I know that feeling of confusion as to how to tell family. I was scared that if they knew I'd end up in the "mental" like my mother, so I withdrew from them, and they didn't know why. My brother seems to have guessed some of what was up with me, and he's the only one who knows my true diagnoses... bipolar seems easier to explain than schizoaffective, and I knew that as soon as my Dad heard "schizo" he'd panic. As it is, he keeps asking me how long it will be before I can stop taking my meds. I've gained weight on them, and he's worried about that. He also keeps encouraging me to learn to drive, and I don't have the heart to tell him that I'm not allowed to drive. (It makes me very stressed and triggers hallucinations, not something you want when you're in a big metal weapon of mass destruction.)

But I have been able to explain most of my symptoms to them, and they accept I have an illness, and i'ts nobody's fault, not mine, not theres. Since I've been more open about my illness, and accepted help I've found it much easier to be open with my family... I talk to them regularly on the phone, I remember to send cards for their birthdays, and I don't immediately think they're out to get me. Particularly noticeable is how much better I'm getting on with my brother.

I would say write down your thoughts and concerns, and give your letter to the family member you think is most likely to not freak, and approach the issue practically. How old are you? I think I started to get ill when I was about sixteen (at least that's when the hallucinations started, and it's when I started thinking the police were spying on me.) The sooner you get help, the better your long term prognosis.