Bipolar 1 disorder is a very difficult illness to hide. When you are manic EVERYBODY knows...except you. I never had the "talk" with anyone about having bipolar 1 disorder but a manic episode screams bipolar 1 disorder to anyone with eyes and ears. Once my book was released, then everyone knew. Surprisingly, I got far more thank you's than shuns when the book became widely read in my community. Although, I'm extremely asocial so I wouldn't really notice if anyone was distancing themselves from me or not.