Well the people around you aren't MH Professionals, and they probably know nothing about bipolar except what the media reports or portrays... Sooo obviously according to them you're not bipolar because you're not going on shooting rampages or losing complete touch with reality.

Nobody except me believed my dx for months... I had to give them the cold hard facts and explain which parts I struggle most with, before they even considered I may have an actual problem beyond getting "emotional"...

Lamictal is apparantly very good for those who respond well i.e don't get the rash.

You need to do what's best for you, not what makes the people around you feel comfortable.