I am fine with the diagnosis of bipolar, I won't contest this. I want to ask other members on the forum about disclosing to people about having bipolar.
When I was first in rehab years ago, I tried to run away from it and keep it a secret and not tell anyone and not talk about it. I have found that some people believe that bipolar is a personality flaw. I guess some people latch onto the "bi" part of bipolar and formulate their own, often incorrect, view or theory, without doing the reading or research to find out the myths and facts.
I don't have any issues with moods now. I never had the rapid cycling or mixed states. I did at times, get slightly hyper back in childhood and teens but the under current of depression was hardest to conquer. I don't get symptoms now.

So I find myself saying, if I have to, that I was in rehab for depression and alcohol dependency/misuse/addiction.
If I join a group, do a course or anything in general , should I say from the off set I have bipolar or play it down until I am sure, with my default - it was alcohol and depression?
Would my best bet be to say, that the reasons I was admitted to rehab, were to do with having a meltdown and clinical depression? I don't have to be a complete open book from the offset right?