[Isolda van der Meer]

Do you mind talking to people about your problems? And how many people do know?

Having bipolar disorder was always something that only I, my family and my psychiatrist should know. But I had to leave school because of it and I had to tell it some people which I previously didn't want to know it (like my composition teacher, my piano teacher…). Since then it has become a kind of "public secret". Now I have almost no problems with talking to people about it. When somebody asks, they will be given a honest answer.

[Victoria'smom]

My family, friends and team "know". My family thinks I'm BP but I'm actually SzA. They don't agree I'm BP or that I need medication.

[xRavenx]

Only a few people very close know. Most my family does not know. Only my mom, brother, and a cousin who I only see once in a while knows it is Bipolar. My mother has drilled into me that nobody in the family should know anything and has put pressure on me to act as if everything is okay. She has made statements, like, "you shouldn't let anyone know you are on medication." I began to internalize feelings of shame and the expectation to constantly "wear a mask," but I am trying to work through that. But I have revealed to a few other close people that I am on psych meds, although I did not open up to them about my diagnosis.

I've found that there's nothing to be gained by telling people and my privacy to be lost. The average person does not have the skills to deal with a revelation of bipolar. I was bitter and angry when i told my mom and she didn't have anything for me. I think people are more bewildered than anything. It's nothing malicious, just a lack of skills. My mom just wanted to hear positive news and for me to make her laugh and make pleasant chit-chat. She did not want to talk about anything heavy. I think a mom should have the skills of emotional support but all she knew how to do was whip out her checkbook. I guess she supported me in the only way she knew how and i *am* grateful for all the financial support. I didn't have to work my way thru university like my best friend did. I would *never* have made it if i'd had to.

So i say, guard your privacy.

[bpcyclist]

Interesting reading all this. Mine is totally out there and open for the world to see. I don't care. I've been through everything a person with bp 1 can go through--other than dying. I lost a couple of businesses and a marriage to my illness and there really is no way to keep the cat in the bag when that kind of thing occurs.

Discrimination in the workplace is very real, though. I do agree with that. But I am at a stage where my recovery is my number one priority and being out there with my illness is what best promotes my recovery. I am not ashamed of anything I have done.

[~Christina]

I only really talk about my Bipolar to my T and a few close friends that have Bipolar so they “ get it “

I really don’t talk to my husband about it. I’ll let him know if I’m not doing well.. but he doesn’t need details as all it will do is stress him out.

I’m just grateful I found PC years ago. Wonderful support here

[sophiebunny]

I wrote 2 books about navigating life with bipolar disorder and trauma. I kind of outed myself. It's gone better than I expected. However, you never know what people are thinking as they are talking to you. Also, I never know who's read the books. Some people come up to me and ask questions. Some people kind of approach me cautiously at a coffee shop or restaurant. Some people hunt down my contact information. I've gotten used to it. It's hard to say I have privacy anymore. I chose this path, however, to make a difference.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by sheltiemom2007

I wrote 2 books about navigating life with bipolar disorder and trauma. I kind of outed myself. It's gone better than I expected. However, you never know what people are thinking as they are talking to you. Also, I never know who's read the books. Some people come up to me and ask questions. Some people kind of approach me cautiously at a coffee shop or restaurant. Some people hunt down my contact information. I've gotten used to it. It's hard to say I have privacy anymore. I chose this path, however, to make a difference.

I hope you'll tell us more about your books.

[benzenering]

Very close family know, that's it. I would never share at work, school, soccer mom circle, etc. There is just too much of a stigma still associated with it. To each his own.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Idc who knows. I’m not ashamed. But I don’t talk about it with anyone except close friends and t and pdoc

[bizi]

very select with whom I tell.
just close friends and immediate family, tdoc and pdoc. and PCP.
Because I have a drinking problem, that is on my chart as:
chronic alcohol abuse and bipolar.

I think I get judged by the medical staff at my primarys office.

bizi

[sophiebunny]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I hope you'll tell us more about your books.

I write about navigating life with a mental illness.

My first book, "Teacup in a Storm: Finding my Psychiatrist" is about how I learned to communicate with and trust my psychiatrist after having been destroyed by an abusive therapeutic relationship. I learned to communicate with him. He learned to communicate with me. Lots of bumps in the road but we both learned from them. We have been Dr. and patient going into 25 years now and we keep on learning about communication.

The second book, "I'll Be Right Back: Parenting with Mental Illness" is about navigating parenting. Mental illness frayed the bond I had with my young daughter. The book describes my attempts to repair that bond with her. Anyone with parenting struggles can relate to some of my journey learning how to be a good mom after making a bad decision.