I regret making ourselves more known because I'm tired of people in our life treating us like we're insufferable pokemon.
"Just have someone else in there do it"
"Switch to someone who can take a joke"
"You're just a copycat of your friend"
I can't even express how all of these make me want to just shut everything from everyone and go completely isolated again. But I can't, close family and friends know, and while some are nice about it, most aren't. I'm sick and tired of having people disappointed in me because I "refuse to switch" or "am gatekeeping" THIS!! IS!! MY!! BUSINESS!!!!! Most everyone DOESN'T want to talk to them because of how insufferable it is for it to be what seems the pinnacle of mocking, it's made my entire demeanor super defensive, and friends alike. It doesn't help when people bring up other things, like my friends of choice who have (possibly) faked, the proximity between when me and my other close family member were diagnosed, and stuff like that.
I'm not asking for everyone to be all tip-top shape or even accepting of what we are, I just want to not feel exploited all the time. I really need different friends..