Thanks all for your helpful responses. I think Daonnachd is right about the cultural perception. I may have let that influence me and make me not want to admit that I might have bipolar. From reading more about it lately, I probably misunderstood the length and severity of a hypomanic or depressive episode that is required for a BP diagnosis. In any case, like several of you said, I guess the dx isn’t as important as getting the symptoms under control. So, I’m going to face my fears and start a trial of the Lamictal that my psychiatrist gave me to try.