My very close friends and family know I'm bipolar and that I use to have an ED. but I would like to be more open about it. My bp is a big part of my life and although I am stable I do still cycle up and down a bit.
I am a med student and I have told the university.
I am on lithium and lamotrogin (im go on and off the lamotrogin regularly) so I have to be regularly monitored by my GP, with bloods and dosage. I often have to say to my friends at UNI 'i have to go to the docs now' and they ask if I'm ok and always just say yes. I would like to tell them but I'm a bit scared incase they think I'm not well enough to be a doctor or incase they judge me or people in my group start talking/bitching about me. Medicine is tough and people very bitchy. Everyone is always trying to be the best, so my bp presents weakness.
There is a nurse at work (I have a part time job on a ward) has bp and she is really open about it. Every one knows. I wish I could be like that.
Anyone else got a similar story? Should I 'come out'.
It took me years before I was honest with my family about my mental health problems and sometimes I wish I had never told them but I wouldn't have been able to hide my hospitalisations etc. When I told some of my previous employers they were helpful but only because I was working with people with mental health problems. Back then I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety but now I have borderline personality disorder added to the mix and I am reluctant to let anyone know, especially professionals, because of the way people with BPD are perceived. How do you think the important people in your life would react if you shared more with them?
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
I am number two (not quite my real name). I have also been on a local radio station. So I am very 'out'. This has been a big relief, I don't bother trying to hide any more.
I have done a lot of work with the mental health charity Rethink and other sorts of mental health campaigning, and training student nurses & OTs, so I have positive things to talk about around having a mental illness.
Have you covered mental illness at med school? How do other people react to the subject?
I'm studying public health, so in classes alongside lots of doctors & healthcare professionals. When I had to go into hospital last term, everyone was kind and supportive.
I have not told my parents about the fact I am schizophrenic. There are things that they have done which I feel have not been very supportive, and also my ex psychatrist told my mum in the past that I had voices in my head. My mum in particular thinks that they (the voices) are something I have done for attention and the same goes for my SI. She also thinks that my depression is sheer laziness.
I also like to be in control of things and not telling them is having control over something in my life. So that is another reason why I have not told them.
I have told two other people though: one was my ex, who was less than supportive. But then again, he is a bit of a jerk. The other person, who I consider to be my only friend, is great. Not only did she come to see me when I was in the psych unit nearly 2 years ago, she has not treated me any different to when she found out I was mentally ill. I told her my diagnosis and far from believing all the stigma/myths about schizophrenia, again has not treated me any different. She has depression herself, so she understands what it is like to live with an mh problem.
Fortunately I am doing really well (really stable atm) with the schizophrenia, so hopefully my friend wont see me when I am really bad again.
Wannabe CPN : -)
"He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life." - Homer Simpson "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" Sanity is a nasty disease. The world would be a happier place without it. - Rilic
RIP Kat 4th July 1987- 11th June 2013
Thank you duck. You are amazing and inspirational.
I really do think that being 'out' would really help me to accept and cope with my illness.
Like I feel like I spend so much time Lying and if I was honest it would take that pressure of.
It depresses me so much sometimes that I live this secret life.
I used to be scared of people knowing. One day I was getting my hair cut and somehow me and the girl got onto the subject of schizophrenia and I just admitted that I had a form of it. Then she said that her husband and a friend both had it. And it struck me how common it really is, everybody will know *somebody* with mental health problems, even if they don't realise it, or even don't see it as MH.
So since then my attitude has been to be open about it, and if people don't like it, that's their problem. If they give me hassle, smack **** out of them. Simplez.
To say I'm completely devoid of morals, would be harsh. Although I would have to admit I find it difficult to give a ****.
My parents, siblings, close friends and my manager at work know the full extent of my MH issues. I will also be informing my university of changes to my MH issues when I return in September
Other work collegues, other friends know I have MH issues, but not to what extent.
People who are aquaintences have no idea, unless they ask me directly, at which point I'm honest to an extent.
My family know all of it. One friend knows I am diagnosied Bipolar, A few of my friends know I have MH problems (depression/anxiety) My work know..I wrote it on a form BUT I don't know if my manager actually knows the extent of it and I don't feel able to say "things are bad" when they are bad.
My trampolining club know I have bipolar/MH problems aswell. I always say, honesty is the best policy but I have friends that use it as an excuse, go on about it all the time (particularly on facebook) and that really irritates me..I basically tell people on a 'need to know' basis. The fact I'm bipolar/suffer from depression/anxiety doesn't 'make me' and it doesn't change who I am and I don't want people thinking differently about me.
Life can be beautiful if you let it.
Step back, breathe and take it in
Well.. My mum and dad first found out i was harming when i was 16 and though they were supportive they didn't understand. They were with me when the psych diagnosed me with severe depression at 17. Alot of people in my family found out about my mental health when i ended up been admitted to hospital for an od.. My mum, dad, brother, his gf, my uncle, auntie there daughter ( from my dads side) and my gran and grandad ( from my mums side) all found out. I arent sure if they knew i was actually depressed or if i was struggling Though they all knew about the od. I would have only wanted my mum, dad and brother to know the rest was taken out of my control.
