Hi BNLsMOM. I am glad you met someone nice.

One of the biggest problem in the world is stigma about MI. Everyone can have it no matter how nice they are, it is like prejudice.

So how do we with mental illness live in a world of people stigmatized by mental illness? Well one thing we can do is get to know other people so they will see how wonderful a person you are. Then when you have established TRUST you can maybe share that sometimes you get down. Maybe they do too. Then you can talk about things a little bit more if they are receptive.

To me, the put out the bombshell technique is an effort to hurt myself and my relationships so I don't do it. I tell people more here on Psych Central than other people in my life.

I say wait until you are getting questions from them and then tell them the minimum needed to answer their questions. MI is not contagious, we don't have to warn our partner. If you had a physical disease of the lower body, you might not discuss this till you have a strong relationship going.