Bipolar Disorder Support Group

I am so many things bi polar being just one of those things. Most of the things that make up who I am are looked upon by society as not really within the norm but I don't really give a shit. Its never been a part of me to care what the rest of the world thought of me. I have held down very tradional jobs and some not so tradional ones. The most important reason I have for telling anyone about my being BP is that both my kids are also BP and refuse to admit it. I am hoping that someday by seeing that I dont consider it a stigma they will admit it at least to themselves and get the help they need.

You can make friends and not tell them you are bipolar. They don't have to know everything about you.

For me it always comes up because I am on disability for my bipolar. People want to know why I am disabled. It really doesn't bother me much when I have to out myself. If they look at me funny after it is their loss not mine because they wouldn't have been a good friend in the first place.

I don't go around and tell everyone one I meet about me being a beeper. But almost all my friends and family know. I think if you educate people as you share you make the world a better place for beepers. It's the only way to get rid of stigma, to let people see a bipolar person and see that they are real people just like themselves. I think the only place to really be careful is at work. Work is so competitive its best not to let anyone know you have a weakness. I think the biggest thing to remember is that bipolar is something you have its not who you are. Let people get to know the real you and when you think they're ready tell them about the bp.

Always best to be open from the start, If it has got to the stage where you are meeting for a cuppa. You can usually judge the timing or if the person you are telling is genuine enough and liking your company. That way they have the option. If they leave then that's their ignorance not yours. Tell tham the good and the bad of your experience of having bipolar.There are more open minded people in this world than you seem to think.

Having bipolar is a disease. Would you be ashamed if you had the big C?

i am just like you ..ashamed about my being bp. only 4 people in my life know ..i find it more and more difficult to keep a secret. i would love to have some friends but feel it much safer not to .because i think they would find out about my awful disease.. its terrible the stigma that comes with mental illness. really sucks. its a lonely life ..for me ..

I feel it is no ones business.
I am me, I have bipolar!

I struggle with the same thing. A couple of my close friends and family know, but I don't plan on telling anyone else. I'm wondering when do you tell someone as far as a person you could be in a relationship with? Is it like the 3rd date rule or something? I can't exactly hide taking meds very well, especially with the side effects being apparent. I'm a very open person so I HATE not telling people but that's what I've been doing. I've only had the diagnosis for a year and I just don't know how to work with it! I get what youo're saying stable09 but unfortunately have no advice...

Well, sometimes I try to fake being normal...and i suck at it. Whenever I try that, people KNOW I'm hiding something. It only makes them suspicious.

Honestly, I wish I could tell more people about my own personal idiosyncrasies...but for the most part, they just aren't READY to hear that.

So most of the time I simply come off as moderately wierd.

What a dilemma, eh?

for me there really is no stigma....or rather i dont allow it to affect me. all of my friends know (and some dont get it) and all of my family knows....no i dont walk up to someone new i meet and be like "hi im lexi and im bp" but if i have someone over and they ask about my meds or what im taking this or that for i dont have a problem awnsering. usually it comes up in conversation. if they dont want anything to do with me after it comes up.....there loss not mine.....none of my friends are fair weather friends and im very lucky in that aspect.

I have shared with close friends. I have had family members share this with many of their friends and family AGAINST my will however I have learned not to let it bother me. I have had a few make fun of me and I just ignored them. You will end up rising above the situation. Good Luck!