Hey... It took awhile but I have finally quit worrying about being "bipolar I" "bipolar Ii", whatever. IMHO all those labels are for diagnostic purposes only.

YOU ARE NOT BIPOLAR!!! You are Laura. You have a chronic disease, like diabetes. You exhibit symptoms which you try and learn to manage. My mom takes insulin, I take lithium, simple as that.

Merlin shared some excellent ways to deal with the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Pretty much all of us should try to do these. Perhaps the most difficult and most important is socialization. I am on disability so I don't get out of the house for work, so I go to the mall, parks, stores wherever there are people. Smile at them, strike up a conversation if you can. Go to church, political rallies, WHATEVER!

Support groups, definitely. This is a good one here at PC. I come here when I'm having a problem. Just now I came here because I about to fly into a rage and start breaking things. I feel better now, because I'm hangin with you guys, if only virtually!

You are NOT abnormal. You have a disease. It's a struggle, but you have to try and come to this conclusion. Does your disease put limitations on you? Mine does, but I try to work within them. Don't give up.