To Family, explain your DX, and, well, I don't see why you have to apologize. If they're you're family, they'll accept you for who you are. BiPolar Disorder is as much of a mood dysregulation and emotional dysregulation as it is cognitive disruption. By that I mean, out mood states alter how we perceive and interact with reality that is not how we'd normally act when in a normal mood state. Our brain chems are so altered in one state or another we literally see the world differently, and interact with it's inhabitants in very different ways. In short, we're not thinking quite right; no one should ever have to apologize to anyone else for how they're wired, ya know? We are who we are, and while drugs can change that to a point, we continue to be who we are at the core.

Don't get me wrong, I have done a lot of apologizing for my actions, the words i say, the things i do, and write to family and friends. But I have let those go who fail to understand the whys. Those who just see the words, or the actions without context to them are... not worth having around. I'm sorry that this sounds gruff, but it's my opinion.