Telling my family?

I'm not quite sure where to start with this so forgive me if it gets confusing.

I've been suffering from mild to moderate symptoms of BD since I was 11, and I always hid it. I would write off episodes of mania or depression as "mood swings" and my family just thought because of my history (long story) I was just overly emotional. I lied to all of my therapists when I was younger because I was terrified of ending up like my brother. In the past year and half my symptoms have only gotten worse, with stress making things hard to deal with. I'm constantly cycling with this last cycle (been happening since January) the longest and worst. My poor fiance is taking the brunt of all of this, and I feel that if I don't tell my family I may permanently damage my relationship.

There is a long history of mental illness in my family. My brother is schizoaffective and bipolar, my mother was diagnosed back when it was still called manic-depressive, my aunt and my grandmother both suffered also. It's not the fear of not understanding or ignoring that's keeping me from doing this, but the fear that I'm not going to be taken seriously. I've always been the "golden child" while my brother was the "problem child" and I've never been able to break the stereotype. It's mainly my mother's reaction that I'm concerned about. She's written off other things that I've come to her with as my imagination, and I don't want her to do this again...

Anyone have any idea on how to approach this with her?

P.S. Sorry this was so long.

I felt compelled to answer although I have no solid advice IMO. But I would start showing signs for A while then she can see it firsthand? Don't approach it. Actions speak louder than words. Sorry I can't be more helpful but let us know how this goes.

Take care
Colleen

I'd start being honest with the therapist and get a solid diagnosis.
That way, you can start telling your family that you long suspected you have BPD, and now a therapist has confirmed it.

hi i know what you mean. although my mother is not well either, she does not understand or she is afraid to be helpless about trying to fix these issues. now what we need is support on what ever level they can be understanding. so if this applies to you all can do is be yourself and if the question comes up about the way you are just explain it the best way that you can. then you can react on the result. hope that helps, good luck

im sorry you felt like you had to hide it, but dont fear you dont have to hide anything from us.