I was diagnosed with mental illness more than 20 years ago. Sometimes I accept I have it, other times I think everyone but me are crazy. I "think" I've finally accepted it for good a few months ago. My last manic episode was a doozy and it's hard denying things after that. But even then, I keep thinking I have nervous breakdowns caused from living a stressful life and not bipolar. I'm reading a book about bipolar and it matches my experiences so closely, it's just not worth denying anymore.