I went through this for a long time. I have a tentative dx of bipolar 2 (from GP, waiting to see pdoc for confirmation although I do think that's correct, my mom is bipolar also). I am very high functioning and always have been, did great in school, have two degrees and a good job. Where it affected me most was my interpersonal relationships. I won't go into detail but I have been a horrible friend, wife, mom and employee at times. And it was always so easy for me to apologize a week or two later and blame it on stress, or something else going on at the time. This is the thing. There is ALWAYS going to be an excuse for your mood swings if you want there to be.

It doesn't have to be severe to be real! I have never been hospitalized and I have only felt suicidal twice in my life. Once when I was 8 (I know!) and once a few months ago. The last one is what prompted me to seek help. my husband/son/friends don't deserve to deal with this.

When I went on meds (lamictal and prozac) I felt "normal" (ha) for the first time in YEARS. so that convinced me. I don't care about the label or dx, I care about how I feel, and I feel more stable than I have in a long time. if your life is more stable on meds than without, I'm not sure it matters what you call it. but long term, untreated bipolar can cause a lot of health issues and also tends to get worse as far as the mood episodes themselves. that is a big part of what prompted me to seek help, also.

sorry I am rambling, I just wanted to say, just because you don't think you are "severe enough" doesn't mean you aren't bipolar. it can be mild. it's a spectrum after all...and also remember that going through phases where you "feel fine" and don't think you need any help is pretty typical of the illness. the hardest part of this all is just acknowledging/admitting you might need help. at least for me. because that's part of it, that you go through phases of feeling great and or "fine."