Telling Friends That You Have Bipolar Disorder

I recently have felt like telling two of my friends that I have bipolar disorder. I have only known them since September but we are already very close. I don't know if it really is a good idea though. I am afriad that they might think of me differently if I tell them.

The doctor and some family members are the only ones I talk to about my illness. It would be nice to have some other support and friends to talk to about it. Bipolar disoder is a huge part of my life. Most of the time I think it is something that should be kept hidden.

I just wonder if I should wait to tell them until we have known each other longer. Also, every friend that I told about my disorder, is basically no longer a friend anymore. It might not necessarily be because I told them I have bipolar disorder. Although I can't help but wonder that was a factor in the friendship ending. So, lately I have been extremely cautious about who I tell that I have bipolar disorder. Part of me is saying to continue to be cautious, but another part of me wants to tell my friends. Maybe friendship should just be reserved for having fun, and not for telling personal things.

Hi Jade,

The day I was officially diagnosed, I called all of my family members. That would be 3 brothers and 3 sisters and my Mom. Unfortunately, not one of them has called me to ask how I was doing - pretty sad dealing with this solo. My goal is to educate them, share books with them etc....otherwise they will never get a clear understanding of the disorder. I have told three friends whom I have known for a minimum of 5 years and have asked for confidentiality. In other words, I trust them. As far as the career goes, I don't plan on telling them due to fear of ruining my professional career. Bi-polar is still a scary word with much stigma attached to it.

One thing I keep telling myself is that it's not my fault and it is treatable. Hopefully, this helps.

Rico

Rico,  I understand what you mean with your family.  My boyfriend has bipolar and his brother and sister totally shut him out of everything because of his illness.  His mother preaches to them not to treat him any different be she herself treats him like a child.  He allows it because he likes the attention from her (he is the middle child) and always felt a little left out when he was growing up.  The only one who doesn't treat him any different is his father who ignores him just as much as he always did.  People are weird when it come to any kind of mental illness.

 

I am still considering telling my friends.  One friend I basically tell her everything, but I still have not told her about the bipolar.  It seems weird because other people can talk about other really personal things.  Other woman talk about how things like they got pregnant at a young age, or did drugs/alcohol, or were in bad relationships etc.  These were things that happened, that they could control.  I had no control over having bipolar disorder yet I can't talk about it. 

I geuss I am all too aware of the stigma's and what other people say.  I may be afraid that they will treat me different if they knew.  I know that my own Mother treats me completely different than her other kids because I have bipolar.  She does not mean to, but she does it all the same.  I have only known my friends for about 7 months, so I might wait a little bit longer to say anything.  I can say that it feels like I have known them much longer.  From their personalities I really don't think they would be judgemental.  I geuss I will see if the time feels right to say anything.