Posted by socialdeviantjeff on January 5, 2004, at 1:34:47
In reply to Feeling Left Out, posted by Bubbaleh on January 4, 2004, at 18:54:45
I feel your predicament. I have problems with social isolation myself. I can go for months without contacting my friends. It can be tough. I tend to do it out of a subconscious desire for "me time".
One thing that has helped me has been to be more open about my illness. Yes, there is a stigma, but according to recent poll, about 60% of the population doesn't see mental illness as personal weakness. This is just my opinion; The brain is an organ just the same as a heart, pancreas, liver, thyroid, gall bladder, etc. The difference is, the brain is the organ people need to use to interface with each other. This is what adds complications above, say, a poorly functioning pancreas.
I've been pretty open with others about my problems. I kep pretty loose contact even with my best friend, and my opennes about my issues creates a certain level understanding with the people I know. I've told many of my coworkers I have problems with chronic pain (a slight twisting of the facts) and only my supervisors know I have psychiatric problems. They don't even know the whole exent of it. Of course, I don't run around telling everyone I meet that I'm psychotic. It's hard to be open, but I've learned the consequences are easier to deal with than non-disclosure. As far as that other 40% who don't like our types, they can take a happy trip to h**l for all I'm concerned. This is what works for me, it may or may not work for you.
Anyway, enough about me. I don't like that subject much anyway. It seems to me that you may be trying to shoulder too much responsibility for what's going on. At least you have one good friend, a husband, and a mom who calls.
Sorry if this isn't very coherent, sleepytime pills are kicking in, I'm about to head into the land of Nod.
Hope this helps.
poster:socialdeviantjeff
thread:296467
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031229/msgs/296581.html