On the subject of stigma, I want to make a gentle observation. Now please, please, please don't take this the wrong way. I mean absolutely no offense....but have you thought about the way your username, "crazy24/7" might be taken by someone who doesn't understand bipolar disorder? Now, I don't know you, but I highly doubt you're someone people would consider "crazy", and even if you do have unwell periods that may remotely resemble insanity, I'm sure it's not "24/7". Like I said, please don't take it the wrong way...it's just food for thought.

And that brings up the question of how we conduct ourselves in the world, and how we may or may not be contributing to the stigma of mental illness.

There are definitely times when we get sick and the world sees us at our worst. But I'd like to think that there are other times when we're quite successful, even if it's just being nice to people at work, in our families, and throughout our daily interactions. Those are the stories we need to see more of. That's how we can slowly break through the stigma.