Who have disclosed your diagnosis to?

[Seph1212]

I'm wondering who and under what circumstances you all have disclosed your diagnosis to others.

As far as family, they all know that I've been treated for depression in the past, but that it's been BP for 15 years is my little seccret. And the majority in my family have also been treated for depression, are alcoholic, and there are a couple bipolars. Wanna come over for a holiday dinner? Just kidding.

They'd be supportive in that they'd likely say something...I'm glad you're getting help, but there are two major concerns I have:

First, almost everyone in my family is a raging gossip. My mother and best cousin (also bipolar) are the worst. I've called them on that behavior before, and while they apologize, without missing a beat they'll say something like, did you hear about so and so? AAACK! I bet within a few days it would come full circle to me. Did you hear about Seph? Ooop, you're he. My bad. Incidentally, the bipolar cousin has told me that I as BP as %$@&. Ain't she sweet.

Second, while supportive, I suspect some would hold it against me. My mother, sister, her husband, and an aunt or two would be the most likely in this regard. I mean that this way. Any conflict would be seen automatically as due to my illness. While it would be great if they were free of conflict themselves, they're not, but they likely wouldn't see it that way, Trust me, they can master manipulators.

As for friends, I have two whom I'd consider very best friends. I've told M. His response was, well duh. But he'll also at times say, you're so manic. I'll respond with either, you think, or spare me your layman's diagnosis, after all I'm not spurring you into the latest martial arts moves or daring you to go rappelling. C would alternate between not getting it (just get ahold of yourself) and getting it too much (her mom was schizophrenic). Incidentally, she was the one I talked into flying out to meet me during my three lost weeks in Hollywood. She can't be totally clueless.

As for personal relationships, I've been the master of sabotage, so no matter there.

[BD63085]

At first I didn't want to tell anyone because I was embarrassed about the entire situation.  When working, I was selective about telling my boss (in order to prevent the same activities that happen within the family setting).

After a while (when you are comfortable with the situation) it will be easier to tell whomever you want because their opinion will not matter.  As long as you understand who you are and the illness that you have, it doesn't matter how people feel or what anybody does anymore.  

Good Luck to you.

[starbunny]

I think that you have to use your own judgement to decide who is worthy of knowing and who is not. Personally if I thought that family members or friends would use the information negatively to gossip or whatever I wouldn't tell them.
However, generally I am quite open about the illness. My family know, close friends, my soon to be employer, the care team, this community on the internet and a few others who have had the need. Personally I find it a relief not to have to hide anything and really don't give a hoot if anyone has got a problem with it. End of.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I disclosed to people it is applicable to such as people who wonder why I am the way I am or my bosses and coworkers (I only have two coworkers currently and one is my supervisor mind you) and people who could benefit from knowing such as uneducated people or people who have the same disorder or a similar one.  Of course at the treatment center I go to I tell anyone there as they all have related mental illnesses to mine or the same one.  I also disclose to people who think I'm on drugs due to my mental illness because I take pride in the fact I stay off of drugs.

[thornis]

Family (my sister is a psychologist which helps) minus my mother cause she's a worry wart. Family doctor, ex-girl friend who is still supportive of me, one of my room mates, and most certainly would if I was in a relationship. Friends who I know over the internet know as there is a barrier between me and the person but not friends I know outside of the internet.

[ILADVOCATE]

I've disclosed my psychiatric disability to basically everyone I know without a problem. Now that I have a physical disability as well I do have to explain what's going on. Before my current recovery it was more the specific behavior I engaged in, not disclosing my diagnosis that would cause trouble as regards friendships or with people I knew in general. For myself it worked the other way that is before my current recovery I would tell people I hardly knew (such as store owners where I lived) my life story and although they began to get uncomfortable after  a while I could not "read" that partly from the negative symptoms of schizoffective disorder and partly from having manic episodes. Where I worked it was different because it was an organization for disability rights and advocacy so that was never a problem. In the outside world disclosure for me was like any other information and it was a judgment call.