I can so relate to feeling like I'm just a mediocre person and the bipolar diagnosis just mirrors that?? That's the impression that I get from people I've tried to educate and enlighten about my behaviors. It's nearly impossible for someone to understand that hasn't studied it and/or lived with it personally.

Acceptance and compliance with doing things to keep you sane is the only option. I just find it hard to maintain anything long-term. Seems like a terribly, twisted catch-22!