I get the same from the special ed teachers and my FRIENDS (supposedly). They use "bipolar" as a derogatory word. I just remind them I AM bipolar! They usually don't know what to say. It becomes quite "funny" that they do it not realizing how insulting it is to use a serious mental illness (that keeps me from living a normal life) as a demeaning thing.

I have learned not so give a s@&@! about what they think. (okay, it's hard but I try). My true friends don't do it- it's the insensitive jerks who do.

Keep your head up!