(((((((Berries))))))) The posts above are completely right, and I would only add this; that the situation is often not as simple as : A (mental illness)= B (Straight road to disability and loneliness).
Many people have more than one mental illness. PTSD, for example is often overrepresented with us bipolars. Add a tendency to develop other anxiety disorders, perhaps a dash of burnout, throw in a personality disorder (not thinking of anyone in particular, please, just theoretically), chronic pain, and a dysfuntional family where stress coping and problem solving were not real popular, and you have a person who will probably have a great deal of trouble getting a job, keeping it, and finding a mate who is able to understand him or her. This is just an exampåle, and this is without even taking the severity of each problem into account.
I have one, perhaps two MI diagnosis. I have a mild myofscielt syndrom (pain and functional trouble in an arm). Yes, it slowed me down very much getting through school, and unmedicated no, I would not have been justified in having children. My husband comes from a family with multiple MI issues (so I guess he thinks all women are like me) and so he to some extant is aware that not all I do is under my control.
(((((Berries)))))) you are not a person who is bad, weak or anything that you have accused your self of. You have the biological and developmental cards stacked against you, and you are still doing your best to be healthy and get out of the prison your illnesses have locked you in. It would be hideously unfair for someone to take you and me and say "But, Berries, you bad, stupid person, why aren't you like her?"
There is no comparison, dear. I would be utterly incapable of helping or reaching out or fighting in your position. I admire you. That's not just words. You keep fighting, even when you get discouraged. You have support and strength to lend us others when we need it. That is a wonderful, wonderful thing. So stop finding things to hassle yourelf about and stop comparing yourself to us lower lifeforms (or at least his one) and HHHHHHUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGSSSSSSS to the BERRIES!!!!!!