I had no choice... my boss was going to terminate me due to poor work performance, and my wife had had enough. It was actually my boss and wife that finally got through to me that I may have a mental illness. Still in denial but not wanting to lose my wife and my job, I went to a pdoc and was diagnosed bipolar 1 severe with psychotic features.

Once medicated, I did much better and my work performance came back up, too. Then I threw out my meds, back down I went. Then took them again after being diagnosed schizophrenic. Then threw them out again. Then took them again after a final diagnosis of bipolar 1 and BPD.

I wanted to describe this to give you an example of what not to do if you are working- take your meds.

As far as telling your boss and/or coworkers, I would keep it to yourself. Although my boss and coworkers have been very supportive, I am seen in a totally different light now, and it is not always positive. If I get a little energetic, I am manic. If I am focused and stern faced, I am depressed. Stigma goes hand-in-hand with mental illness, and does not work in our favor at all.