Do you keep PC a secret?

Just wondering if anyone shares with their friends and family members that you are a member of PC.
Myself , I won't even add it to favorites . Scared someone will find out what I'm really like.

Yes i keep it a secret. The only ones who know are my girls. The initial reason I came here was for a huge relationship problem and no one IRL knows about this, nor do I want them reading everything. In a way it's kind of like a journal - private.... for me anyways.

My T knows, she recommended PC but I don't tell people about this, not even friends. This is my safe place where I can be myself.

I tell people about it. Heck I even wear the T-shirt. But I'm totally open about talking about my MH experiences, I figure the only way to reduce stigma is to talk about it.

Heck I even have it listed on my resume that I'm a systems adminstrator for another mental health support site, under volunteer activities.

--splitimage

Total secret. If my family figured it out, I would not be on here.

Secret here to babysteps. My friends and my husband know the extent of my mental illness, but sometimes my problems are with them which is one reason I keep it a secret. Another is I feel safe to express things here. I feel like psychcentral is all mine. My secret place I go to talk about my problems to people who understand them. Really understand them. Not just listening to me and me feeling like a whinner.

I have actually mentioned it to friends. My Name on my XBox account says "Bipolar" in it so that isnt a secret. My wife knows about PC and at one point contemplated joining. I tried time and time again to get her on here so that she can better understand what I go through, but I think ultimately she decided not to. She was afraid that it would violate me in what I say. Also afraid that people would back and forth between us. (We met in Chat on the internet so that is where that stemmed from).

My parents know because I access it through their computers. I told my T about it but I don't know if she comes here or not I'd rather not know. I haven't told me extended family but then again we just don't talk about my MH.

Jan

Yes.
I talk openly and rather proudly about PC. I have suggested to other's who have expressed their struggles & issues to check out the site and witness for themselves the help that overflows here, (don't know if they have visited, or joined).

The way I see it, there's not a damn thing wrong with obtaining help for self. And PC is a great place to gets.
It's a nice thought, though, to imagine that someone had found a sense of relief here because of my mentioning the site....

Shangrala

Its a secret. I have no one in my life besides my husband and son, well - and my sister but that's a long story. Anyway, no one knows about it. My husband knows I spend time on a forum, but he assumes its political as that is what I have frequented in the past.

People in my life know I am a member of a MI forum but they do not know which one or my user name. I am on the PC/Facebook interface.

It is secret except my son does know.

I don't openly talk about it much, but I don't really keep it a secret. I do tell my hubby about it, and the members of my support group. I have mentioned it in passing to my T.

PC was instrumental in my initial adjustment to being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. People here let me vent without judgment, there is something special about sharing with people who KNOW what you are going through.

It is mostly a secret that I visit PC. My family doesn't know but then they don't know that I may have some issues.. Other than maybe they think I am just nuts. Maybe I am. I have mentioned a few online friends to maybe take a look here. Don't think I ever told them the name I use here.. I really don't want anyone that knows me to read anything that I might write here. SO with all that said, I pretty much keep PC a secret... Not that I care they should think/know I have issues. I just don't want them reading what little I do write here.....

Very good point splitimage

Good for you Mary.

I keep it private, a little different from a secret.

I do not talk to many people. Those I do talk to know. Heck, when you have been unhinged for as long as I have I doubt anyone can say anything I have not already heard. Besides, there is nothing wrong with trying to help yourself. If someone wants to have a little fun at my expense, I hope they enjoy it cause their life cannot be a whole lot better than mine.

It's my safe place so yes I absolutely do keep it secret

Like Echoes, I keep it private rather than a secret. My husband and son openly know about it. I chat to my husband about some experiences here and my son even helps me in games sometimes. But I don't talk about it freely to anyone else. And, this is selfish of me, but I would never recommend the site to anyone I know in real life as I don't want my identity discovered. This is my safe place and I love my anonymity here.

I make mention of PC to my husband but like some others, I choose to keep this place to myself. I am not ashamed of my mental illness and I would have no problem with telling someone else about this forum. However, I see no reason to make any announcements concerning my quiet and private life.

My partner and family don't know.
I mentioned to 2 friends about a forum that I access where I can hide behind a psydeunom and discuss what's going on in my head and how useful it's been. I've recommened they take a look as they have been going through tough times, but I've never given them the link and they haven't asked me either.

I've loaded PC under favourites, but my bf doesn't really use the favourites tab. Ironically just yesterday I became concerned that he would look into history, especially as I am also always logged in. But for now I'm leaving it this way.

At work I lock my computer every time I step away from it (Yes, the IT guys could hack, but really..!)

I don't think that's being selfish. This is your safe place. There's nothing wrong with wanting and having that for yourself.....

I am a very open person I think because I grew up in a family full of secrets I just hate them (not all SA) so I tell every Tom Di_ck and Harry about it !

I don't think its wrong or right to tell or not to tell I really feel its a personal choice one you should feel comfy with.

I don't keep it a secret; in fact, I've told others on another forum to come here instead. Most of the forums I've spent time in have a lot of Bullying, and unkind people, but not on pc---thank you pc!!!