP October 14th

That's awful. It must have been so lonely. Was she always that way or did it change when you went through that?

load more
starryCandy6123 October 14th

Barniecle

it is very difficult, for some people, to either see or understand our conditions. They would rather not be seen to understand, because their friends may not accept or understand. They may feel that, if they accepted you, that they may be seen differently, by their friends. It is easier to blame and judge rather than help.

belami2024 October 14th

@Barniecle

Barniecle hope you find solace and courage in yourself at this time.