How & why doesn my mental disability alienate people from me?

Question

I always lose respect & friends based on my illness.

I meant to say DOES.

Answer 1

Don't let this happen to you. This is very common in many disabled people. You need to explain your disability to them. Then whatever they think of it, just ignore them. They have no knowledge of your disability like you do. You know about yourself more than those people do, and you should protect yourself from such people. Stand up for yourself. Be strong! It doesn't matter what people think of you. If they don't want to be friends with you because of your disability...then fine...let them be. It's their problem. You have every right to find the best friends you can find. :). You aren't any different than others, and have the same rights and deserve the same respect as anyone else on this precious earth. If they don't seem interested in being your friend, move on. There are millions of people out there who are in need of friends, and some who just don't care to have a friend or to make friends with others. Really there are.

Talk with your Dr about this too. They can help. Or a social worker that you know, or psychologist.

Answer 2

Well I'm sorry you have to go through so much! I have friends that are disabled and I think of them as any one of my friends that don't have disabilities. Other people are intimidated by disabled people no matter what the illness is. Its sad but true. I did have a disabled friend who was very bossy and lots of disabled people are bossy sometimes. I don't know why that is but I have experienced it. Ask your friends why they don't treat you the same. They may feel you use your disbility to disrespect them. Many disabled people do things like that. They talk about others and expect for them not say anything in return because of their disability. Then again it may not be you at all it could be just them. Don't feel bad about it! you will have many other friends. Re-examine your relationships and see why things may have gone sour. I wish you all the luck in the world and always remember you are God's child you are perfect in his eyes and my eyes as well! Good luck again!

Answer 3

People inherently fear the unknown.

Sadly because people do not understand the complexities of mental health issues. Even worse is less than 20 years ago people with a mental health issue, was not treated very well, and often locked up in institutions. This includes pregnant woman.

Some times we do push people away, when we feel they don't understand what we are going through, especially when, some well meaning person says to you "pull your socks up and get on with life".

Mental health issues can be caused from many things such a trauma (either physical or mental), on going stress, chemical imbalance in the brain, even drugs can cause mental health problems.

Fact;
One in five people will at some time in their life will suffer from depression.
Some are lucky enough to recover and never have a problem again, others are not so lucky.

Beyondblue is a fantastic web site that offers support & friendship to sufferers of all types of mental health conditions. Which I have found to be valuable and a wealth of information. Many people on this web site are from all walks of life, as well as countries.
Grow is another great source of support too.

Answer 4

I am a manic depressive with suicidal tendencies. That means I tried to kill myself 3 times. The first time I took pills. The only thing it got me was a stomach pump. The next time about 18 months later I tried to shoot my self. The gun worked good the day before at the shooting range but miss fired 3 times when I tried for real. The next & final time was 3 weeks later when I tried to jump from a overpass on to a 4 lane highway. I looked both ways before I climbed that railing & saw no one. But just as I was about to jump ,2 Firemen grabed me. Where they came from I will never know. That is when I finnaly got the help I needed. I went first to a STATE Hospital for 9 months & then to a private Mental Hospital. They finelly found out what my problem was. It went back to my early childhood. I am better now . I will be a depressive for the rest of my life. I do not take drugs anymore. I have learned what to do when I feel blue & sucidel. I reach out to my family & GOD. It has worked out very good forthe last 15 years. I hope it works for another 15. It is DAY by DAY. OH by the way I was married & she was by my side all the way. We have been married for 41 years. I put her through hell but she never left me.

Answer 5

Doesn't seem to affect your comprehension levels. NORMAL people are always "fearful" of things they do not understand and in general put up a wall "defenses." This generally comes in the way of criticism and prejudices to steer the disabled person away from them so they don't have to deal with them. I should know. I have lived with a mentally disabled spouse for over 22 1/2 years and many can't understand why a person such as myself who is college educated is with a person considered borderline mentally impaired or the cruel form used, "retarded." Normal isn't always what society puts it out to be as "I" find persons like this TOTALLY retarded when it comes to their treatment of peoples who can't help the ways they were BORN..................Ignor these persons who aren't good enough for the likes of you, for you are much better than they will ever be.............

Answer 6

As someone who has been actively fighting the United States Government since 1992 on the issue of disability rights, I know for a fact that people do not understand other people who are different for the "Norm." As someone who had the pleasure of being told by my sorry piece of sh*t U.S. Congressman Herb Bateman (don't worry he is dead:-)) on Christmas Eve, 1992 that "The disabled has no rights to live much less be granted the same rights as everyone else" I know exactly what you are getting at. Learn to ignore stupid people, go back to college, go to church, find your special place in life, and prove those ignorant people wrong. It will be their lose, not your's!!!!!!

Answer 7

People generally are afraid of what they do not understand. Try explaining to them exact ally what your disability is. As long as you are not a danger to yourself or others then it should not be a problem. However if a person is basing their judgment of you soley on the fact that you have a mental disability, then shame on them! You do not need those kinds of people in your life sweetie. Lord bless you....

Answer 8

People are instinctly fearful of the mentally ill and other disabled people. There's a primal subconsciousness that tells people that that person's disability is contagious, even though it's not. Or that they could hurt you. I can speak from experience dealing with a mild to moderate bipolar person that sometimes it is hard to deal with the way the person may treat you or interpret things.

Answer 9

Psychiactric or emotional disabilities often cause people to behave or speak in ways many people find objectionable--whether they should or not. About all you can do is work with therapists to learn how to minimize those bahaviors. And try to develop a circle of friends that will understand and not be put off when you do act "a bit off."

Good luck! :)

Answer 10

That's really hard to say unless we knew what type of mental disability you have, when my daughter was smaller i had a friend who's son had a mental disability, i cannot remember the name of the disability but it made him quite violent and aggressive, he would often just walk up to my daughter and poke her in the eyes and scratch her and scream at her, he would have these outbursts frequently throughout the day, and seem to have no understanding that he was causing my child pain, there was no emotion in his face when he did these things, obviously i have to have my daughters best interests in mind and so i cut contact with my friend when her son was around and limited my visits to when her son was in school.