Is it necessary to tell friends and non-immediate family that I have bipolar disorder?

Question

My friends and I like to have fun: we're not exactly close though. If I tell one of them something, suddenly everyone in my circle of friends knows. (And I'm not talking about 5 or 10 people, I'm talking about 25-50 people). However, they often make rude and vulgar comments about bipolar disorder, and make fun of me when I'm really sad. This also occurs with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., who are also not aware I have the disorder. What should I do?

Answer 1

it all depends on the person your telling, some people i have told have took the p**s were my immediate family are supportive but my non immediate family, I'm not sure if they know i have problems but i couldn't give a s*it if they did or didn't, your uncle and cousins will stop if they know and will be much more supportive, think carefully about which friend to tell if any  

Answer 2

Its completely up to you.  It doesn't sound like you have a really close friend that you confide in and if your friends talk and will not understand it will not make things any easier for you.

From experience you will more than likely know when the time and person is right.  While not bipolar I have suffered from depression for almost 20 years and my close friends know and love me just the same.  Maybe your family could be told but you would have a better idea about how they would take it and as everyone has said its your call.

Just remember what ever happens never let any one make you feel inferior because of it.  These days if asked I will be honest about it as I do not feel embarrassed but I have had along time to adjust.  Years ago my doc gave me a good analogy, a diabetic is some one that (may) have to take insulin as one part of their body doesn't work the way it should, they are not treated differently so what is the difference with mental health diseases?  Its just a different part of the body, that's all.

Answer 3

Don't tell anyone.  If there was one person to tell, it should be a therapist.

Answer 4

I say the opposite of what everyone else says.  The more people talk about mood disorders, the less the stigma will be.  I would tell people, but explain the disorder, and how it can effect you.  I would talk about it when you feel healthy, so that you can stay on topic.  Hopefully, you are taking your meds regularly and seeing a therapist or counsellor.  You need all the support you can get.  Good luck!

Answer 5

Who cares??? Be pround of yourself. Bipolar isn't only a handicap, it's a gift at times as well... h**l, I can't say I hate it when I'm only hypomanic... it can get out of hand though. Tell em, or don't tell em... not a big deal.

Answer 6

wow i kinda know how that feels, besides i'm not bipolar, i have Major Depressive disorder and social anxiety.(basically hard to treat depression and anxiety/staying sad a lot) i say keep it to yourself,for you can see just about what kind of c**p you would be put through if they knew you had it, and adding on the stress from those people aren't going to do you a bit of good. and if you were to mention it to friends and family, and if you get sad a lot, then they are just going to get sick of you being depressed, or you'll be known for the chick with problems. just let them believe that there is nothing wrong. it's kinda like taking them by surprise without them knowing.

Answer 7

If you tell your business be prepared to have people talk about you and keep their distance from you.  I know this from personal experience.  Also people will be so condescending and treat you like a child, or a freak.

Answer 8

You are the only one that controlls how you act.

Answer 9

No.  There's a reason for mental health privacy laws.  That really does suck though.  Maybe instead of telling them, when they say those hurtful things, you could tell them that you've been doing a lot of research about bipolar people online because you have an interest in psychology.  Then you could give them counterpoints to the mean things they say and educate them a little.  Its not easy to stand up against people you care about, but people you care about should also respect what you say and care about in return.

Answer 10

Your medical or mental problems are YOUR business, nobody else's. Don't say anything. You have nothing to gain by telling them.

Answer 11

have your parents talked to the family members when they start to be rude about your depression? if i was your mom, i would tell them how ignorant they were, and tell them you have a medical condition. and if they were rude again, i would stop seeing them. i would always choose my child over relatives. maybe your parents should be protecting you from their ignorance.

Answer 12

No, don't tell anyone. People are very ******* ignorant and don't understand something they haven't experienced.

I tried telling my friends and family. Family said "we will help"

Friends said "we will help and try not to get you angry or upset"

A week later, back to the same old BS.

Sometimes I feel people don't comprehend on the same level as me.

Its like people's memory capacity is decreasing, when you are explaining, they act like they will do everything to not trigger anything, but they just forget, sometimes in a day sometimes in a week.

I get ridiculed by my friends for being so moody and getting pissed at everything. Honestly I don't give a ***** anymore, and I just tell them to leave me alone and tell them I am just stressed, and even then, they can't respect me.

Don't tell them, and **** your uncles and cousins. If your parents understand you, that's good enough, because i wish my parents understood.

Answer 13

You do not have to tell anyone that you have bipolar disorder. Sometimes it is hard to be quiet when everyone is making rude comments about it but just remind yourself that people are ignorant. They do not need to know.

Answer 14

You don't have to tell "non-essential" people about any illness or other personal info. Perhaps take this event to advocate for folks with mental illness. Sadly, there is still a stigma regarding mental illness. If that is not a possibility for you, change the subject when someone at school mentions it and don't acknowledge the teasing in any way. Try to stay strong. You are not defective or deficient and the folks who love you truly know that.

Answer 15

You don't have to tell them. They may ask you why you are sometimes acting so weird and unusual. You can tell them that you try to work it. Get some advice/help from a psychiatrist.