[Kmbpeace1171]

I was just wondering at what point is it best to disclose your mental illness, the extent of it, history of it, etc? I used to just be honest right from the start but it doesn't seem to work, perhaps my approach is wrong and there needs to be a level of trust before opening up. Ty for any input.

[Xeneon]

I recommend be who you are all the time, if they start asking questions answer them but if they don't I wouldn't tell them until you feel like you should and that you guys are both on the same page of your relationship. I always put trust in everything, i'm not going to tell anyone anything unless I trust them, without a doubt in my head.

[danii24]

do you mean disclosing to a friend you have to completely trust them if you do. honesty is important so i think you've taken the right approach in being honest about how you feel. suppose you should only disclose the full extent of it when you feel your ready to.

How long have you being talking about it ? it can take along time to start feeling better about things you've had to deal with.

[arcangel]

Originally Posted by Kmbpeace1171

I was just wondering at what point is it best to disclose your mental illness, the extent of it, history of it, etc? I used to just be honest right from the start but it doesn't seem to work, perhaps my approach is wrong and there needs to be a level of trust before opening up. Ty for any input.

There are a lot of variables there I think there definitely needs to be a good deal of trust established before disclosing any important details of your life, past or present. I can't imagine any good reason for revealing my personal life to a casual acquaintance. I would be skeptical of the motives of a casual acquaintance revealing significant personal details to me.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

I agree with Xeneon in most comments, but if you are one to feel trust easily, there is a possibility you may tell about it at the wrong time, too soon.

Honestly, I wouldn't say anything about it until there is a need or they start asking questions about what they see or experience with you.

I didn't say anything to my partner and one day I crashed, I was blessed because he helped me through it. I was very lucky that his sister and mother both suffer with depression so he understood the theory...crash...get help...get better... crash...get help...get better...through the cycle as it goes. He's even used to my alters now because he always thought (as I did) that I was just speaking in another voice to be humerous, or in the child megs voice to be cute (meg comes out when I can't talk for myself, she gives very gentle hints that are usually not gotten). So he copes with that know as easy as pie.

Good luck with it kimby,
Love & Blessings,
Rhian

[Kmbpeace1171]

Ok so safe to say I am going to stop saying Hi I;m Kristen and I Have Bipolar might wait a little bit hee hee hee, like i said, nothing to hide, it is a PART of me , it is NOT WHO I am as a person.

[gma45]

Great Question! Glad you ask I always feel like I am not being up front with someone when I don't tell them I am an addict and I am depressed. Soooooo I beat myself up over what I don't say but then I think no one will want me or like me if they know the real me. What's a girl to do? I have big time trust issues!

[arcangel]

Originally Posted by Kmbpeace1171

Ok so safe to say I am going to stop saying Hi I;m Kristen and I Have Bipolar

You didn't ...did you? Just get a "kiss me, I'm bipolar" or "Got Lithium?" t-shirt LOL

Originally Posted by Kmbpeace1171

might wait a little bit hee hee hee, like i said, nothing to hide, it is a PART of me , it is NOT WHO I am as a person.

Well...yeah...tell them only when they need (and deserve) to know. That isn't misleading anyone.

Originally Posted by gma45

Great Question! Glad you ask I always feel like I am not being up front with someone when I don't tell them I am an addict and I am depressed. Soooooo I beat myself up over what I don't say but then I think no one will want me or like me if they know the real me. What's a girl to do? I have big time trust issues!

Are you talking about potential friends or a potential mate/lover/partner?
Sorry, that's too personal lol. I'll go with the answer I gave to Kristen and leave it at that
I do think that after you've gotten past the acquaintance/new friend stage you might consider telling them more about your self. If they break off the relationship, then they probably wouldn't have been a friend worth having. That's my take on that anyway.