My bipolar girlfriend and my family?

I am looking for suggestions or strategies to discuss with my family so they are more accepting of her illness. The way things are currently they basically have stopped associating with us due to her unpredictable behavior especially if she has been drinking.
They act as if her behavior is just her being rude, obnoxious and disrespectful. They would rather not be around her.
Any suggestions?

Hello. I moved this to the "Significant Others, Family & Friends Forum", where it is better suited.

I will also address your request, as I have had to deal with this issue having had Bipolar Disorder for decades, and, in the past, I self-medicated by drinking or using drugs.

It is difficult for people without mental illness to understand that the brain is an organ just like any other in the body. And thus it is susceptible to illness or damage just like any other organ. But unlike any other organ in the body problems with the brain can cause changes in behavior and that is where people like your family seem to stop understanding the fact that the brain is an organ and switch to the idea that our behavior is outside the function of the brain, something we can easily control.

It is easy for them to understand that when someone's skin is yellowing they are suffering Jaundice. Or if their hair is falling out they are suffering baldness. And so forth.

This "disconnect" from the idea that when a brain that is suffering it can cause changes in behavior is one of the biggest problems we have in society today, regarding understanding mental illness.

I would try to discuss it with them from this point of view. Make comparisons of different places in the body that are dysfunctional and how they could easily understand those things (like the liver and Jaundice) and then discuss how the brain works in much the same way (illness and then changes in behavior)

Naturally, this is a simple comparison but maybe simple is what is needed.

Good luck.