Friends and schizophrenia - do you tell?

DX'd - Other
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I just wanted to share the good news! I made 2-3 or more friends! This has been a huge goal of mine for over a decade now.

I was always too ill with sz to have friends, which was hard for me to be so lonely. But recently I’ve been doing better than in my past.

I have not told any of them about my exact diagnosis of sz, although they know I am disabled by a mental illness. I am out of practice I guess. Is this something to tell friends? I’ve had bad luck with telling others about my sz diagnosis.

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I think you approached it the right way. People don’t tend to be understanding to sz in my experience so I wouldn’t go into much detail.

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Hmmmmm…… I wouldn’t tell them.

Or at least wait for the right moment to bring it up maybe… like if it comes up in conversation at some point….

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I have disclosed to the closest ones.

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Congrats on making friends! I generally wait a few years into the friendship to tell. But each friendship is different. I have a friend I have never told because I work with her and one friend that knew from day one because we met in group therapy.

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I try not to disclose my diagnosis for quite a while after meeting new friends. I find that people tend to see my actions and mannerisms through a lens of shizophrenia otherwise. Its like my potential as a great friend becomes stunted as a result.
But if i was generally a very unwell person and had psychosis more regularly i would probably tell them just to be safe.

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My diagnosis is private when it comes to most people but I will tell a schizophrenic friend my diagnosis.

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Family all know. All my close friends know too especially the ones I was conversing with whilst psychotic.

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That’s ok. I have friends who I’ve known for 8-9 years who have no clue what my diagnosis is. I simply don’t tell. They dont need to know. It’s not their business

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Oh thank you so much everyone for weighing in! You’ve all given me such great advice! I can’t thank you enough! I will hold off on telling anyone about my sz diagnosis I believe. I don’t want to be seen through a lens of sz, as @Ozzyskits so very well put it.

I’m just going to enjoy my new friendships! I’m very happy and grateful for them! Thanks to everyone again! The feedback was so helpful!

@Turtle44 @anon61987434 @shutterbug @bittercat @77nick77 @rogueone @LilyoftheValley

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It’s not their business to know.

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I wouldnt tell anyone. Its not their business and theyll judge you for it. Consciously or not

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I disclosed to a very close friend.

He ghosted me

Not been able to make friends since

Do get online interaction here, and my manager knows about my issues

Things are at a sweet spot at the moment

There is enough concessions being made for me in employment and the supportiveness of my parents I cannot begin to praise them highly enough

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I’ve told close friends and family members, but there are less close friends and family members who I haven’t told.

I trust my 6th sense to judge whether I can trust someone or not.

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I’m pretty open about my dx. My in person besty knew about my dx before we even got to be close.

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It’s a safety and health precaution for me. My doctor thinks I’m one of the minority who can function without APs and I have been taken off of them. I’m one of those people who has insight until I don’t, and I can’t tell when it’s blown. I rely on the people around me to let me know when I’ve gone off the edge of the map.

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I would wait until you know them good enough

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I’m open about my diagnosis. I feel it gives me the chance to educate and advocate. That said, all my close friends also have mental illness…but even if they didn’t, if they thought sza was a deal breaker for being friends than they aren’t worth my time anyhow.

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This. If I get to being too weird, they’ll tell me.

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Uh, how are we supposed to know what constitutes “too weird”???

Your threshold is pretty damn high.