Posted by Margie on November 4, 2001, at 18:03:59
In reply to when they don't understand, posted by sar on November 4, 2001, at 16:32:51
Perhaps it scares him that you are vulnerable to an illness. Is it possible that he idolized you as some kind of super-hero type of sister and now is just afraid and can't deal with your vulnerablility??
It's like when we see our parents for the first time as people. Not infallable, perfect, super-people but as humans with frailties. It's quite distressing for some.> how have you dealt with immediate family members who don't understand the nature of the beast? as if you've "chosen" to be depressed or bipolar or schizophrenic or what-have-you?
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> my little brother (age 21) avoids contact with me, won't look me in the eye or speak with me........i think that in his eyes i'm simply "crazy," lazy and crazy that association with me would...what? i don't know what's on his mind. maybe we're just opposites? that i would taint him in some way? that he resents having a nut for a sister?
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> it hurts because i remember us as kids, i remember being bigger than him and swinging him up in my arms...riding bikes together...playing in the pool...
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> i've tried discussing my conditions with him in simple terms, but he's pretty much unresponsive...
poster:Margie
thread:13464
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011025/msgs/13473.html