I have two stepsons. When I was at my unmedicated horrible, angry self, I said awful things to them. I overreacted. If I had known what was happening, I would have absolutely said something to them so they would know it was me and not them.

They figured things out awhile ago on their own, I'm ashamed to admit. They're 18 and 16. I'm not sure what exactly they know or what they guess.

But when I do lose my temper on occasion, I calm down and go to them and apologize for overreacting.

With my daughter, I've explained my depression and why I had to go inpatient. When I've been manic, I say that it's kind of the opposite of being depressed and I have lots of energy. That's why the house is clean, lol. She knows about my self-injury because my scars basically cover my entire body except my face. When she was little I would tell her I'd talk about it when she was older. There came a day when she was like, "mom, just tell me" and I explained it in a kid-friendly manner.