One of the biggest questions I receive is whether or not to disclose mental health labels like BPD, ADHD, or cPTSD to friends, family, and partners—and how to navigate the regret that often follows. In this episode, I answer listener voicemails from Bella, Darrien, and Natalie, each grappling with the complicated emotions around sharing these personal details. Together, we’ll unpack the complexities of disclosure, the weight of vulnerability, and the boundaries needed to protect our peace.

Topics and questions explored in this episode include:

• Why sharing a diagnosis sometimes leads to regret—and what to do when it happens
• How to manage feeling psychoanalyzed or judged by those we’ve opened up to
• The "duty" to disclose: Do you owe it to anyone to reveal a diagnosis?
• Recognizing oversharing as a trauma response and learning to set healthier boundaries
• Practical ways to assess if someone is trustworthy enough to know intimate details
• Explaining emotional sensitivity or dysregulation to those with lower emotional intelligence
• Navigating the cultural stigma surrounding men and emotional expression
• How attaching too closely to diagnostic labels can lead to excessive self-blame
• Tips on overcoming the habit of over-apologizing and reclaiming self-compassion

This episode will give you tools to make more mindful choices about who you let in—and the confidence to protect your journey, your boundaries, and your peace. 

Timestamps:

4:27 | Voicemail from Bella (struggling with when to tell people about her BPD diagnosis and the deep shame and regret she feels after disclosing)

20:13 | Voicemail from Darrin (struggling with being a young man in the mid-west with a family and community who stigmatizes male displays of emotion – also feels like his family uses his mental health struggles as a scapegoat)

33:40 | Voicemail from Natalie (5 months into her relationship with her current girlfriend, Natalie feels like she is overly self-aware of her BPD traits – she called in because she is beginning to feel like she over-apologizes and tends to think every conflict is her fault)

44:06 | Preview of “My Stupid Walk for My Stupid Mental Health” Episode 12 “Crazymakers”

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The information contained in this podcast episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment or consultation with a licensed mental health professional.

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