How open are you about your illness?

[no name no slogan]

Do you tell many people about your illness, or do you keep it to yourself?

[Ann Arbor Dem]

1. I wouldn't say I tell everyone, but I am very open about it.

The stigma needs to be erased through education of the public, and I am active in doing my part. I am interviewed now and again about mental health issues from the perspective of one who battles depression.

[Droopy]

2. I voted for option #2, but

if the subject ever comes up I don't have a problem with telling people that I suffer from mental illness. I don't advertise it, but I'm honest about it. All of my family and friends know it. The management at the company I work for know it. I told them when I was hospitalized. I needed them to know I needed sick leave and that involved a reason. A few of my co-workers know. One of my bosses is very understanding. I had a talk with her one day and she said that she knows a person who is mentally ill and is currently on disablilty. She said that she thinks that I'm a very strong person for being able to do what I do with the illness that I have. I accepted the compliment, but I guess I should have told her that many people who are mentally ill lead a normal appearing life. You'd never guess that some people who are mentally ill are indeed that.

[underseasurveyor]

3. Pretty much private about it.

A few of my closest family members, my husband of course, and three of my best and closest friends.

I've always been the private loner type anyway. I don't "share" my inner self easily. For one I guess I figure it's none of their business and two, they have their own problems to deal with. If however a friend mentions dealing with a similar problem either with themselves or a loved one of theirs, depending who it is, I might mention my experiences and personl struggles so they don't feel so lost and alone.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. i am pretty public about most things...

[no name no slogan]

5. Yeah, I'm deliberately public about it

The reason I call it "deliberately" public is because I want to help dispell the "stigma" of mental illness.

Even in today's enlightened times, there's still a lot misinformation and bad stereotypes out there. I want to show that having a brain disease doesn't make you a leper, or a freak, or some sort of 'dangerous' individual.

Most people, when they meet me, have no idea I have a brain disease. According to my friends, most people's first impression of me is somebody who's intelligent (a bit quirky, probably), humorous, warm, attentive and maybe just a bit goofy. I do not come off as a 'stereotypical' depressed person-- I don't wear all black, I'm not overly gloomy and I don't obsess on death (like I used to when I was younger).

I don't shout it from the rooftops, but if anybody talks to me long enough they'll find out. And it doesn't bother me one bit, anymore.

Taking ownership of your disease can be very empowering. For me, it's one of the things that makes getting along with it easier. But of course everybody's mileage may vary. ;)

[mdmc]

6. other

not very public..

[Forkboy]

7. I'm totally open about it now, but wasn't as recently as a few years ago.

I no longer care if people want to use it against me (a couple posters here have). I know that most people understand that mental illness isn't a choice.

[Ladyhawk]

8. I'm in denial...nt

[fizzgig]

9. i'm completely open about

last year i volunteered with a committee trying to get an inpatient detox/acute mental health treatment center built in our county and, as part of that, i wrote a soapbox about my own struggle with my illness.

i don't go around announcing it, but i will speak very candidly about it.

[Ladyhawk]

10. I've learned to shut up about it. Nobody really gives a shit.

The best I can do is complain anonymously on some stupid Internet forum.

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. Completely, but I still find myself judged as if I were the same as everyone else.

Dual Diagnosis. "Not Normal".:shrug: