It does take a while to accept a new bipolar diagnosis, or at least it did with me. It was good to have a name for the thing that had interfered with my life in one way or another since childhood, but at the same time the label meant that I was mentally ill. A whacko, crazy, psycho, whatever the popular media like to call it on a given day. That was EXTREMELY hard to get used to, and it wasn't until I was experiencing some periods of stability that I understood that I was OK even if I did have psychiatric issues.

Welcome to PC, and know that you have plenty of support here. We were all once new to this illness and to this forum, and most if not all of us have never forgotten that.