Auntie, welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have had a very tough time. My eldest brother was just diagnosed with PTSD, he suffers depression, he is not BP and this is all due to my mother's abuse.

Yes my family are trying to get their head's round my having BP. One of my brothers asked if it was catching when he found out!! My eldest brother has asked me a lot of questions though.

I know exactly what you are saying when people think its your fault that you can't possibly control yourself. I think my family get kind of swept up in my illness when they dont truly understand the extent of my stress and how I can't handle any of it - stress is a big trigger for mania and depression for me.

take care