I was in denial, too, for a long time. I just thought I had depression and anxiety. I didn't realize anxiety is a frequent trait of bipolars. I didn't realize that mania can be in the form of extreme irritability and not happiness.

As one therapist so eloquently put it, "oh, you're the mean bipolar."

I've been diagnosed as bipolar 1 with mixed episodes by two psychiatrists and one psychologist.
In my case, it is what it is.