Feeling so isolated. Anyone else feeling the same?

I am ok. and going to sleep soon. its great your daughter is doing music. Mandolin is cool. So is songwriting. I am not teaching much at the moment ... getting into my own creativity.

cheers

@pip hence the " if it doesn't $%##me it will make me stronger". I also have to mention that some people seem like "it is contagious". I can also accept that many people have too much on their plate to talk to a depressive and feel obligated to do more for them.

So many reasons. They can plead ignorant, but it is advertised and it is like the lung cancer/cigarette moments in time. ok that we never knew before it was proven, but hey! where has the person been that they don't know now.

Where I live, there are people who have conned the Gov. so that they get paid for sickness benefits.

Even parents who use their kids with adhd and even if they haven't got adhd, so that they can be carers. the kids are trained by word or suggestion to act up on cue. People who do this are sick, but who get away with it. Yes I have witnessed it myself from people away from home and the kids are acting normal, until they find out where i live and then the cue to act up.

The world is getting more confusing every day. bye for now.

Hi Bridget,

Just a different perspective for you.

I read an interesting book with a section on this subject. It identified 3 main points relating to our relationships.

1. Family and friends are not going to understand, especially if they have never experienced it themselves. Even if they have experienced it, they are not you so they don't understand what you are experiencing.

2. Our nature is to try to protect others from our blackest moods and times, usually by withdrawing so we don't drag others down with us.

3. Our family and friends won't see that we are withdrawing to protect them, they tend to think that we consider ourselves above or better than them, and dont want their help.

Bridget I found this out to late, so now my family is gone, as are my friends. I had become an angry isolated person and have spent the last 4 years reprogramming myself. If you get the chance, read chapter 1 of the book The mindful way through depression. It has helped me and may help you as well.

Don't be afraid to try again with your family and friends. They don't get it, but if you are around them, even sometimes with your happy face, they will begin to enquire. If they are friends and family, they care, they just don't understand.

Bridget, your mother probably desperately wants to understand you, and subconsciously we put up walls to protect others and ourselves. You could try giving your mother a big hug, and tell her that you are thankful that you have her. Then go softly and gently so she can have an appreciation of your circumstances and state of mind. Note, I dont say she will understand, because she won't. She will however begin to appreciate things, and as long as you tread softly, she will likely begin to ask you about your state of mind, and how you are feeling.

I hope this helps

Hi @Patriot3734 Thankyou for thinking of me.

I agree that family and friends cant understand what we go through, because we are all different and we all react to situations differently.

My reason for withdrawing is for various reasons. I'm embarrassed that I still struggle with my health and have for many years.

I got tired of being the one that ALWAYS made the effort to keep in touch with friends.

Withdrawing from my family is way more serious than them not understanding me. It goes deep and involves a lifetime of upsetting events, which is part of my struggle with PTSD. I hope that I become strong enough to be there for my aging mother sometime soon, and one of my siblings. As for the other siblings and their families, I cant see any reconcilation happening in the near future, especially with one of them. My trust in them has gone.

I am withdrawing from them to protect myself.

When I become stronger I will attempt to make new friends and hopefully be able to be there for my mother and one of my siblings.

Thankyou for taking the time to message me @Patriot3734.

How are you going?

It was another person on here that replied to you last night, @PUP. You replied to them, thinking it was me.

Hi @PUP It is very sad that your mum isn't there for you.

Do you think that you could talk to your mum and tell her that you need her. She might love to hear that, perhaps she doesn't realize that you need her.

It sounds like your mum isn't coping. Not sure why. Maybe it's her own issues, or maybe she feels that she's failed as a mother and doesn't know what to do or say. It's difficult for me to say, as I don't know you or your mum.

I hope that you will be able to talk to her and tell her how you feel.

I look forward to hearing from you. I hope that you can work things out with your mum.