Hi Wpirwill... yes, I know what you mean about the fear that someone will find out. I told my Dad a while ago, when my official diagnoses was "bipolar", and haven't had the guts to tell him since my diagnoses was refined to schizoaffective. I just can't find the words for it. So I sit and listen to him tell me that I should come off my meds, that all I need to do is pull myself together and lead a "normal" life. He's said that "melencholia" is "an oddly self indulgent" disease... as though I chose to be as I am.

Never mind...

But yes, I understand the fear. I had to ask a mental health professional to mediate between me and my landlady, and I knew that once my landlady googled the organisation that she'd have questions ... and sure enough, she phoned up, because the organisations remit is to "provide support for people with severe and enduring mental health problems." My landlady doesn't have to know exactly what's wrong with me... but I'm so annoyed that now she knows there is something wrong. I live in the English chocolate box village of the gossips...

So, yes... I know the worry of being "outed." I'm not ready yet to go out there wearing a pink triangle or yellow star, but I can see the courage of those who do.