[InTallGrass]

I like to think my experiences make me wonderful at my job as a crisis bed counselor but it is SO hard some days due to my dx of bipolar 2 and mild BPD. It's hard because I hear the comments of my coworkers who have some very negative things to say about people with bpd specifically. I have to swallow a lot of it which is really tough. A few coworkers know what I deal with but most do not because I fear having them view me differently, and I'm typically able to hide my symptoms, (unless I'm in a major depression but I haven't been in one since working at this job). I lost my last job due to having to be in the hospital for two weeks and they couldn't deal with having me gone for that long so I'm extra sensitive. Anyone have any tips for coming out to coworkers about this? Should I tell more people or just keep quiet about it? For the most part I'm in a very communicative, open and supportive work environment with great people--it's just that negativity around bpd that some people just can't shake. Maybe I could just tell people about the bipolar and not the bpd? It's awful though because I'm not the type to hide parts of myself...

[Little Lulu]

By exposing your mental health issues at work, you are making the assumption that people will watch what they say around you about bpd. They may or they may not. Your time might be better spent continuing to work on your issues and allow others to be who they are, even if you don't agree with them.

Find a few people you like at work and who share your values of kindness and acceptance and hang with them.

[CosmicRose]

Well, if I were you I would wait for an opportune time to tell them you have bipolar, I wouldn't really give out the information about the BPD though, until at least after you gauge how they react to your bipolar. Don't just show up to work and announce you have bipolar though, just wait until your coworkers start talking about bipolar patients again and gently chime in, "I'm bipolar too, I understand how difficult it can be..." I don't think they will necessarily judge you, and if they do then they're in the wrong line of work. Although it's really none of their business, so just open up about it whenever the right timing comes along in a conversation. You can also say something like, "The fact that I have bipolar makes it easier for me to work in mental health because I know how it feels."