However. I know that the stigma is very much real. His fears about losing his job - I share those fears. I DO know people that have looked at me differently when I've shared that I have had mental health struggles. Not everyone is supportive. Not everyone is understanding.
I think the same way people used to throw around the word: "gay" as a negative and how offensive that is to non-hetero folks is similar to the way that I hate when people say "he's crazy" or "she must be bipolar" to describe someone's behavior (key word: behavior, normal, human, perhaps dramatic behavior) in front of me.
I can't really fault them if they don't know. I haven't told them. Sometimes I'm tempted. But, the fact that they're throwing it around so casually or as a sort of "slam" about someone's abrupt change of opinion or state of mood tells me maybe it's not 'safe' for me to share my diagnosis.
Still. Food for thought. If we don't talk about it, people die. If we don't come forward and say: "Look, you know me as a hardworking and congenial co-worker/friend/employee but let me explain how hard I have to work at this with a combination of medication, sleep and exercise."
I'm down for putting in the work. A little understanding for those that have different (harder) circumstances is called for - as is the knowledge that everyone is fighting a battle you may know nothing about.
