i've learned to be extremely cautious about telling "friends" about my being bipolar. too many people have shown me they do not understand this disorder and generalize all my actions on my condition. unlike cancer or some "seeable" illness i find bipolar or any other mental disorder is vastly misunderstood. it's based primarily on ignorance but it doesn't make me feel any better when a friend or family member overgeneralizes my mood or reaction to things. with a "norm" they would just chalk it up to my not agreeing, etc. with them.
so i am careful about divulging this info for the most part. as long as my disorder does not cause me to be completely out of order or even if it does, it's my perrogative about keeping it under-wraps. i am not being deceitful, just protective of "self".