Have you ever told co-workers you're bipolar?

I'm an academic, so although I have to deal with crushing job stress, I consider myself very lucky to work in an area where mental illness is fairly well accepted as the price of brilliance.

I've told a (very) few colleagues/friends, but only those whom I really trust to take it seriously and keep it to themselves. The funny thing is that after I tell them, they tend to say something like, "Oh, that makes so much sense! Now I understand why you (fill in the blank)."

I've also told my supervisor because we work closely on some projects and it explains the occasional unevenness of my work and other behaviors. He asked a lot of questions (out of genuine interest) and also pointed out that many of the treatment options are not particularly compatible with my career plans, but has otherwise made no fuss about it. Telling him makes it easier for me to admit that I haven't made progress on my dissertation because of depressive episodes, or that the simply brilliant insight that I madly typed up and emailed before my better sense kicked in was the result of a hypomanic episode and should be given a fairly critical assessment. For the kind of work that I do and the type of working relationships I have to support, this is really helpful.

Everyone has taken it seriously and been respectful as well. Several have also been very reassuring, for example, one friend said, " no human imperfection diminishes the awesomeness of your work. You are not even close to the only person I know with that particular, um, mental configuration in this field."

As a career path, academia certainly has its faults (and plenty of them) but tolerance seems to be one of its strengths.

Love that! ..lol

That's great. I'm glad you've had a good experience from opening up about it.

This one also makes me chuckle.

But I didn't have to tell them coz when I went back after hospitalization the news was all over (big organization, so lots of gossip)
that I am mentally ill but I doubt that they know what's exactly wrong with me or what bp is nor do they dare/bother to ask.

Come to think of it, the world is bipolar - too much, too little, too hot, too cold. Floods here, droughts there.
Freak weather, people freezing to death in one place,dying of heat stroke in another,not a slightest breeze to go kite-flying, Cat 5 hurricanes.
Over here, hot blazing sun and thunderstorm all in a day.

I had a dream that felt real. I was afraid when I woke up. In that dream, I tell the HR person (for no reason, since I am not disabled at the moment) being alone in the room with her, but the doors into the room are open, someone overhears and then, I realize, it will be everyone's fodder.

Sure did. And when the day guy told the repairs guy he said he was too! This whole place is a looney bin at night really. One of the many reasons I love my job.