some ‘friends’

I don’t know your age but I’m guessing mid-teens. Unfortunately people mock and make fun of mental illness, that is until it hits them close to home (someone close or even themselves). Mental illness is a disability. I hope that your ‘friends’ wouldn’t laugh at someone in a wheelchair, someone with Downs Syndrome, a stroke victim and how it can affect motor skills and speech, and so on. But, your ‘friends’ may think that they are close enough to you to be able to poke a little bit at you in harmless fun… friends can do that to one ago and mean nothing by it. If you genuinely think that they are doing it out of malice (and not friendly gestures) you may want to consider your friendship with them. If you feel that the jabs are friendly in nature you probably should make them aware that you are uncomfortable with it as it clearly bothers you. Same applies even if the jabs aren’t friendly in nature.

I know of someone who has bipolar personality disorder. He will admit that it was a sensitive issue with him but he has since been able for move on from it and actually make fun of himself. So I’m told he has a poster in his office saying something like “I hate being bipolar. It’s awesome!!”. Something like that anyhow. It took him a long time to get there, regardless of your diagnosis I hope you eventually find the ability to be comfortable with it. … it’s not easy. I’m still working on it for myself.

Mental illness is very common and possibly becoming more common with the increased complexity of life and society. Statistically, it affects approximately 20% of the general population, most likely more. Don’t feel like you’re alone in this. You may want to reach out to a school counsellor too… that is what they’re there for among other things.