I have a lady friend who has bipolar disorder. We come quite a long way…even from before I became ill.
We live far apart but she is comming to visit her siblings here in my town. Today she told me her one sister has schizophrenia.
That left me with the liberty to also tell her about my illness. I text the message to her so I will see the outcome once she read it.
A while ago I told an old school friend but she break all forms of communication between us…real stigma.
It’s like the longer I have this illness the more people I want to tell. People can see me for who I am. I am not the illness. If they judge and stigmatize then we know where the real problem lies. Telling people is a relief…probably something like coming out of the closet.
Thanks @Wave for your reply and support. She actually phoned me a little earlier and we spoke for an hour. She is so cool with all of this. She bakes for a living and she said she is going to bake for me a variety of cookies once she get here.
When I first told my dr about my voices and such he said never ever tell anyone, not even my wife. Said the stigma is too sever. Now the only one who knows anything is my wife and what she’s told her parents. Still I minimize as much as I can with my wife and have never discussed it with anyone else I know.
I am extremely open about my illnesses
So far, it’s been mostly accepted
I haven’t had a bad experience yet, just ignorant people asking silly questions.
I’m out and proud
I like to think that maybe I’m helping those around me understand the illness a little better
Or not
My doctor didn’t want me to tell anyone either but I thought that was only years ago (the 60’s). I thought people were more aware by now. Anyway, I live in a small town and it’s a ridiculous idea to try to keep people from knowing. Sure, there is some shame on my part but not enough to make me bow down to some stigma.
I live in an assisted living facility with all elderly people 75 years and up. I’m the youngest one here. I’m in my 50’s. Anyway, the administration told me, when I moved in here, not to tell anyone here about my sza, if I knew what was good for me. I have kept it a total secret for the past year and a half. I think that this is a good idea because it helps me to think that I am a normie as well.