My partners family are awful

Hey there @Littletink_, I'm sorry to hear the outlaws are being awful to your partner. My own family has alienated me due to my mental health conditions and have told me on many occasions that they are not interested in my mental health. I've tried to educate them by sending them books and resources, but they were returned to me unopened.

I've therefore hit upon the fact there are only certain things I can discuss with them now. If the worst happens and I am hospitalised, I do not discuss this with them. I talk about things I am doing well (like study) rather than how my disability affects my life. I do not talk to my family much at all, but that is more about them than it is about me. They aren't in my life that much. My major trigger is my Father, as he runs very cold towards me and just when I think life is going well, bam he will call and throw my life into turmoil again. These days I choose the communication form, which I have chosen as email. I can choose to answer or even to read them.

I'm not saying your partner has to cut contact with her family, rather, perhaps she could choose how to communicate with them. Sadly I've discovered you can't change other people, all you can do is protect yourself so you aren't easily damaged.

It's a hard road, I'm not going to deny that. I am not completely alone though, I have my Mrs and she is like my rock. I think we understand each other because we both live with MH conditions and are able to support each other. My Mrs has family who doesn't accept her conditions and ridicules her too, so we have a level of understanding with each other.

The fact that I have had no family support for most of my life, in some ways it gets easier with time. The emotions aren't so raw anymore. Yes, I still get thrown especially at Christmas and Birthdays, but you know, it honestly does get easier as the years go by. I don't shed tears anymore over loneliness and despair or even anger. I have to accept it is what it is.