what does recovery mean? Symptom free? Or happy despite symptoms? I recommend to check out Tom Wooton's Bipolar in Order... it's about gaining control and making the best of your condition.

And most of all... we need to heal for ourselves not for our pdocs and Ts... they are just are paid guides. It don't matter to them. If you can live in your own skin, it doesn't really matter what others say. Likewise... doesn't matter if others think you are "better", but you don't feel like it.