The only respite I have found is just explaining to everyone I date, have friendships with, happen to be related to that there are a few things that they need to know about me. ......I am sometimes "strange" , I am often 15 minutes late, I usually don't flake but may cancel plans at the last minute if I feel funky, I don't drink or smoke and prefer to spend my time finding creative ways to entertain myself other than "partying", Im queer, vegetarian, anti-racist, and probably crazy, and sometimes get really, really, really sad. My schedule is too full and I am always busy. My loyalty, honesty, funloving, compassionate, creative, laughter usually more than makes up for it.I Then, as our interactions progress, I will continually remind them of these things. Its interesting how well "normal" people respond to it. the fact that I know myself so well and am consistent about about being inconsistent seems to be unique enough to keep a few people around. This is a compromise, nobody acutally 'gets it'. I have yet to make freinds that really get it, that don't drink too much and/or seem to feed and enjoy the dark side of it all to a disempowering extent.

Jobs are a whole other shitty expereince though. Thats when I wish I just had diabetes instead.

Siiiiiiigh. For me, a large portion of my sturggle comes from this type of frustration. How in the *$#$%! do I translate/explain/articulate/educate others about something that I need art,music, and support groups to keep perspective on myself. I like what dllgrnt said about 'who is saying this, why, do I care, 'etc.  As many times as I have tried to end my life, I am not totally sure I would change it. I have a relationship with my "madness" that has given me many gifts. I must say, though, that I have had more difficulty coming out as crazy than anything else. I lost my family for 15 years due to issues of sexuality/gender & politics. Now we are talking again, and my mental health 'issues' are more of a taboo topic than anything else. People get so uncomfortable, don't find my humorous use of language (ie referring to myself as a little looney etc) entertaining, always want to make up some kind of strange disclaimer or excuse, or treat me like some kind of weird phenomenon. Its easier for them to think that I have some strange case of weird behavior or self indulgent dramatics than anything else. It's so contradicting. If my first suicide attempt at 11years old was due to some "weird thing" other than depression, wouldn't that seem more troubling? Not for some of my family- they would rather just "keep it simple" as they say and just think I am weird.....whatever that means. Its just too complicated for some people to understand unless they really have the motivation to do so. I am extreemly motivated to explore it myself and I still don't fully understand.  It still constantly amazes me that my conservative, country, "family-values" relatives hve come to terms with my sexuality but some funky brain chemistry and artistic expression confuses them so. They will just never understand why I can't just keep my front patio clean.....................................

More responses from the facebook side & resource suggestions:

First our South African f.book friend shared:

"What can I say about friends most have stuck by me at least I got a few really nice letters of recommendation to help get me back to work during the recovery phase.

Now I am working in mental health services cause without them, family and friends I have no idea where I would be right now.
Most of the people I work with don't have a lot of backup just the folks working in mental health services, very sad :(  "

AND THEN I SAID:

Thank you so much for your feedback, Alan. I was hoping that more people would respond with negative experiences actually, so perhaps we could type through, if you will, a potential solution for understanding...like it seems your friends and support network support you. Best to you.

AND THEN....HE SHARED THESE RESOURCE LINKS!

If one can become involved in the Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation that would probably go a long ways.
This is the format I am involved with/working at.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clubhouse_Model_of_Psychosocial_Rehabilitation

http://www.mhawestchester.org/social/sterlingclub.asp

Another link 
http://www.iccd.org/

Anyone else?  

Thank you so much, I.N.C. :) for your feedback about your condition:

>I dont blame my kids for their negative conditioning of mental illness, you live what you learn.

Whenever one of them calls me "crazy or psycho" ...

that's the moment where advocacy through education ~should~ take place and help, but as we can see from Joey's recent ABC interview...it almost seems like no matter what "we" say...you said: "[we can't blame others] for their negative conditioning..."  ...but we can continue trying to change and thereby eradicate the stigma.

I unfortunately inherited the "bi-polar gene".  I've come to terms with it, however my kids and their father have not (my ex).  They all believe I am certifiably crazy which amuses me because I've never put them in harms way.  If anything a little mania is good for the soul.

I dont blame my kids for their negative conditioning of mental illness, you live what you learn.

Whenever one of them calls me "crazy or psycho" I gently remind them that they are the sons of a "crazy psycho" and have a 50% chance of being a "crazy psycho" themselves. 

ROCK ON, DUDE. Advocating for nkm2+ at Hospital Gala tonight. I'm glad I got a chance to read your words before heading because you've brought up a very good point about legislation. Thank you for taking the time to say your piece and be and look for progression of the cause!

I can empathies with you about a million percent.  Having bipolar all my life, I’d take a high and folks would love me. Hit a low and I was abandoned.  So most of my life I was alone without friends.  My first marriage failed. My second marriage failed.  Finally I’ve been properly diagnosed.  I’m 60 years old now and about to embark on my third marriage. This one will work. 

Loneliness is horrible. I’ve even been in jail a couple of times. I’ve been to the pinnacle of success and the depths of despair. I’ve lost two fortunes (relatively speaking) and now I ‘m prepared to build my third. 

I have been beaten, pummeled and, figuratively speaking, left in the back alleyway a bloody mess.  But I have an attitude, and I’m not sure where it came from, that tells me I will always win.  And with that in mind I tell myself, next time I will not take a knife to a gun fight.  I learn from my mistakes, prepare myself for the next battle, put myself inside my adversaries head, understand his / her’s weakness or lack of understanding and move forward. 

The problem we are facing is that we can’t pass legislation to stop people from being idiots.  We can educate folks, but in so many people there is inbred or maybe interbred stupidity that makes them intolerant.  So the onus is on us to rise above and overcome such nonsense.

When someone hassles me, whether it’s because of my mental condition or not, I think to myself: 1) Who is saying this? 2)  Is it true? 3) Why are they saying it? 4) Who the frick cares?  So I do some cogitative exercises and come away a better person and the other guy just made a fool of himself, or if he was correct in what he said, he offered constructive criticism. 

David Grant