I actually found that the best way to "separate" was to simply accept that it's part of who I am. It's as much a part of who I am as the fact that I need glasses and love to travel. Knowing that it's just there makes it easier to manage it and just force my way through the unpleasant times.

If you're struggling with your concept of yourself... well, think about the things that are pretty much ALWAYS present. For me, some of those are having a love of reading, being curious, wanting to travel, enjoying cats, trying to be helpful, having a low self-esteem, etc etc. Even though those things might get intensified when hypomanic or dulled when depressed... inside they're still there. They're ME. If it disappears when not depressed or hypomanic then it's not the core me, and it's just a part of the cycle. For me that makes it easier to ride the waves.