When do you give up on trying to communicate with friends and family?
I've been struggling with bipolar I my whole life but wasn't diagnosed until around 4 years ago. It was a huge "aha" moment, and pretty much everything fell into place in hindsight - the bad choices during mania, the extended depressions... I'm on meds now and doing much better, trying to get and keep my life in order. But my best friends don't seem to believe the impact of the diagnosis on my life. It feels as if they think all my actions and non-actions were my own choices. It's not that I don't want to take responsibility, but there are some definite periods of my life where my illness caused me to do certain things that they thought were "crazy" at the time.
So I've tried to explain time and again, even given them resources about bipolar, but they're not taking me seriously. It's gotten to the point that when I reach out, I don't hear back from them anymore. And that's hurtful — especially since I don't ask for special treatment. I try to be a good friend. It's not always about me and I love knowing what's going on in their lives. But nothing I do seems to make a difference.
Has anybody else had any experience with this?
@conscientiousPalmTree1026
First of all props to you for finding the help needed and staying in meds. Takes alot of strenght :)
Now I'm not bipolar however I can say the big majority of people who DON'T suffer from mental illness judge (can be BPD, depression, anxiety, etc etc). Because they aren't in people shoes and don't bother even questioning if they're wrong, which is very sad and ignorant.
If you genuinly have tried your best than honestly move on. Friends are people who are compassionate and caring. If only you care about them and they don't care about you, they aren't real friends are they? They seem rather closed minded. And obviously you deserve real good supportive friends!
Stay strong and trust me that real friends will come, but until then don't keep rude ones around because that isn't friendship
@Booklover95 Thank you for your insights. It's strange; I know I've been judged by these people for a very long time because of my past, and I had hoped that my diagnosis — which clarified so much for me — would help them understand, too. But you're right, if they don't respond then they're not real friends. Painful but true.
@conscientiousPalmTree1026
A professional disagnosed you, so is obvious you weren't acting that way before because you wanted.
I'm sorry though. I can see you're going through alot. But I promise you there's many more understanding and loving people out there, so don't cling to mean ones because will only bring you pain and sadness!
Sending you a huge hug :) 
When I feel it hurts me alot to do so
When I feel I will regret what I might say out of anger
When I feel communicating will do worse than make things better
