My wife was/is a great help, since she worked with MRDD and dualy-diagnosed adults. She is aware of what I'm going to go through practically before I do.And she holds me accountable, always challenging my behavior.
My parents, however, weren't as accepting. It wasn't that they weren't supportive, or loving or caring; they simply denied what I was going through. When I explained what I had done, or was experiencing, their typical comeback was, "Everybody goes through that" or "Don't worry, everybody does that". They were concerned about me, but they seemed to be concerned over the fact that they might have done something to cause my illness. Over time, they stopped playing the blame game, and then we could address the issues.
Don't let their lack of acceptance and support undermine and minimalize the fact that you are mentally ill; you are missing a key chemical in your brain that needs to be there. It's no different than a diabetic needing insulin, or a person with high blood pressure needing Coreg. Yet, we never hear that "a young man killed his parents" in a rage probably due to his diabetes, or high blood pressure. No, they always seem to be suffering from a mental illness of some type, which probably has as much to do with the outburst as being diabetic or having high blood pressure.
As hard as it sounds, you may need to stand alone for awhile (as far as family; not counselors, friends or support groups). Take care of yourself, take your meds, get the exercise and rest you need, and give your family time to adjust. More than likely, in very short order, they'll be standing right with you.
Remember, you'll never be totally alone; God will always be there.
Good luck, and may He bless you.
