Hi, again, Miss Laura....To respond to your comments---I, too, struggle about who to tell. I've shared with a few of my friends--not all--but I suspect word has gotten around. Frankly, I think "bipolar" is considered more socially acceptable now--especially as some famous people have acknowledged that they have it. But I know what you mean about wanting to "appear normal."

As far as your family, if you feel like they need consoling, you can let them know that being bipolar is a medical condition--not caused by a bad childhood or whatever. It's more of a problem with the chemicals that the brain produces (neurotransmitters.)

And the other folks are right, we are not our diagnoses. Diagnoses just help doctors figure out better how to help us.