Over the past 5 years ive spent much time trying to explain to family and friends. Its not easy. In my experience the best methods i found were to use analogies and metahpors they they could understand and relate to. I try to liken feelings to those experienced on a more day-to-day basis.
For example i often refer to my anxiety as feeling the same as that horrid feeling you get before a job interview. Mine just comes for no reason and can last all day. People can seem to relate to that as most have been in that situation.
The other thing ive done is show my family the Stephen Fry Bi-Polar documentary. Infact i recommend it to pretty much anyone and everyone i see. I feel its one of the best if not the best MH doc ive ever seen. It can change peoples perceptions when they see famous and successful role models suffering. For some reason it can make it more real and accepting. I dont have Bi-polar but when Fry talks about the depressive side of things its pretty much word for word how i feel. Perhaps you may not feel all the same things but id wager there would be parts you could relate to and excitedly point at the TV and go "there!! that thing he said there!! thats HOW I FEEL".
I also understand how utterly exhausting it is trying to seek acceptance and understanding. Its sole destroying when the people or person you want more than anything in the world just doensnt understand. the feeling of rejectin is often hard to objectify.
Its not easy and i feel for you. Its the worst thing when you are stood there and the other person is virtually pleading with you to "just stop" ir "why cant you just do" or "cant you just this". The word "just" crops up a lot in my experience.
The more you can perhaps expose him to others inthe same boat the easier it will be for him to accept. well thats the theory anyways.
good luck x
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