maybe the key is to address our own feelings of shame and guilt. Racism still resides in this country after how many years? I do think the fight is a good one, but I think it's important to not let "others" define who/what we are.

zsa -- I also came out to one of my old bosses without a problem. In fact, we were able to work out a way to reduce my stress.

There are going to be people out there who are ignorant. There always will be, but I am who I am. There are plenty of people out there who don't like it.

I'm not afraid of what people might think of me, I'm afraid of what they might do. In certain situations, people will use the knowledge against you. Try getting a job after informing them that you're Bipolar. It's all well and good if you have nothing to lose by disclosing your BP, not suck a good idea if you DO have something to lose.
Having said that, I tend to be rather free with the fact when I'm happy hypo. Not so much so, when I'm feeling anxious and/or depressed.
You're by no means the only one who is being open and honest. I see lots of posts on the board where people are open about their illness.

my closest friends and my family know other than that no one needs to know
i dont know the word for it but it is not ashamed i just think some people are very judgemental and i don't want to be judged like that

You're right CarlaBent, there are many people on here who are open about it - I shouldn't have let my vision get clouded by other posts.

And as far as jobs go I don't think illnesses are something that need to be disclosed in a job interview. I get that people don't want to hire somebody who is sick, with any illness not just BP. But I also think that if the employer found out and didn't want to hire me, then that would not have been a good place for me to work at anyway,

But honestly, I wasn't talking about jobs when I first posted this. I meant just in life. If the topic of Bipolar comes up, would you keep quiet or offer that it is an illness you have?

sorry Ritkat, I had you confused with someone else. I still don't think it's wise to come out on FB if you are looking for a job. A little paranoid, but still....

I completely understand why we should be open about our illness and try to fight the stigma, however there are few that really do understand. I have only told a few family members and my boss in my last job. (I was laid off shortly after, yes I thought it was b/c of BP) I went back to school, got a job and was promoted within a month. I work in the medical field however that doesn't seem to matter. My boss was telling me about one of our largest clients and joked about her being BP b/c she couldn't make up her mind!! She's a nurse for goodness sake! How am I supposed to confide in my boss or my coworkers? They will never understand. I am currently on disability from having a major breakdown after two MVA's back to back, then tried to kill myself twice. I'm really not sure I can face going back to that place.

Regardless, I rambled off there. I feel as though there is a huge stigma that will take a long time to break the cycle. I agree we should not hide behind it b/c yes it does cause guilt and shame, however at what stake?

I started writing my own experince and explanation and it got long winded....lol.....I hate long winded stuff...I even bored myself....lol

Today's quote....who gives a fuck

BTW I don't think being discreet about it necessarily equals shame.

in an ideal society, in an ideal world it wouldn't matter what illnesses we do or don't have. but i live in this world, shitty though it may be, and in this world it does matter. i no longer tell anyone that i have bp.. i have lost my son to this illness because he couldn't accept it, i have lost my husband because i threw him away when i was manic, i lost my last job because the hr person told someone in authority i was bp and they made sure to overload my ass (yes, she told me this and then said she would not admit it).

it is not fear that prevents me from wearing a banner that says "i am bipolar", it is not guilt, nor is it shame...it is commonsense because the only way i can survive in this world is to keep my secret. have a nice day because i sure as hell am not.

the world i live in has $500 in the bank, $10,000 debt on a credit card, no job and no prospects of getting a job. i am grateful that i have a friend of 30+ years who is willing to let me live in her home and feed me for however long it takes to get on my feet.

I am open about it with a VERY select group of people. Granted, I am new to the diagnosis, and still really in the eval phase, but I've only told people who I trust and who love me. Beyond that, it's really nobody else's business.

That said, I will NEVER tell my family. They created this disaster with the toxic wasteland that passed for my childhood. I will never hand my mother (or various other family members) the weapon of "Have you gone off your meds, honey?"

I think most of us can stand up against intolerance without necessarily self-identifying. Personally, I will not tolerate racism, homophobia, etc. in my presence, and everyone around me knows it. This falls under the same umbrella. If someone attacks BP, I'm going after them, no different than if I hear a racial slur. They don't have to know anything more about me except that I don't play like that.

There is no guilt in having a disease that is genetically based. There is no shame in fighting with bravery and spirit with an affliction you didn't ask for or contract by any means. I agree with you. However, as my pdoc (he's also my therapist) says, "We live in an unempathic world" How true. But that will eventually change over the decades as more and better treatments come our way. Right now, we have to deal with what is giving to us. We are pioneers. As for myself, my attitude is thus: I care not a wit what other people think of me. Seriously. I choose my friends carefully. Either they love me or they don't and if they don't then my dear friends they don't have the privledge of my friendship. Period. Life is too short.

I don't feel guilty about having the illness it is in no control of mine, just like my RA I can't control it. Feeling shameful yes I do. I don't want anybody to know to pass judgement even if it could be to my benefit. Only my few select people know I get called crazy enough with out people knowing the truth so I don't need to give them anymore amunition.

Well from my perspective alone; I don't tell people that I have BP, not out of shame or guilt but simply because I am a very private person by nature. I feel no need to publicise my life in any shape or form, I see it no different to being diagnosed as being hypoglycaemic in terms of it wouldn't be something I was ashamed of nor proud of in any sense.

I'm very neutral about my illness, I accept it and I try to stay positive.

Of course there is discrimination when it comes to mental illness, there are very few subjects/issues in this world that don't come attached with some stigma or another. Unfortunately we have to keep our chins up and fight only the battles that are presented to us, as opposed to looking for them.

You are only a victim to discrimination if you allow yourself to be to a CERTAIN extent, in terms of not putting yourself in the position to be discriminated against.

An example of discrimination and how it will be there for ever is look at the gay community; how on earth is it 2011 and equal rights for gay couples is STILL an issue? It was just last week that I saw on the news that a gay couple were refused a double room in a small hotel simply because they were a same sex couple! Naturally, they sued the hotel and won a discrimination suit and got compensation.

The point is regardless of the content, there will be battles to be fought for all of eternity when it comes to discrimination because although it is illegal it doesn't stop it from happening;whether it's your mental health,choice of partner, lifestyle, weight,height,age,intelligence,job etc people do one thing consistently throughout life and that is JUDGE.

*Sighs* people..

lol sorry I now realise I may have got a little too in to "rant mode".

To each their own =)

exactly tiaras....I like the way you think.