The Best Reason to Come Out of The Bipolar Closet | bpHope - bp Magazine Community

[BlackSheep79]

Thank you for this. When I came out my co-workers couldn't believe it, " you don't act bipolar." I said no I'm fairly stable, take my meds everyday, and go to my Pdoc. When I've been on med leave I receive thoughtful cards and it shows they care knowing it's a mental illness. I have helped others with MI or there family members. I just want to help others and change the stigma. It's a risky decision to make though. Hopefully in my lifetime things will change.

[HALLIEBETH87]

A lot of people do know I have bp but certainly not everyone! I just don't think I'll ever be in a position where I can be. I'm too afraid

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

A lot of people do know I have bp but certainly not everyone! I just don't think I'll ever be in a position where I can be. I'm too afraid

I respect that opinion. I am able to because I have always been the blabber mouth, activist type anyway. So for me not to share would have been a miracle.

I was unmedicated for years! And even medicated, I am on the hypo side of stable.

[scatterbrained04]

Thanks for sharing. I'm currently struggling with when to tell the new guy in my life I'm bipolar. I'm terrified.

Originally Posted by scatterbrained04

Thanks for sharing. I'm currently struggling with when to tell the new guy in my life I'm bipolar. I'm terrified.

I asked my therapist that question. She said "wait until they get to know you. That way they can form an opinion about you, not bipolar."

[Hemingway]

I was really close to telling my boss this weekend. He's a really cool guy and he treats me as somebody he cares about, like a friend and certainly not like an employee. He kept asking me what's wrong, why I look sad, and what he could do to help me be happier. But I couldn't trust myself. So I called my mother and asked her if I should tell him. She said no. That it is a family issue and no one needs to know. I listened to her and in a way I'm glad I didn't tell him. I'm just scared he'll misunderstand. Or worse that he'll pity me.

[Fresia]

Thank you ValentinaVVV for this article; it could not have come a better time when I am trying to decide whether to let my employer know. There is a lot to consider and some things in this article that I had not before. It is scaring me to do this so to have a more positive light put on it helps tremendously. Thanks again.

I am so glad it was helpful.

I am completely honest about my bipolar. While I don't exactly broadcast it, it's pretty much known by most around me. I've just never hid it. How COULD I hide it when I was in the hospital 8wks anyway?

[CopperStar]

I recently hinted a little bit at work, wasn't really planning on it, was more of an emotion-based spur-of-the-moment thing.

We had a customer who in my opinion was clearly unstable. The customer really shook up Coworker A with her ridiculous attitude and behavior, and Coworker A seemed to feel like it was a very personal attack. So I tried to soothe Coworker A by pointing out that the customer definitely just seemed mentally unstable. Coworker B made a small face at my comment, which snapped me into awareness that they might have a MI, too, and feel hurt by the comment. So I quickly added, "I'm not always stable, so that's how I know." Coworker B added, "I haven't been stable lately." Coworker A asked why, Coworker B responded that they have been doing worse and worse over the past few months. Coworker A commented that they're not always stable, either, but are good at hiding, cracked a joke that they just have secret meltdowns inside their head sometimes. Then we had to disperse to do more work.

So it was a bit interesting. No labels were mentioned or anything like that, but unsurprisingly I guess more people deal with mental health things than is apparent on the surface.

[BastetsMuse]

I don't hide the fact that I'm bipolar; I just state it as a matter of fact thing in the same breath that I'm diabetic. I take meds for both. (Gee, pity you can't take you bipolar level like you can take your blood sugar!)

However, in some situations I do let people get to know me before I disclose because of the notoriety of mania -- and I educate people that bipolar isn't all mania and drama.

[BNLsMOM]

I used to be very open about it, but it bit me in the butt when I got divorced and my ex and his friends ganged up on me and tried to pull a custody suit. My ex's friend even went so far as to call my first ex, the father of my oldest son to tell him to fight for custody of my oldest son. He almost did that over the summer.

I think in the right context, when you have support around you that it is a great idea to be open because then when you need support people will be there. I have to be careful, and at the moment, I am not speaking openly about it.

[raspberrytorte]

I told one of my coworkers recently. It was just because we were talking and she just told me she had bipolar disorder and without even thinking I blurt out, "You have bipolar? I'm bipolar too!" It just kind of came out and immediately afterwards regret. She said she already knew I did. I don't know how she knew. There must have been talk last time I was in the hospital. Somehow the wrong person found out and must have told everyone. Great.

[scatterbrained04]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

I asked my therapist that question. She said "wait until they get to know you. That way they can form an opinion about you, not bipolar."

I know this is true. Part of me just really wants to tell him so I can quit being so anxious about it. The anxiety is killing me. However, I don't want to chase him off either because I REALLY like him. No doubt it is too soon though. I should probably wait a couple weeks.