I don't know about it being related to bipolar, but this is so me!! I was just talking about this with my T yesterday!! People give me compliments, and I always think to myself, "why are they saying this to me, they must be lying or trying to be nice for some reason." When I do get compliments on lets say...what I'm wearing, my immediate response isn't always thank you. I jump to where I bought it, how much it costs, how I came about to wearing it....all instead of just a simple thank you. I had one person tell me, "you don't take compliments well, do you?" And that really made me think!
I'm not sure why, but I too focus on all the bad things about me, and I know I shouldn't. But it's just low self-esteem that I know shouldn't have because I am pretty awesome. I see it from the outside, but deep down I don't feel it. I've felt this way for as long as I can remember being alive.