I do not feel at all that having a mental illness makes you any "less than" of a person.-- I don't even like calling it an "illness", as that term sounds so negative; and why there are many "not so good" things about having a psychological disorder, you CAN make the best out of it and it doesn't have to control your life.

A lot of people feel the way you do about having a psychological disorder and that is spurred by the stigma other people put onto it, in which is fueled by ignorance. People fear what they do not understand, in turn making the person who is "different" the "bad guy".... when IN FACT, the person who are spreading the stigma and judging people for their struggles should be the "bad guy".

Having a psychological disorder may alter who you are as a person in SOME aspects (that depends on the amount of stigma you are exposed to, events in your life, etc.), but just merely having a psychological disorder does not alter your values and morals. For example, I have always had anxiety (OCD when I was younger and now GAD). I am not "less than" a person because I had/have these diagnoses, but I DO have different struggles than those who do not have these diagnoses. Also, in experiencing what I have, I am better equip to empathize with others who have anxiety issues and other psychological disorders as well. I don't have depression, an eating disorder, or autism, but my struggles with anxiety have allowed me to better understand the struggles they may go through; struggles both internally (dealing with the disorder) and external (handling the stigma and how ignorant people may react to them and their diagnoses).

My therapist used the diabetes example with me, but he said that diabetes (being a medical condition) is basically a cut and dry diagnosis, as there are tests to show that either "yes, you have it" or "no, you don't". With psychological disorders, it is less cut and dry and a diagnosis depends on a list of criteria. On another note, the DSMs are supposed to be backed with empirical research.

I hope this helps a little. I think that most of it is you needing to find a way to change how you think about it (posting here is a good start), as you are falling into believing that the ignorant people who create and spread stigma are correct in their thinking. Stigma on mental health is different than from physical illnesses, especially in the media. People would be appalled if a TV show poked fun at somebody with cancer, but when it comes to somebody with Bipolar Disorder ignorant people accept it as less appalling to poke fun at and feed into the stigma that such people are "crazy" and switch their mood/emotions like a light switch, being friendly one moment and ripping your head off the next. I think it has to do with psychological disorders having a behavior aspect to them that other people find funny and easy to make fun of. Not all physical illnesses show behavioral symptoms (though obviously some do.... cancer and chemo with hair loss, etc., etc.).

On a last note, I would never classify or call anybody with a psychological disorder as being crazy because of their diagnosis. Anybody can be called "crazy" in other aspects of their life, but simply having a psychological disorder does not make you "crazy" (i.e. I have an anxiety disorder and I am not "crazy", but I go hiking/rock climbing and sometimes do "crazy"-- more like stupid-- things such as just lunging at the next rock just assuming I will make it). I agree that I am crazy in that aspect, but not because I have anxiety basically on a daily basis and worry about stupid little things, and am afraid of driving on the freeway, etc.