Two weeks after I filled out an intake form, I heard finally from this doctor who runs a practice where I'd been recommended to go to get CBT to augment my current therapy (once every 4 weeks p-dr/T combo). I know it's dumb but I felt really stigmatized by him on the phone - "How is your bipolar bothering you? Do you want to harm yourself?" I tried to express that I wanted CBT to help me handle anxiety, depression, bad thought patterns that arose primarily from environmental stressors on the job. I know which parts of me are more bipolar than others, and I don't think what I described is particularly unique to bipolar.

Maybe I'm just spoiled - my actual p-dr almost never wants to talk diagnosis. He focuses on whether or not I'm coping well and actually discourages me from saying the bipolar word too much or dwelling on it. In any case, I hope this CBT place does pan out and that it's perfectly normal for them to lead every sentence with the word bipolar.

I know I'm being petty/silly, but it did bother me a little and figured this was a good place to get it out there.