Mood charts, thought/event/mood charts, a journal and a good psychological /pdoc team can help recognize your symptoms way before your family, IMHO. Everyone knows about my dx not the severity. If they already except you and your not comfortable with telling them your Dx then don't. Ask them to tell you if you are doing x,y,z if you don't realize. They don't need to know your dx to help you. Having family being able to contact your pdoc may / may not be helpful if they're prone to over-react.