I'm curious how many have told their family about their DX? My husband knows, obviously - would have been impossible to hide it from him. But I don't live near any other family. I told my mom, as I went to see her pretty soon after my initial DX, and I was still in a bit of turmoil. We had an interesting conversation about it, she was very supportive, and we talked about a bit of the family history that goes with it (a few relatives on my dad's side have/had it; I'm pretty sure my dad did, too, but undiagnosed).

My struggle comes with my two older brothers. We're not particularly close - well, they're close with each other, but not particularly with me. I stress out a lot going to family events (not just my family, my husband's too), though all things considered our families are pretty great. I just have felt too vulnerable to share it with my brothers, especially since we don't really have close relationships to start with.

My oldest brother struggles with ADHD, and he's recently started pursuing a lot of information about it and learning more about how it affects him and his relationships with others. He sent me an email about mindfulness and some apps he's recently discovered. I mentioned that I had started working on mindfulness several years ago and found it helpful when I do it. A couple emails back and forth, and I told him that my therapist had recommended I use it over the course of several years working with her. He sent back a touching email about feeling bad that he hasn't been a great big brother and he wants me to know that, despite that, he's there for me (in a nutshell).

So, I debated for hours and finally replied that I don't think it's fair to say he wasn't there for me when I needed it, since we're so far apart and I'm a pretty private person - it's hard to be there for someone if you don't know they need support. I also told him about my DX, and that I found it incredibly empowering to learn about how it impacts my life, my ability to relate to others, etc. And I was happy he's learning about similar things in his life, now.

And, radio silence on the topic ever since. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I'm filled with regret that I even mentioned it now. And he's close with my other brother, so now I don't know if he knows also. I'm stressed about it, and I really just wish I had never said anything at all. It's been relatively easy to mask it from them for a long time, since we live so far away and rarely talk/see each other. I could have just kept up with that...

How has it been for those of you who have mentioned it to family? Do you think it's normal to tell someone, and just have them not acknowledge it at all/ignore it? I have no idea what to do now, and I'm stressed because I can feel my cycle dipping, and there are a gagillion other issues that are weighing on me...I really don't need to add this to the pile of crap I'm anxious about right now.