Breaking the news to family or friends......

oh, yes. information is power. maybe schedule a meeting with ya psychiatrist to explain the dx better. shrinks are very good with breaking down barriers. I myself went through the hell of judgement and stigma and even more, but I would never change it. we got to educate these people who are ignorant. mental illness is a medical condition. if it were brain cancer it would be different. me, tell them straight up. you will know instantly who will support you and whom will not, sadly the not is family; in some circumstances. information, when, how, treatments etc. understanding is more out there now. get info on support services, they are out there. expletive the lot of them. it is a medical condition and SHOULD be treated like no other condition. keep strong. here for ya.

I just got my diagnosis about a month ago. I have to select members of my family who wont share the info with anyone I dont want them to. As far as the rest of my family I am not going to tell them.
They wouldn't understand and would judge.

I use to think this way, but I am getting old now. if it is out there, you don't have to hide from it. when people meet me, I say hi, I am Jamie and I live with mental illness. my outstretched hand looking them right in the eye. the judgement will come thick and fast, like, oh, late for my apt, i'll catch up, or oh okay, tell me about it. it infuriates me that we need to be selective or hide mental illness for fear of judgement and stigma, hey I use it to my adv. one life, expletive living with fear..........you know you will greatly manage your illness when it is out there. I have tossed a coin for ya, are ya heads or tails? keep strong.