I haven't told my extended family about my MI. I told my brother, but he doesn't care and I haven't heard from them since then. At least my aunt (dad's sister) knew my dad was awful but thought my mom was a saint. She never saw my mom with a bottle worth of wine in her.
My dad's mom has bipolar as well as Alzheimer's so there may be a link there.

I think some people look "strong" because they had to be, not because they wanted to be.