I didn't know until I was a professor at a school I would *not* have chosen if I knew my diagnosis. Looking back I am positive I was BP2 but I do not see where it ever interrupted my schooling. I wish it had because there are definitely no accommodations in this job for mental illness. Accommodations for students, however, are getting much better.

My family, partner, and ex-boss all know because I was hospitalized under pretty extreme circumstances two years ago. I think it's natural for your family and your partner to know. As for the ex-boss (who I have posted about on here), I think about it all the time about whether it would be better if he didn't know (not that I had a choice), but I honestly need someone who knows my professional life and my personal struggles, I just don't really want to enlarge the list of people who fall into that category. For instance, a mentor of mine at my current job was in my office last week asking me repeatedly "What are you going to be the best in the world at in 3-5 years?" (for tenure) and honestly I wanted to say "I can only answer that question when I'm hypo!" It makes me feel like people are talking to a different person when they talk to a person who they don't know is ill. I wish I had more people to talk to who knew I was BP, but there's too much stigma.