I was 14 years old when I got my DX. I am now 22 years old and still having a hard time coming to terms with it. I have few supportive people in my life. Don't listen to your friends. If your doctor has came to this DX then he/she must see something your friends don't see. Bipolar is not a nasty word. It may sound nasty and scary but its not. I am working on helping to educate people about how to deal with people with mental illness.