[SheilaKathy]

I Finally Told A Close Friend

I finally told a close friend about my mental illness, well about my Bipolar and that Lyme Disease causes mood swings too anyway. I did not mention my other conditions. She was pensive and then she said that she would not have known, if I had not told her. She said that I handle it really well.

I was glad that she took it so well, and that she commended me for how I handle it. I told her that the medicines I take help me to be able to work and do well in life (which they do).

I knew that she would keep a confidence; I knew that she would not tell others. Otherwise, I would not have confided in her. I needed to do this because she started asking a lot of questions last week, and my answers to some of them had been vague and not totally honest. I came clean on that issue too, explaining that there is a stigma and that some folks had treated me differently after I had told them. I also told her about 2 other folks that she knows who know, however that no one else did know.

This was a really hard thing for me to do! Now time will tell if this changes our relationship or not. I did not know what else to do, because the guilt over not having been totally honest with her was killing me inside.

Have you told anyone, especially someone close who you depend upon in some way?

I told 2 friends about my mild depression.
They also got to confide some information regarding their own issues.

[SheilaKathy]

Originally Posted by Vibrating Obsidian

I told 2 friends about my mild depression.
They also got to confide some information regarding their own issues.

My friend does not have any issues that I know of. However, someone in her family or an in-law may have, now that I think of it. She was very understanding anyway, which really helped.

[eskielover]

Having moved 2100 miles away from where I lived for 54 years of my life when I left my H, brought me to a little town where I knew no one & no one knew me.

It has been interesting with the timing of letting out pieces of my background & some of the experiences I have gone through. I had decided not to say anything unless it was in the context of a conversation or they asked. I have no desire to keep things secret but also if it doesnt come up in the cintext of a conversation have felt its not necessarily information that is necessary to share.

I understand how you felt & felt the need to share. I learned that getting to know the people & them getting to really know me was best before sharing some of that information.

Some of the truth about what I went through I didnt even discover until about 5+years after I left & had outstanding therapy.

Being careful about what yiu share & who you share it with is wise

[SheilaKathy]

Originally Posted by eskielover

Having moved 2100 miles away from where I lived for 54 years of my life...

Yes, I have a similar situation. I moved 625 miles away from where I used to live. There, some folks did know. It made things difficult, because people gossip and you never knew who knew what. (Even something fabricated or with important pieces missing that made things look a lot worse than they were).

I have no idea what knows what now. I had suspected that this lady knew something and that had been why she was fishing for info, but in fact, I think she just cared about me and wanted to know how I was doing in order to know what to pray for, for me.

Thankfully, I know that she will keep a confidence though. She has never gossiped to me or anything. I have known her for years....

[eskielover]

That would be tough not knowing who knows what & if what they know has been twisted. I can understand how frustrating that is

[Albatross2008]

Most of the people in my life nowadays are aware of my mental health issues. I'm glad to be among people who understand... but of course, if anybody didn't, and I couldn't explain, I wouldn't be able to keep that person in my life.

[Crypts_Of_The_Mind]

Most everyone in my life knows. I "feel them out" a bit before mentioning it. If I feel they will not be able to deal with it in a positive manner, I isolate myself from them until we "naturally" drift apart. That way there are no uncomfortable confrontations (yes, I have dealt with a few in the past n in my opinion they aren't worth it). For the ones I do tell, if they do not know what borderline personality disorder or depression or general anxiety or PTSD or psychotic symptoms are and what issues represent a need for concern, which ones are simply me misinterpreting, or how to deal with me should any of those things cause tension in our relationship (whatever kind it may be) - I answer any question and/or provide them with information. It keeps things running more easily for me.

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm glad you were able to tell your friend. That sure takes a lot of courage