Hi BeachChick

First, welcome to the forums. It is very supportive here. I've only been here a very short time myself. I understand your embarrassment about telling people you're BP, I feel the same way in the "normal" world. I usually tell them I'm either stressed or depressed but even with that I don't like the direction in which the conversation goes. I try to avoid it as much as possible actually. But on a site such as this, I have no problem discussing my dx. All here have one problem or another or maybe several, as I do. I'm sorry that your parents are not giving you the support that you would like, firstly by just admitting that you are BP. Maybe they have some guilt, which they shouldn't or maybe they just don't want to acknowledge the pain you are in because it is very upsetting to them. It could also be the dreaded stigma that is attached to mental illnesses. At any rate, I hope that you have been properly evaulated by a pdoc and are being treated accordingly with meds. Therapy also helps. Anyways, I've rambled enough, something I do a lot so again, welcome aboard and I hope you feel at home here.