[peacedove]

Have you told your parents, sisters, etc. about your DP? If so do you think it is helpful or does it make things worse? I tried explaining my DP to my family when I was about 8. I asked something like " do you ever feel like you're here, but you're really not? They laughed. Then I tried explaining to my best friend... she didn't get it either. So I gave up for awhile.

Then I tried explaining again... not to my family, mostly just drinking buddies... cuz I tell my whole life story when I'm wasted... some things better left unsaid. They don't understand it and just kinda brush it off. My boyfriend knows though and I think he understands better than most but still that doesn't help much cuz there's nothing he can do.

My parents know I have panic attacks, but they don't know it's caused by the DP. They don't even know what DP is. I'm pretty sure I should keep it that way. Cuz like I mentioned with my boyfriend... what can they do?

 

[fingertingle]

My parents don't know.
My friends don't know.
Just a bunch of strangers online
My best friend is the only one who has any idea that I'm even remotely screwed up.
I think I'm probably going to keep it that way too.

 

[orangeaid]

It really can go both ways I tell my parents and theya re pretty understanding people. It all depends on what kind of people they are, do you think they will support/understand or blow it out of purportion and disrgaurd you have it something like that.

I would say taht the best way to go about doing this is to get your parents sit down and try to make as many comparisons as you can. Use simlies, DP/DR is like this and dp/dr is like that. Try to make it as easy for them to relate to it so they know what your going through, so they have a clear understanding of what is happening.

 

[cesart]

i told my parents and they were fine with it...i gave them the link to this site and it really helped them understand where i was coming from..although i do think that dp/dr is something you cant understand unless you've experienced it. my fiance, though he is supportive, just doesnt get it. he tries bless him, but he just cannot comprehend any of the things i tell him. if your loved ones love and care for you, they should accept what you're saying even if they dont understand. i think this is why i wanted an official diagnosis..to make what i was saying more 'believable'. this is a difficult one...but you know that there are quite a few people online who know how you feel! let us know how it goes if you tell them...cx

 

[widescreened]

If youre parents are understanding people,tell them.It makes you distance yourself from being an actor all the time and starts you,in fact forces you to be more honest about yourself.If you think it will frighten them,give them a more watered down version of your situation.If they are not understanding folks,dont bother.Rows and misunderstandings makes a bad situation worse.

 

[cesart]

i agree widescreen...i think its a good idea to 'test the water' first before you go telling people how you feel. although this really bugs me. if i had a well-known health problem people would understand and make allowances for it..but stigma is another post i think lol...

 

[agentcooper]

i have just recently (within the last year or so) been telling people about my dr. everyone has been really supportive. my family is trying really hard to be very understanding about it. my brother has said that he sometimes feels dr as well (which is horrible and i hope it never gets worse for him!)...but i think that if your family loves you, they will try to be supportive.

 

[livinginhell333]

pretty much my whole family knows and most of my friends. some think i'm putting on a act and trying to get attention. but this is not something i would try to get attention out of.

 

[Kelson12]

As time has gone on and my DP continued I told more and more people. First I just told my parents. But as time went on and it never went away I have told most of my friends as well as my immediate boss here at work. The reason I have done this is because there are times where I just don't want to be around people and just don't feel happy and its not because of them, it's because of how I feel.

Most people are really understanding and supportive, but I know that they wonder why it hasn't gone away and wonder why I've had it for so long. I wish I knew.

Kelson

 

[sleepingbeauty]

my mom is really good about it. she tries. at times she gets frustrated with me but she has accepted that i have real problems that will never be fixed and she has learned to be patient. My dad is a completely different story. he knows about it, but he will never accept it. he thinks its everything from me feeling sorry for myself to me needing to just 'be a man and get over it'. first of all im not a man so i have no idea what hes talking about, and secondly if it were that simple, i would be happy, well adjusted and successful and i definately would not be a self medicator living a big fat lie like him! :evil:

 

[Milan]

Family and some friends know.

I had to tell a couple of people at work because I began leaving the office at odd times without giving reason (because of anxiety). They started tormenting me, calling me slack and lazy so I had no choice. But it turned out to be a good thing as the company and my boss' were really supportive. I was lucky. They could have sacked me.

 

[livinginhell333]

yea sometimes people think i'm rude, or not nice, or mad at them or mad at something, or something is wrong. like if i don't talk to someone or don't have a conversation with them they take it as i'm mad or don't like them, when that isn't the case. its just the way i am. if only they know. like my mom keeps telling me be nice, don't be mean and i tell her i'm not being mean, just sometimes i prefer not talkin. i say hi and thats it.

 

[Guest]

Hola gang,

I don't tell most people in my family about my DP. They already thought I was "strange" without any medical, mental or emotional issues. But then on the other hand, perhaps it would give them an explination as to what goes on in my head. However, trying to explain DP is hard enough (as you all know). Nah!!! I'll just keep everyone guessing, It's interesting to let them draw their own conclusions.

I wish you well,

Tony