[Victoria'smom]

.... Knows your bipolar? How much do they know?

[Skitz13]

Actually everybody knows, I don't keep it a secret, it can sometimes be apparent that there's something wrong with me. I notice I do get treated differently when I'm not well

I have no personal life. Family knows. I can't have a personal life because I fear how I may act and embarrass them.

[BipolaRNurse]

Everybody in my family and my circle of friends know. I'm not exactly great at hiding it when I'm manic, LOL

[Victoria'smom]

Everyone knows but just the name. If they don't ask I don't tell

[Curiosity77]

Most of my friends, my family, my new BF, and a few coworkers who have become friends. I don't keep it secret once i trust a person, but it's the first thing i tell them either. I let them form an opinion of me first.

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[wildflowerchild25]

Family all knows because I can't hide when I disappear to the hospital...although I'm not sure if everyone knows for sure it's bipolar or if they just know something is up. I know my sister in law knows because she has it too so I trust her. And my family I live with knows.

But I don't have any friends and only three coworkers know. They only know because they shared their own mental health issues with me so I figured they could be trusted. But they don't know any dirty details, like how bad the depressions get or that I can become psychotic. Only my mom, grandmother, and husband know that.

[bleutamales]

I have told only my immediate family but because of some really scary Facebook posts I posted back in December when I was full blown manic/suicidal my extended family was calling my dad and asking if I was alright. So a few of my cousins know. Since then I have deleted my FB account because I don't trust myself to not post when I'm manic. I don't have any true friends, just acquaintances. I find myself getting phone numbers for potential friends but I never call. People are too messy for me.

[ceramichornets]

Well, my parents, a handful of my closest friends, my boyfriend, and his family knows. I would've preferred if his family didn't know, but he was new to this sort of thing and thought that (with my very hesitant permission) telling them would help them understand. As usual, it didn't. It just gives them a reason for disregarding my thoughts and opinions.

My older brother doesn't even know, but then again we're ten years apart and see each other once a year, if that.

I'm thankful for my friends and my boyfriend because although my boyfriend is fairly new (we will have been dating for a year the fourth of next month) he is extremely supportive and understanding. My friends that have known me for much longer just kind of shrugged when I told them my diagnosis and said, "To us, you've always been you." Which was a lot more comforting than I thought it would be. They know I take meds and are all pretty divided on the subject, although a lot of them agree that I've always seemed happier when I'm on them.

Even with all this support, it can be tough. I don't feel comfortable having them around during my manic episodes. My boyfriend insists on being there for me to make sure I don't hurt myself; otherwise, I would require total isolation. My parents are slowly working their way towards supporting me ever since I've tried to be honest about whatever's on my mind and I've been trying very hard over the years to get them to understand my point of view.

Sorry this was so long, I guess I needed to vent. I feel much better now.

[Fresia]

Only immediate family and two really close friends know my actual diagnosis.
I will not be sharing it with coworkers, ever again.

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by Fresia

Only immediate family and two really close friends know my actual diagnosis.

I will not be sharing it with coworkers, ever again.

Same here. I pretty much keep it secret at work. But family knows.

[reneegirl25]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

.... Knows your bipolar? How much do they know?

A few cousins, an uncle who's a psychiatrist, my mom, my friends, and my husband. I'm not sure if he told his parents or not, but they know something's wrong.

[Atypical_Disaster]

My family and close friends know.

[Trippin2.0]

Everyone. Absolutely, Literally... everyone in my personal life.

Work isn't my personal life and I currently have no job, so it doesn't count.

It was common knowledge at the company I worked for when I was dxd, as well as another company after that. I was struggling and chose to be very honest regarding my dx and thankfully everyone was really chilled about it.

In future I doubt I would disclose at work though, I have a much better handle on things these days and doubt that I'll need to disclose like in the past.

But yeah, my personal life? Its common knowledge, immediate family including my 10 y.o, and all her cousins, my bf, friends, friends parents, bf's friends, my cousins, his cousins, etc etc etc... I just feel no shame and thus no need to hide. I even encourage Q&A sessions for adults and kids alike, should anyone have a sudden thirst for knowledge.Only reason I would keep it from future employers is due to possible stigma / ignorance. But other than that, I'm prettyyyy open about my dx, I even post about it on FB.

[Standup2me]

My Mum, BF, one friend (who later told me that she could be friends with a nut case)
And that is it

I have seen my brother or sister in almost 20 years, so nothing shared there