[Amazonmom]

Actually she just started out as an acquaintance at work. But then the week I had my daughter, her adult daughter died. We have started to become pretty good friends ever since then.

It turns out we have been seeing the same T/Pnurse ...we even started about the same week. I had only told my friend about my postpartum depression...I was way too afraid to mention bipolar. My T is going to present at a conference in October, and the topic is depression and bipolar in women. My friend wants me to go to the conference with her, and I was going to go. I was going to chicken out...I was about ready to puke because I had told my friend that our T had changed the topic name because of me. My friend is smart enough to figure out my secret.

Well...friend and I were talking at work on Friday. We were alone and talking about the conference. We got around to my T's topic. My friend said that she already knew I had been depressed, why was the topic scary for me? I looked right in her eyes and told her to remember the other half of the topic...

She seemed a tiny bit surprised, but really it was like I had told her I like chocolate chip cookies or something. She just kept right on talking with me like it was no big deal to her. She was telling me about how she has other bipolar friends, and how all of us are really sensitive people. She asked if it was easier now that one person at work knows...that it's not the big ugly secret I need to hide so much. I know she would never tell anyone else.

It's true. I am not going to go telling others, but knowing that my friend knows...and is still my friend....and still thinks I am a good safe nurse...it's wonderful.

[Slothrop]

WHEW! Glad that worked out, that's great! It is not easy to find friends you can trust to that degree, especially in a work environment. I would really like to have a friend in my life who fully understood the bipolar thing. Right now I just don't think it would go over too well with the friends I have.

Yeah, I got me some trust issues.

Hang on to that friend, she's a good one!

[FeelingHopeful]

That is a great friend!! i.I have a uncle who i believe is bipolar . He has not been diagonosed but he has the symptons. I believe he is. Its tough because I am close to my family and want to be close to him, understand it and learn how I can help.. I just want our families to be close. Understanding and acceptance are so important.

[thinker22]

Being understood really is important. So far everyone I've told in person has responded really well. Not like I've told many. My mom. My mate. My docs and counselors. And 1 of my friends. I was really afraid to tell anyone at first. And it is important not to go gung ho and start telling your waiter or something. But I know none of us would feel compelled to...unless in the pressure to talk manic phase. Kidding. We'll be alright. Bipolar people usually are sensitive like you said. Our feelings get hurt easily, but we can feel people out pretty well and know when they're just going to trample us if we're open. Then the walls go up. That's what happened with my first in person therapist. Should've trusted my instinct and got out of there faster than I did. Sorry, tangent. Wide awake as usual when I should be sleeping.

[gravyyy]

It really is so relieveing when people around you know. There are 2 people where I work that know and one of them is my boss. It makes it nice because sometimes they can notice changes in me before I can and that's so helpful. They absolutely have kept it between us and have never thought less of me as a nurse. It's refreshing to have support people. Hurray for your coworker Amazon!!!! That conference sounds interesting. You should totally go... then you can share with the rest of us.

Originally Posted by Amazonmom

Actually she just started out as an acquaintance at work. But then the week I had my daughter, her adult daughter died. We have started to become pretty good friends ever since then.

It turns out we have been seeing the same T/Pnurse ...we even started about the same week. I had only told my friend about my postpartum depression...I was way too afraid to mention bipolar. My T is going to present at a conference in October, and the topic is depression and bipolar in women. My friend wants me to go to the conference with her, and I was going to go. I was going to chicken out...I was about ready to puke because I had told my friend that our T had changed the topic name because of me. My friend is smart enough to figure out my secret.

Well...friend and I were talking at work on Friday. We were alone and talking about the conference. We got around to my T's topic. My friend said that she already knew I had been depressed, why was the topic scary for me? I looked right in her eyes and told her to remember the other half of the topic...

She seemed a tiny bit surprised, but really it was like I had told her I like chocolate chip cookies or something. She just kept right on talking with me like it was no big deal to her. She was telling me about how she has other bipolar friends, and how all of us are really sensitive people. She asked if it was easier now that one person at work knows...that it's not the big ugly secret I need to hide so much. I know she would never tell anyone else.

It's true. I am not going to go telling others, but knowing that my friend knows...and is still my friend....and still thinks I am a good safe nurse...it's wonderful.

AWESOME

[ouroboros]

I commend you for your bravery, and I can understand your wanting to be selective with who you tell your condition to. Some people don't understand that telling everyone that you have a mental disorder is not always good. In my own experience, I've found it can sometimes be frustrating. I can't remember how many times I've been told, "You're only saying that because you're manic!" - aggrivating to say the least.
I wish you the best of luck, and I'm sure you are no less qualified in your profession

[Berries]

I am so happy for you!!!! That is TERRIFIC!!

I too have one friend that knows and that's my best friend and the best friend i've ever had. It is "safe" to tell her what is "really" going on with me and she is always super supportive. And she 'gets' that i am sensitive too, so she leans on me too, which makes me feel the relationship is not "one sided" as it is with my T.

I really think you should go to the conference, too.

[bridgie]

The only ppl that know about me are my family but they all knew something anyway and my boss. Having a boss that knows really helps because if there is a problem or I'm not feeling well they understand its temporary and when I'm up my customer service is excellent(ppl love to talk and so do I when I'm manic) so it works well there. Anyway glad you have a confidante in all of this

[Amazonmom]

Hehehe. Being manic is perfect for my job, there is so much running around and so much to be done that nobody would notice the mania. I was hypomanic when I came back to work after having my baby. Nobody there caught on, they all thought I was happy and being super organized!

[Berries]

Originally Posted by Amazonmom

Hehehe. Being manic is perfect for my job, there is so much running around and so much to be done that nobody would notice the mania. I was hypomanic when I came back to work after having my baby. Nobody there caught on, they all thought I was happy and being super organized!

During my last hypomanic episode which lastecd several months, my own therapist didn't even know I was hypomanic for the longest time. She just thought I was in a really good mood after being depressed for a long time.

Glad I have a different T now!!!!! What a dufus!!!!