It's an intrinsic part of me, I've never been any other kind of me, not that I know of anyway...
I dwell on it just about as much as I dwell on my eye color...
That's not to say I don't acknowledge it ever, I've adapted to it, and I still continue to adapt as it morphs, ebbs and flows...
As for the "untreated bipolar" remark, Drs only acknowledge 1 mode of treatment, and are probably focused on people who are in denial. I'm neither in treatment nor refusing treatment, I've actually been treating myself pretty well these past few years.
I guess I just refuse to regard it as my personal boogeyman, it just is, I just am, and we've both always just been.