Dear Fire Star...you've said you are tired keeping it a secret...I have found that being open about my bipolar is actually healing. When they ask, I tell them it is caused by imbalance in the brain...though seen behaviorally, it has a biological cause therefore I need to medicate. I treat it like asthma or diabetes. I believe your family will also like being educated about it so giving information like that done by Fresia's friend may be much appreciated. It does not matter to me anymore how others react but so far, the response I have received is positive. Good luck to you...