[Noir_Désir]

Whats your strategy? I'm looking for inspiration since I'll be attending college in a few months

[wildflowerchild25]

I don't really tell people unless I truly trust them. And even then I won't bring it up unless I can't hide it anymore.

Hope you get more replies with better strategies!

[Daonnachd]

I'm all about openness and understanding in an attempt to reduce stigma, so I don't worry about sharing. That said, I probably wouldn't bother telling a new friend unless we were already discussing mental health or if, like wildflower, I couldn't hide it. I just wouldn't be aggressively trying to hide it.

[bizi]

don't tell them unless you feel you must.
bizi

[pirilin]

Never my dear. Never.

[Gabyunbound]

My strategy is to try to hide it to the extent I can -I really am afraid of the stigma and people just not getting it. I fear misunderstandings (I think most people have misconceptions when it comes to BP). I would only tell someone I knew super well, so we could really discuss it, and so that I'm not judged (for worse or for better, because I think some people fetishize Bipolar) from the very beginning; I'd prefer they get to know the rest of me first. I guess it's about trust and how well I know the person.

[MusicLover82]

Usually, I'm pretty open about having anxiety attacks and/or depression if it comes up in conversation. I don't tell anyone I'm bipolar and/or have OCD unless I know them REALLY well and REALLY trust them. The stigma is just too thick.

When I DO feel like I trust someone, I tell them that I have a mild case of Bipolar Disorder and don't make a big deal about it or go into detail about my more serious symptoms (e.g. I would never tell most of my friends about my "noisy thoughts" that are similar to "voices" but not quite, or my obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior! ). Since you are BP 2 like me, you may not need to make a big deal about it, either, since it's easier to hide it if you don't get full-blown mania.

IMO, you want to come across to people as capable and responsible. Going into too much detail about your MI is asking for trouble. Besides, it's really none of their business. The people I confide in about my MI are my parents, my sister, and my husband. HUGS!!

I tell no one. I'm just secretive in general. Some people, like my old bosses, have noticed my mania and even asked me why my behavior was so weird, but I never told them, as I was afraid of getting fired

[Wild Coyote]

I feel too many people pass judgment and misunderstand.

I'd disclose only if I had to.
I might consider disclosing if someone knew me well and I felt a deep sense of trust.

Most of my family is undiagnosed BP 1 or 2. They don't realize this. They think people living with BP challenges are "dangerous" to the community. Misconceptions.


WC

[nativechic]

I would see if your campus has a branch of Active Minds or even start one if there isn't one. That would give you a group of people you could be open to about your diagnosis and give you support

[xRavenx]

Originally Posted by Noir_Désir

Whats your strategy? I'm looking for inspiration since I'll be attending college in a few months

Sometimes I use the strategy of just saying that I have a lot of anxiety and have struggled with depression since just mentioning the term "Bipolar" people are bound to get the wrong idea unless they have an open mind or also struggle with it. "Mood disorder" is another term I sometimes use. There is no pressure to disclose though....I say wait until you feel completely comfortable. You may choose not to tell certain friends ever, and that's fine too. Everyone has a different comfort zone. Sometimes I get the reaction, "You don't seem Bipolar" from certain people. That's the reaction I get from people who just believe in the "angry person" stereotype without knowing anything about mania or episodes. Then, it requires some explaining, which I don't mind doing.

Generally, I wait long enough to really get close to the person, but sometimes I'll disclose earlier if someone else shares they have Bipolar or something related. If I'm dating someone, I will wait several months before I trust them and know they are open to actually learning more about the diagnosis and how it affects me. Sometimes I find friends are a lot less judgmental than family....my mother still doesn't understand.

[RomanJames2014]

This is my greatest issue with the disease. I am addicted to my mania and because of it I have messed up a lot of the different relationships with my friends, family, etc...

I told a friend this morning and though he has major mental health issues, he didn't take it well. He thought I was just "making excuses".
Coming out as gay was much easier for me than coming out as bipolar. People have stigmas and we live in a world where everyone is very narcissistic and you're coming out process with usually be the person victimizing them selves over it. Tell who you trust but I have hidden my status from many people with an attitude that I am who I am and I can only help myself. Hugs.

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[jules77]

i'm in college, and i find that i must really trust a friend in order to tell them. i don't say anything unless it comes up naturally in a conversation (A SOBER CONVERSATION.....), or unless a trusted friend asks if I'm okay, then I feel it is a good time to tell them that info about me. if you're not comfortable disclosing then absolutely don't. your comfort comes first before others' curiosity!

For me, there is no right time, it's more about being "the right person". I get a sense about people and some I would tell, others I would hide it forever.

[12AM]

I get along with ElsaMars, it's about the right person. In addition to that, personally, I don't like the idea of me telling my new friends that I have bipolar when I am not in a good condition, no matter how close I feel connected with them. So at first few months I'd show them that I am a good friend, that I am not a mean person, that I am not judgemental about them, and that I have an open-minded mind about their issues. I'd give the best version of myself to them. Doesn't mean that I would lie, it just means that I won't go into details. When the time is right, like let's say, there is a conversation about mental health, then that would be the time I tell them. By telling them when my mood is under control, I'd be able to give them a good explanation, therefore the possibility for them to understand is higher. I know there is no guarantee that they will understand (or still be friends with me) after they know the fact, but by being a good friend at first, when they are judgemental about me, I can say "I never judge you, so why do you judge me?", "You think I am a good friend few minutes ago, I had bipolar few minutes ago just like now, what's the difference?". If in the end, after I've done my best, they still cannot accept me.. then shame on them! I don't need ignorant as my friends and they can't bring me down.