Sad to hear that life has been difficult for you but I am inspired by your ability to persevere. We have found that education is the key to getting help and improving relationships. We have spent enormous amounts of time reading books and articles often only getting one or two things from each. Can I suggest that you read all you can with a discerning mind, ignoring the stuff that you know will not work for you. It is also good to focus on stay well material ie strategies to keep well that are not just “take your medicine”, essential that it is. When we changed focus from trying to find a cure to trying to stay well we really made progress.

Hope that helps.

Anna

Thank you for your informative and hope-inspiring posts and comments. I was raised in a severely abusive home with molestation, physical and emotional abouse and my mom’s early death from cancer as well as the institutionalization of my sister as a result of her cry for help against the molestation. The tragedies don’t end there, but since I was twelve, I have been diagnosed with the following:
PTSD, OCD, Severe depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and several other “labels”. I have been seeing the most wonderful therapist for thirteen years (I am now 45) I take Zoloft, seroquel and valium. I have lost my mother, sister and two brothers to cancer and my father is drinking himself to death. My son, now 25, has gone through severe trauma himself, at times aggravated my my own mental illness and alcoholism (recovering since 1988) I am so grateful that my therapist has insisted I drop all “labels” from myself and recognize that for what I’ve been through, my symptoms/reactions are perfectly “normal” As I’ve been able to accept myself, as I am, willing to change and be changed at all times, a tremendous amount of healing has taken place. I have never been in a successful intimate relationship and this is one of my dreams. I can’t explain to my friends, family or “dates” my “problem,” because they simply cannot relate. I have been on disability for 8 years, after completing several years of college with a 4.0 g.p.a. I have been an overachiever for most of my life, but have never been so sure that I know less each day of my life than I thought I knew. I hope to be able to afford a copy of this book as soon as possible in hopes that my family and loved ones will take the time to read it. I have given up hope that they will understand, but I’d like to understand better myself, for the sake of my son. My husband “left” me in 1988 as a result of my mental illness (he continues to call me “crazy” I ran my own business successfully for years, and I am a published author. However, for almost a decade I have been to “sick” to work, shop, visit friends or at times even leave the house. I question the mental health professional(s) who have been treating me due to the variety of “diagnoses” and MANY medications over the years, since I was twelve… mellaril, desyrel, halcion, ambien, zoloft, seroquel, valium, xanax, prozac, and many others I can’t remember off the top of my head. (sp on all?) I have tried “quitting” medication several times and have been held on four 5150 holds in my lifetime, the last time for 28 days. The state was going to “conserve” me. I am unable to get Medical without an almost 500.00 a month share of cost. At times I go without food to get my medication. Please give me any advice and encouragement you might have regarding myself, my son and those who don’t understand us. So many people have believed, and still believe, that I am a “strong” woman, but I know just how powerless I am over the emotional tornadoes that have, and could, wreak havoc on my life. Thank you again for the posts, please send me any literature you have which might be helpful to me or my loved ones. God bless you and keep you while we trudge this road to happy destiny…intended for ALL men, women and children.

cathi