Pawn has answered well for his own life experience as highly-functioning bipolar.

Just to add, while in university I worked as research assistant to a VP of the university. She was lifelong bipolar, a 'known' factor among her peers within Administration. In those 'olden days' she was even accommodated with a separate office with a wall of garden level windows, in which she could freely smoke her cigarettes. (Long before the era of No Smoking bans in the workplace.)

The woman was a highly accomplished academic and well-respected high level administrator on both the university and State levels of higher education. She was hilarious, fun, and everyone loved her --- when she was functional --- which fortunately was most of the time. Double PhD degrees, marriage, son; albeit divorced and son grown man by the time I met her.

She was totally self-disclosing about her bipolar, very gregarious and chatty; there were of course those times when she was 'down', her door closed to anteroom to her office and had little to say.

At one time I felt comfortable enough with her to inquire just how she had managed to flourish as an academic and successfully complete not one but two PhDs?? She simply smiled her big beautiful fun-loving Cheshire Cat smile, laughed and said " Fortunately for me, I was manic the whole time!"
I might add that this woman was also Mensa International member and frequent keyspeaker.

Thus confirming, Sister Rags, what you thought, above. I was amazed and in awe of her. There were, yes, those times when she would 'go down', not often. Perhaps go into voluntary hospitalization for a brief time, to emerge, meds readjusted, back on the job, quiet, reserved, less dynamic perhaps in personality and vivaciousness, yet steadfast in her work and dedication to her mission.

Astounding.

Congrats to you, Pawn, on your successfully saving your life, marriage, career and carrying on your highly productive life. Commendable indeed.