Long time ago, 44 yrs. I was in high school. I started a number of fights, and to this day, there are people who still remember. It's embarrassing. At age 62, I was diagnosed BP so all that time, I never knew it. Had very few friends, two maybe. Told the two different ones I had BP; not seen them since, that's been a year or so. Mostly just stay alone which was easy because I lived alone in the country. My small town has maybe population of 25K. Wish it had group sessions, but not any within 50 miles. I do have a psychiatrist who I get medications from. They truly word well for me. I will never tell anyone I am BP. Looked up on Google, something like BP and public opinion, and it states in general there is a stigma against mentally ill people. All of them. It can also effect getting a job, and housing. My wife and her family are friends, but that's about it.