Can relate. I jump in and out of my family's life everytime my bipolar gets really bad. They haven't seen the deep dark down part (but they have seen me depressed), they have seen me mildly manic and funny, but they haven't seen me write on walls with red lipstick either.

My family does not know how to deal with my bipolar but that's a power in itself... knowing that my family does not know how to deal with bipolar.

Perhaps you could work with a therapist on preparing to perhaps contact your favorite more accepting family member for a start?

PS: Sometimes when the depression comes on, I get allergic to my shower and hide in my suite until something triggers my mood to change.