There are many types of functional thought. None are right or wrong. They often can conflict in complex ways. I didn't really start learning about this until my 30's and mostly within the last 2 years. My thinking is very different than my father. He doesn't understand very much on a fundamental abstracted level like I do. He is much more effective at just getting simple stuff done, but he hates learning, has no curiosity or self awareness. I remind myself of Hanlon's razor, to assume stupidity over malice, almost daily.

I think there are more of us here in similar circumstances than are not. I have to tell myself that my folks did their best with the info they had and their limitations. It is okay to be smarter than your family, yet know your own limitations. I turned to riding a bicycle everywhere as an outlet. When that disabled me after fighting and totalling 2 SUVs, I turned to electronics, programing, Linux, and in more recent years AI. I'm not doing great, but I'm not dead yet. I'd rather be alone with my curiosity than with stupid people.

I have Bipolar 2, and used to feel the same way; why wasn’t anyone helping me? I felt so alone, like I was suffering, but no one wanted to listen.

It’s because after a while, people expect you to get better. People who don’t live with mental disorders don’t understand the plight of those who do. They are not equipped with the tools that professionals have to help us.

Then I got on the right meds that gave me a “boost up”. It took a long time (years) for me to find the right NP who got me on the right regimen that enabled me to function and take that first step.

Ngl, It’s really, really, hard. There are still plenty of days that I come home from work and do nothing for hours on end.

Big factor of my stagnation was my heavy dependence on cannabis. Once I got off of it, I sort of woke up for the first time in years.

TL;DR: You gotta be the change you want to see in yourself. It’s not easy—at all. But you can do this. I believe in you. Sometimes meds are part of that change.