Hi. I was diagnosed, early onset, over 17 years ago. Over the years I've encountered an astonishing range of reactions; from misinformed to compassionate. What's missing most often, is their curiosity about what it means to me in particular. In my experience people have trivialized the diagnosis far more often than they have overreacted. My favorite reaction was from a "friend" who, when I told her I was newly diagnosed, replied only with "I've been having bad stomach aches lately." The one plus for me has been that I care less and less what other people think.