I can seperate my real self from the illness. Whether you have a physical or mental condition, there are certain symptoms and effects which aren't related to the person but need to be managed. I've had Bipolar for 10 years, since late teens. Anxiety and depression are core parts of it, which don't define me as a person, but affect how i think, feel and behave. My way of life has been greatly shaped by Bipolar over the years. It remains untreated, untackled because i didn't manage to get professional help and support for my issues. It affects me physically and mentally daily and nightly. I find it hard to be/live with it. Its important to seperate self from illness. Not to see that I'm the illness, the illness is me. Its not part of who i am, my true self, its part of my life which i wish it wasn't.