Stigma is definitely still a big issue. I remember when I went inpatient to a psych hospital, and I told my sponsor, that she'd make sure nobody in my home group knew where I was. This is the same home group that knows a great deal about the stupid things I did while drinking, so it's not like anything can embarrass me in front of them any more - except in her mind MI.

I know disclosing can be risky, but in my view the only way to fight stigma is to talk about it. I'm open at work about the fact that I'm in AA and they know I see a pdoc once a month, because I'm late for work but they don't know my Dx. I'll probably tell them eventually. My previous employer knew about my mental health history and I was never discriminated against at work.

When I speak at AA I always mention my MH history and treatment because dealing with those issues and getting appropriate treatment was a big part of my recovery. Not many AA speakers do this. But I always get people coming up to me afterwards thanking me and sharing their own mental health issues.

But I have to admit, I lied about the year I took off to deal with my addiction and MI when I was job hunting. There's no way I'd disclose during the job hunting process.

---splitimage