Hey guys. New here.
I was Just curious about how many of you are very open and out about dealing with MI issues and how many mostly keep it to them self? Or share only the depressoon part? Who do you tell, when, why.

I mean obviously if somebody is hospitalized or has a severe episode it might be hard for people to not know. But barring that, do your immediate family, extended family, friends, coworkers, etc know about you?

Because of my job, I have to be really careful about this. It would not be the type of place where it would be okay or understood or anything. So even tho I have some really good friends at work, no one has any knowledge that I suffer from these depressive bouts. Which kind of feels like deceit and being fake. But I am just trying to protect myself. Stigma is real and it is ugly and I applaud the ppl who chose to be poster children for a cause, but that will never be me. I am just trying to stay alive and functioning here...

My best friend knows. My mom sort of knows but probably not how bad it gets. My T and doctor know. That's really it. Friends I had before I got sick who I only see periodically it seemed like why would I tell them unless I was looking for something from them bc of it. Idk. I am weird tho. I am a Very private person. When I was sick as a kid I didn't have the choice of who got to know about my personal health details and I think that has made me extra sensitive and protective of my privacy re health matters as an adult.

But it can be a very lonely and isolating place having to always try to fake
being okay when I am not. When asked what did u do this weekend, saying I sat catatonic on the couch and contemplated walking into traffic really isn't water cooler talk!!! So I smile and I lie or change the subject. I am pretty sure my close fiends and coworkers know that there is something wrong or different about me but not what, and just sort of have accepted that sometimes I am extra quiet or hyper or whatever. Idk.