Interesting conversation above. I usually don't use 'relapse' in association with bipolar stuff, though others clearly do and it does not offend or bother me. I have occasionally used the term. I am in long-term addiction recovery, but I don't think I would be a better or more superior person were I not in addiction recovery. So, the word 'recovery' as a descriptor of a bipolar illness status does not bother me in the least. For me, 'recovery' makes great sense when applied to my bipolar illness because my program is far more than just therapy and meds. It is exercise and reaching out and writing and yoga and on and on. It is a program of recovery. So, I like the term for me.