TMI thread. Discussion of sensitive ADULT issues/triggers. Enter with awareness!

[mezzoforte]

Whoa, can't believe I almost missed all of this. I only peer in on TMI occasionally, and when the convo turns towards bowel movements it always scares me off for a good long stretch Very interesting stories, Mark and Louie.

My cousin suffered from BPD until she passed away just over a year ago at 30, leaving her 3-year-old an orphan. It was terrible for all involved, but after hearing from my cousin's mom and sisters about the conditions she'd been raising her daughter in, I think her daughter is better off (now cared for by my aunt). Not saying that people with BPD aren't ever fit to be parents--I'm obviously in no position to make that call, and some can control it better than others--but my hat is off to anyone who's made it through that family situation.
My great-grandmother (still kicking at 97) is schizophrenic (we think, never diagnosed), and did such a number on my grandmother that the damage trickled down to my mom.

I completely agree with Mark's point about how presumptive it is for anyone to criticize someone for cutting off their family ("blood's thicker than water"). I've been talking about this a lot with my mom since her brother passed (her relationship to him and their parents has long been strained, to put it mildly).
Everyone wants to be able to draw love and support from their parents, but that isn't always an option. It's a horrible shame that not everyone can love their families, but it shouldn't be regarded as a failure. It's such a mistake for anyone to think they can see into another family--you just never know what's under the surface.