As many others have said, my anxiety diagnosis predates my bipolar diagnosis. To me, they are separate, because I have medication that keeps my anxiety under control, but I am still struggling to find the proper medication for bipolar disorder.

My eating disorder predates all other diagnoses by many years. They say that, in general, bipolar starts rearing its ugly head when you become a young adult. I know that's not true for everyone, but it was for me. I have struggled with an eating disorder since I was 13. So to me those are separate as well.

I can see what you mean, though, when thinking of my substance abuse problems. I probably would not be an alcohol and an addict if I did not have bipolar disorder. I'm not sure if those are two separate things or not.