The worst part was it was near christmas we was at my uncles house, my dads brother with my mum,dad, uncle, auntie and there daughter, there daughter happened to be a psych nurse. I was really struggling at that time.. i found it hard to be 'happy' since being depressed was becoming the 'normal' for me according to my CPN. I went outside and my cousin and dad followed trying to get me to open up and when they left i did cry and wish things were better. I came into the house to my auntie sitting down and telling me how they all knew while she held back the tears.. not the best way to find out but i found out that way.
My friends were a whole new ball game.. I have 3 very clost friends who i do talk about it quite openly with. My mate A is very easy going and it kinda helps in a strange way that her dad is a clinical psychologist. She has always been very supportive. My other friend i found out used to sh and goes through depression so she always helps me out, my other friend .. came out one night i cant remember how though... lol I think my other mate told him. I was fine with it as he is training to be a psych nurse, though i thought he knew i used to sh he didn't and i nearly had a fit over it hehe. Another friend i have told as he has been through depression. I am always weary about telling people my issues it may seem very open and i am to people who know i have these issues.. With other people, they would never guess.
My work don't know in my other job they never found out the chef did asked if i sh-ed as my sleeve came up and my scars were on show ' It looks like self harm?' Giving me a serious look . ' Me? Self harm in your dreams!'
I knew this reply would be long.. didnt think it would be this long though
My close friend knows, and my boyfriend.
I haven't managed to tell my parents I'm on medication, they thought my self harm was attention. Even though that has stopped, I have a major fear of social events, going to shops, going to pubs etc. Due to my hearing problems. (I'm partially deaf).
It causes me to panic and I end up not going out unless someone is with me.
My extended family are aware of my mental health problems, but only my immediate family know the specifics due to having had to live with me/coming to visit my in hospital. I've had quite a few long admissions, and once when my grandparents visited I felt quite awkward/sad but I am happy they are all aware because they don't put pressure on me to socalise and are very understanding. My cousin and aunt confided in me and told me they are both on anti depressants and I feel it's helped some family members to talk more openly about their feelings and life's struggles with me which is great. Some family I am not that open with, especially self harm as I know it really upsets them. One thing that makes it a positive is that when I achieve something which seems small to others, they recognise it for what it is which i like.
Many of my friends experience/d mental health problems and are very empathetic. The ones who haven't find it harder to understand my quirks and sometimes it can be hard relating to them, but they do try. I feel its helpful that my friends know so they don't take things personally when i'm having a bad day.
sticks and stones may break your bones but words can tear your heart out.
My family know and they aren't particularly supportive but they do love me so it's a mixture with them.
My friends know, although they aren;t all fully up to date but in part thats because I am camilla not bipolar camilla. They are generally supportive and have seen me through my ups and downs.
My old work place found out due to me having a manic episode whilst there and as I was close to them it came out that way. I then got admitted to hospital whilst at work so yep they know whats going on and they were lovely about it all
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
this is a scarey question.. because telling people is scarey. Most my family and friends know about my anxiety and depression.. i am not scared to admit to that. some know that i have a dissociation disorder but in the general sense and only a handful know that i have dissociation to the degree of having alters or as we call them..others.
it is terrifying telling someone new about it tho.. such as therapists because well.. even tho they are not SUPOSSED to judge you and all .. I cant help freaking out and constantly thinking and knowing that since they are human too ..that on some level of their thinking they are judging me... because well.. most of the world cant help being judgmental even if they never show it or share it.
but that is my anxiety working in overdrive..
I have not told my parents about the fact I am schizophrenic. There are things that they have done which I feel have not been very supportive, and also my ex psychatrist told my mum in the past that I had voices in my head. My mum in particular thinks that they (the voices) are something I have done for attention and the same goes for my SI. She also thinks that my depression is sheer laziness.
Same.
My friends are very open with me about my problems and help me the best they can. Which I am greatful for. But I understand not everyone will react the same. I think that if anyone judges you for having bipolar/mentl health issues, are they really worth spending your time and energy on anyway?? Friends should accept you the way you are.
Everyone on here is very brave,so far the only two "people" who know about my depression (in depth and in detail) are my school counesllour and my Tumblr followers.My family know that I am not very stable mentally,but they have no idea about the SH,and it would freak them out completley mentioning the big D word..."I'm too young and well-off to have it" anyway right haha?
My friends know I used to SH a while back,but like a true addict I lied and told them I'd stopped...when of course I hadn't.They have completley pushed my "dirty little secret" out of their minds though.
I did tell a close friend about it a while ago when I decided that I had to really start to recover properlly,but about a week later we were in the library and I was looking at a book about Depression and she said "you don't have depression" in a silly/jokey way.
Which kinda hurt...A LOT.
Uh...so sorry that was so long but basically my point is WELL DONE EVERYONE :) Being open is the hardest step,and I know that I'll get to that place one day,with time <3
a lot of these coming out stories are very inspirational an i think every one of you that have told someone else about your MH issues are very brave
my parents are aware of all of my mental health diagnostics but i am too afraid to tell my other family or friends about my MDD and psychosis. a lot of people here including my family think that psychosis = crazy dangerous murderer.
maybe some day i will "come out" an not be ashamed but not now
Thank you so much everyone for anwsering ti this thread.
You have made me proud for being so honest to another person/people. You have inspired me to be more open.
I hope one day int the future. Maybe when I have become a qualified and established doctor and my bipolar is more stable (I still go up and down a bit too much). I would like to start a campaigne to make people talk about mental health more.
Maybe like a vlog and a website.
