a) pdoc--everything--she needs to know what is going on with me to prescribe right meds--like if I'm having suicidal thoughts or getting paranoid
b) therapist same as above. I've given permission for them to talk to each other about me so they both know how I'm doing. My internal med doc knows because the hospital had her on record as my doc & reported my OD to her. I didn't know the hospital would do that. Even if the hospital didn't report it to her, she could tell I was obviously depressed cuz I started crying in the waiting room & had to ask the receptionist to put me in a room. There was no room available so I went into a storage room until the doc could see me. Plus she is treating me for low thyroid & pernicious anemia--both can cause depression & she needs to know all the meds I'm taking for the bipolar to maker sure there will be no drug interaction when she prescribes something. OBGYN knows--again crying when he asks how I'm doing. At least he didn't get on me about my weight gain this time. Amazing how crying will affect a male doc. He did a quick exam & didn't say anything negative to me--maybe I'll try that trick when I don't want to be lectured about my weight. I'm trying to lose, but it is really slow going.
c)family--immediate family (husband, kids) know of my dx of bp, but I try to hide when I'm down so as not to bother them with my moods plus what good does it do? They can't get me out of a depression. They would just worry, but sometimes I can't hide it like when I have crying jags or start getting suspicious of my husband.
d) don't have any friends other than in my supposrt group so I can talk openly with them--they don't get freaked out if I'm expressing intense emotions.
e) employer--no way--he wouldn't understand & might start looking at me funny--I did have to lie once at work when I had a crying jag--I said I was upset because my brother got into a motorcycle accident--had to explain my tears some "rational" way.--Suzy