I found myself feeling a bit like you, debating whether I should tell the people close to me. I eventually did tell most of those people, but it wasn't because I felt I should, so much as that I had to do it for me. I just found that I was constantly thinking about whether or not to tell, acutely aware that they didn't know, having to watch what I said etc. I found keeping it a secret to add to the burden of it, and to add to my personal stigma. I told people gradually and then at some point I just reached critical mass, and it no longer felt like a secret so I haven't needed to tell anyone since. Not all the reactions were great, but there's no one I regret telling.

I don't talk regularly with most people about it though, just my husband. But I know I can say when I'm depressed, or that when I've somehow ended up in Morocco I can freely say it's due to mania. It's not for everyone, but for me telling was part of my healing.