Hi, it took me a year and half to realize I had bipolar. I had a break down 3 months ago. I avoided hospital by the skin of my teeth. I can't answer your question coming to terms with it as I don't know how to either, when I realized I had bipolar I did a lot of research on it, comparing symptoms and my behaviour with what webs sites are saying. I guess in a way that's helping me come to terms with it.