verbminx

Actually I said I can't stand to be around my cousin because it upsets me too much. Why? Because we grew up together and I remember how she was before the mental illness set in and it hurts. Not to mention her family completely messed up any chance for recovery because their attitude was 'it's just an illness, let's move on' like it was a one time cold and not a life-changing situation. You really don't know me or anything about my life so I am laughing at everything you've posted about me here and your response to what I said. My parents and I spent several years trying to deal with the aforementioned cousin and helping her parents cope -- they're the ones who ignored the situation and acted like nothing had changed. They pushed her into a million and one situations (including a huge overblown wedding) that set her off and then blame it on everything from a bad batch of medication to allergy pills to the wrong phase of the moon rather than on the stressful situations that set her off. After a while, you can't be anyone's keeper, esp. if you're not wanted. I'm a very empathetic person and it just plain hurts to know you can't make them better or as verbminx said they "could be one step away from another break" at any given moment. My parents are both clinical psychologists who worked in public schools for 40 years a piece as well as private practise. I'm well aware of mental illnesses and people who suffer from them so don't give me this high and mighty attitude, please. Next time ask before you make accusations.