I may be atypical because I was able to work in industry for a few years before my formal diagnosis. My illness was exacerbated by the fact that I could no longer bolster my identity with work and achievement, so I have found other ways (meditation, medication, and therapy, mostly) to cope with my symptoms.
If an employer doesn't want to hire someone who occasionally disappears I understand that and I'm not sure it's stigma.
Anyhow, this is a sensitive topic and thanks for discussing it. It's hard to unfurl and investigate these things. Good luck with your own experience.