Hi @jshdma You bring up a challenging topic, at least for me. Luckily, I have not had to deal with anyone with serious mental illness in my family beyond the mental illness exhibited by my wife during her years (before) and during her brain cancer. When she was abusive it was hard, but we would tell ourselves it was 'the illness' not her. But that was a physical ailment, not simply a mental one. My father was abusive due to his alcoholism, also a disease. I never accepted his abuse, but I did get to the point, later in life, of being able to forgive him for it. I did many things with both my father and my wife to not simply 'accept' the abuse when it came. I'd leave the room with my wife at times and for quite a time I removed myself and my whole family from any contact with my father until he went for treatment (multiple times). With my father, I equated accepting his abuse to enabling, so I wouldn't do that once I was an adult. I was nto able to do that when I was a kid in the family unit I became a classic 'invisible child', while my two sisters each took on the role of 'wild child' and 'perfect child'. So the issue of 'accepting' abuse can vary I think, but I also don't think anyone should just accept abuse. We each must protect ourselves in whatever way we might be able to at the time and in the circumstances. Tough, tough issue, especially when the person is unwilling or unable to get help for their illness.

This may all not make much sense I fear!

Strengh, courage, and peace.