hi kelly

i don't have a mental illness, but i think everyone everyone has different personnas.

we have business ones...the let your hair down frienships ones...the hiding anything wrong one...

we have to be different to different people at times. it would be nice if everyone understood and excepted all and everything huh?

i have chronic pain. levels so high that i'm sure some would wonnder how i make it each day. my hubby...i gave up him ever understanding. so with him and my family...i never show any pain. i don't slow down. keep on keeping on.

i bet laura is going to really understand how you feel about this. i'm sure she will have advise on how to either cope with it to how to handle the reactions of people seeing the real you. you can't change other people.

but you do have friends here who will listen...and do understand. we like you and care. be who you are here. pretty cool huh?

Yeah, I know that feeling well. At every family get-together. Every holiday or birthday. I don't even try to communicate this part of my life to family anymore. I don't really blame them so much now, because I've come to realize that it's just beyond their capacity, without experience and all, to understand. Heck, I don't know that I'd understand myself if I hadn't been here through it all.

Good luck with your visit...

Well, I made it through my visit with my family........tomorrow I am visiting with a friend (who also has a mental illness) and so I am not worried about that one, but today was a good day, just tired of being around noise and a lot of people.....just got home, and I have just had enough, because my mom is constantly up me to do things "her way." She was upset because I didn't take a shower this morning....because I was "going with her and she wanted me to look nice." Whatever. I take a shower every other day and it so happens today was not my day. Well, I didn't look bad, just not up to her standards. Then, she was getting annoyed with my cousin (she can be a handful) and yelled at me when I told her she is just a kid. But aside from my mom getting on my nerves a bit, we still had a good time.

I'm glad your family visit went so well, Kelly.

And I hope your visit with the friend goes even better.