Is it smart to tell people I have a personality disorder?

++edited by mod at request of the poster++

i have everyone on a need to know basis. if someone is on the receiving end of my wrath (more than a few times) and they care enough to stick by, those are the folks i might trust to share with. there are too many that have preconceived notions of PDs and/or MI and i have enough judgment in my life. don't need to add more fuel to my fire!

I've only told my husband and one friend. In general, I don't think there is a need for me to tell anyone else about it. I have a whole host of issues, and having BPD is just one of them, and I'm not likely to go around telling everyone what all of my cumulative problems are. First of all, it's just too much personal information for me to share with someone, and despite the fact that I hate to be misunderstood by others, I don't think necessarily telling people what all of my issues are is going to get people to better understand me on a larger scale. Plus, I hate to be judged by others, and somehow I think that's what the ultimate outcome would be.

It's a very subjective question. Like the others, I have told those very close to me, but that's all. Even having a visible tattoo that is openly for BPD, I tend not to tell most people. Like it or not, there is still a huge social stigma associated with mental illnesses of any kind. People think that you're either Hannibal Lector, or you listen to your neighbour's dog and try to bite your ear in your spare time.

Especially for a Borderline, as the crux of our disorder is to be loved, divulging such information is difficult, and in most cases, not very beneficial.

I don't think it's a good idea personally. You should never tell someone something that they can hold over you, always keep one foot above them. If they tell you something private and personal, that could affect them, then you can divulge that information about your pd to them. People are scared of mental illness, and because pwPDs are so open, it's easy to get carried away with telling them about yourself. There's a false sense of trust and closeness working there.

So my advice to you is.. Don't tell anyone. If youve been with your partner for a year and it's serious, then yes. Your family, yes. Friends, never! Unless theyve told you something as equally damaging to their reputation.

i have an iq of less than 100 and i ses it's smart

From my experience it isn't a good idea at all. Some people are plain ignorant and don't understand. Their ######6 loss.

It may or may not be smart, but its definitely not wise.

Would you tell them if you had a huge pimple on your butt?
True they might be sympathetic and offer advice, but they would still find it gross, and use agaisnt you if they ever turned on you.

I now look at BPD the same way. I did tell people, and those people are never here anymore. They are floating around the world with that information about me, telling whomever they please. (hopefully not)

Also, one of the first things you find out if you google BPD is that we may be like Charlize Theron in Monster, or Mark Wahlberg in Fear...in other words, violent and crazy. I wouldn't want people to know that about me.

I would never take that risk. Look how much misleading rubbish is out there for any fool who rushes to do a Google search on what you told them. No effing way would I risk it.

my good friends all know. and my ex of course. nothing bad's ever come of it.