this is a tough question...
i grew up with parents who flatly refused to believe in illness, or believe in emotional problems- so they sort of taught me that if i tried to be open with anyone, it was associated with even more emotional abuse

like...

me: i'm feeling down and alone, not sure what to do

response: well, go jump off a bridge then if you're feeling that low

so growing up, being taught what i was, and not having any real friends, being open is hard

if someone asks me a question, maybe i'll start talking about it but not be fully open- because i'm afraid of being emotionally abused by them (i never got over it, my parents set me up for life with that fear)

i don't hide my mental illness though... their's no point- because people usually can tell

people ask me.. are you bipolar, you sure act it.. and i'm like well, um, yeah.. maybe that's because i am

but apart from that, if something's going on, i'm the last to say