@Oaktree 

Hi Meggle,

Just read your intro, tho' we have spoken on other threads on the forum. I was intrigued by the response of your Mum and Aunt, who seemed to respond to the diagnosis of BAD as somehow meaning that you were now (at that time), as a result, somehow different, to the point that "now you will never do anything with your life" and "we should put her in an institution".

I have very much enjoyed reading your observations and responses on various threads. We can, as you have described, "live the best life I (we) possibly could (can) with this (whatever) illness" that we have. We can contribute in meaningful and productive ways, among the people with whom we share Illness and other challenges. We also, often apply our gifts in ways that contribute to the functioning of the wider community.

The issues that we have had, do now, and will face, give us insight, that others often are not aware of, and have difficulty conceptualising, even when they may be dealing with them in their "normal" world.

It is really quite amazing how often the "childhood trauma as I grew up in an abusive household" issue comes up in the forums. I think it is also surprising that people often say that "I thought everyone else's life was just like mine".

Many of us still have difficulty addressing those previous life issues, often not so much because of the issue itself, but we still don't wish to take resources from those, whom we may perceive, need them more than we might. Sometimes, I believe that we also have adopted the idea from others, that we are over dramatising the effects of whatever issue that we are addressing. Consequently, we tend to try to minimise, or understate the issues that we face.

In a similar way that you have done, I dived in head first and then came back to an introduction. My thinking was that it would be by immersion that I would learn, and hopefully understand, aspects about where I have been, where I am at now, and where to from here.

Very nice to have 'met' you and I look forward to our interaction, with others, here on the forum.

With Best Wishes

HenryX