Welcome CDoll; I'm glad you decided to post. I think many of us have questioned our diagnosis when we were first diagnosed......I requested a brain scan from my P-doc, so I had proof LOL!

I would suggest tracking your mood and you may or may not see a pattern. You may also be able to identify triggers i.e. stress, what you ate/drank, sleep issues etc. I have found a great free one online at: http://www.medhelp.org/land/mood-tracker

What helped me accept the diagnosis was educating myself on the disorder. I have read countless books on it. I can also understand the concern with the stigma. It does exists and I think this is why many people don't seek help for mental health issues. I have written a blog about this topic.

Hope that helps and welcome!