is it important to you that people know? would telling them help you with the process?

the way I see it, if someone is a close friend of yours, they'll be grateful to know what's happening in your life on a personal level, but also wouldn't feel slighted if they found out and you hadn't told them sooner. any worthwhile friend would be supportive rather than judgmental, right?

I think it's important to realize that everyone goes about this kind of thing differently, and what's right for you might not be what's right for someone else. maybe it's a function of living in a city where it seems like one in every three or four people has sought therapy, but it's a topic that is handled casually among the people I know. the problems aren't brushed aside or anything like that, but everyone is more comfortable with the idea of therapy and aware of mental health issues. hopefully you'll have a similar experience. and if it is something new to the people in your life, I hope they'll adjust alongside you. there's no excuse to step between someone and the help they need.