[Hurre]

As the title reads.

[Sinking Feeling]

Why do you feel you have too?

[Hurre]

Originally Posted by Sinking Feeling

Why do you feel you have too?

Well, because it would help them understand certain (extreme) behaviours that come with the bipolarity. I also wonder if and how one should tell your employer about the illness. How does one go about it?

[Curiosity77]

I think the answer is depends on what feels right to you. I used to be more guarded about it, but now i am a little more open. I usually wait a bit so that people can form an impression of me first, and then if they feel like a friend i will tell them. But there are some people i am friends with that i haven't told. I usually tell people i'm dating after a few dates, but i don't go into detail right away. Most people would recommend not disclosing at work, but i chose to tell my supervisor. I work in mental health, and my supervisor is a pdoc, so it would be pretty hypocritical of him to judge ir treat me different. I told him because i thought he had figured it out, which he totally hadn't, but he was very cool and respectful about it. I'm glad i told him because i can talk to him if working with patients is ever triggering for me, and also if i need to go off sick i won't need to explain myself. I also told a few coworkers, because it's good to have extra eyes on me un case i ever get unwell and don't recognize it. So in my case, it's been helpful, but i have a workplace with people who are not stigmatizing. This topic has come up before, and some members have lost jobs because of disclosing. So be careful

Originally Posted by Hurre

As the title reads.

Assuming "others" refers to people other than your medical team or your spouse,

When: Never
How: (Not Applicable)

Why not ? Because they will use it against you in every way they can.

[Hurre]

Originally Posted by lilodian4ever

Assuming "others" refers to people other than your medical team or your spouse,

When: Never
How: (Not Applicable)

Why not ? Because they will use it against you in every way they can.

Thanks for your input. But how should I go about it if I still were to tell them (people other than my medical team and spouse)? I mean what about my illness should I actually mention, were I to tell them?

i bring it up when its revelvant.
"sorry i called you so late last night, i think i may be on an upswing again. you see i have a mood disorder and i dont always think about stuff like the clock when i have the urge to talk to someone. hope youre not upset about it"
thats an actual conversation ive had. we talked more about it and my friend was very understanding.

use your own judgement and try not to just drop it out of the blue but as i said when its relevant. i know some people have gotten negative reactions. luckily i have only gotten support from friends and loved ones... though disclosure once did keep me from getting a job i wanted.

[Disorder7]

People who are close to me know I have panic disorder because they've seen me freak out. But that's as much as I tell them.

I think it's an individual choice to tell or not. I choose not to because I have trust issues.

[loophole]

Hope you really really really trust the people your telling.. people have misconceptions about bipolar... they seen it in the movies. . Or their own general ideas.. most people see bipolar as a psychotic manic person in a white room in a straight jacket.. people jump to conclusions and in my opinion. It's on an extremely strict need to know basis.

[~Christina]

Telling your friends, that's up to you .. Hopefully they will understand and be supportive.

As for work ? no no no no ... Disclosing to your employer is just never a good idea. Why? Even tho they "cant" fire you over it because of the ADA ( thats a joke getting there help) most people that disclose find themselves a few months down the road fired over some lame reason.

Just my opinion .

I wish you well

[tamisomuch]

Believe me, most of them won't understand. But I still think you should tell your very close friends and family of course. Just don't bother telling others :P They will just think you only making excuses. Those who are really close to you will understand eventually tho sometimes it's hard
-Tami

[Bipolarchic14]

When it becomes relevant.. I would not just come out with it to everyone. Just close friends and close family if they mention concern.

[Sinking Feeling]

Originally Posted by Hurre

Thanks for your input. But how should I go about it if I still were to tell them (people other than my medical team and spouse)? I mean what about my illness should I actually mention, were I to tell them?

Honestly, all your required to provide if you chose to is "medical reason", you need not get in to specifics. Once they know your bipolar, even the most sincerest people, will always assume everything you do, say or don't do is because your bipolar. If you mess up, it will be because your bipolar. If you get mad, bipolar, laugh to hard, bipolar, late, bipolar, out sick, bipolar. This is the main reason many never provide detailed information.

All you have to say is you have medical issues if you need to say any thing. But if your dead set on revealing your illness. I would do it carefully and in private.