It's been a gradual thing and an everyday thing. At 4 he knew we took meds for our head boo-boo's as he got older that wasn't enough and he asked for the real name. He later asked if it was genetic. We told him yes so he need to talk to us when he gets really sad and that's why he goes to his T. Then later he asked if he had it too, we told him no he has adhd (Yes we lied but he doesn't need to know his other Dx's at this age.) So it's age appropriateness things.

The easiest way to explain it is to draw a line horizontal line on a paper labeled it base line. A line above and below the "Base line" and colored it in (with high lighter) label that normal range. above and below the "normal range" do a depression and manic line. Then make a wave line with how BP affects you. Make sure they know your meds make it so your closer to "normal range". Have them tell you the symptoms they see when manic/depressed. I know it sounds babyish but visuals are always good.