So are you the illness then? Is that what you are?an illness. Nice to feel you are an external label. Is it your fault of character thats led to it? Do you think people are themselves when they are in severe depression or severe mania? Peoples thoughts and behaviours are affected by bipolar. So those who have cancer, are they suffering and battling with a serious health condition or is it linked to their personality? Bipolar has mental and physical characteristics which different kinds of people experience who have it, regardless of their personality.