Have you ever been villainized by your family because of your mental illness?

Question

I suffer from a multitude of mental illness and I'm tired of being made the villain in my family. One of the things I suffer from is severe OCD that controls my every waking minute. I worry about a lot of things, including the people I live with and the germs they bring into the house so I spend more than 5 hours a day cleaning and washing my hands. Some relatives won't come over to our house because they say they don't want to upset me. I don't like to go out into public to be with people or my family so my family says I steal their life from them and it's my fault they're miserable and stressed out.

Does your family not understand the war that goes on everyday in your head? Do they not understand that you're forced to do things against your wishes? That YOU'RE the hostage?

Answer 1

My family doesn't want to talk about it, which bothers me but nothing to the extent that your family is doing to you.

Mine understand what is going on to a good degree in my head, because they have much of the same thing, just I'm willing to get treatment.

Answer 2

While I cannot imagine what it would be like to suffer with the severe OCD, it can't be easy to be around someone with it either. Some family therapy sessions would probably help a lot.  

Answer 3

My kinda question. First of all, I'd like to say that you are very brave to admit having severe OCD. It is one of the most debilitating illnesses of all. It is too bad that you still have to live with your family, I'm guessing you're young. After reading your question, the only thing I can think of that you really need is love and acceptance, regardless of what you have. I hope your family will rethink their attitude towards you and accept you for who you are.

Yes, in my family as well I am the villian or "black sheep". I was diagnosed with a mental illness in 1997 (I was in my early 30's). Neither parent came to visit me in the hospital (I was hospitalized for several weeks) and for the past 11 years, my parents have not called me or come to visit me (I live an hour and 1/2 away). They actually believe that I am insane and refuse to treat me as a family member now (info provided to me by my sister - she does keep in touch). Here is the ironic part. I was born with this illness because my dad and older half-brother both had the same illness. The first half of my life before I was diagnosed and treated professionally was a nightmare. My family does not understand the war in my head, nor do they want to. And yes, I completely agree that those of us who suffer these illnesses are hostages - for the rest of our lives. I hope you can find some kind of common ground with your family. Best wishes to you.  

Answer 4

wow your family sounds like a******s. i know how you feel, i had ocd for a few years and i would wash my hands literally until they bled.

if you family cant sopport you should talk them into group therapy with you or just **** them. if they dont understand you then thats their fault and you shouldn't have to be alienated because of it.