There is still this huge stigma around bipolar and it doesn't help the way the termp gets bandied around in frankly offensive and inaccurate contexts.

In college I had a coworker react just about as badly and inappropriately as is humanly possible when she found out but when the powers got wind of it (Dean of students, human resources, disabilities coordinator, etc.) she pretty much got her comeuppance and then some.

In the US you are entitled to certain rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I found it helpful to familiarize myself with it.

So I've been pretty careful since then about who I tell. I've found that the more peaceful I am with my diagnosis the better that goes because it either keeps other people calm or I just cope with their stupid reaction better.

Self education helped me a lot, as did writing and that mood chart that someone just posted a link to.