How do you view being bipolar?

Ive given it some considerable thought and have come to this conclusion...I dont consider myself crazy OR mentally ill. Rather, Im chemically imballanced.

I've been dealing with bipolar since childhood. I've given it lots of thought as well, and I don't really know anything different. My first psychotic episodes were around 11 years old. I saw cousellors for being withdrawn and depressed by age 5. So to me it's kinda like my arms, my legs, my mind, soul... It's always been there so I don't consider my self crazy either, chemically imbalanced, maybe when I see hard proof, honestly I have no idea what it is, what's the cause, but I do know that it is just part of who I am. Probably always will be.

Is it an illness, a disorder, disease, or are we just a particular type of people who don't fit into the desired norm. That's where I get stuck. I'm not sure if I feel this way because my symptoms have been very resistant to medication or because science has failed to figure it out yet. Genetics, environmental, abnormalities in structure or function in the brain, all of the above. I dunno. But it doesn't really change anything for me either way.

I don't consider myself to "be" bipolar. It isn't who I am it is something I experience, yes, I know the debates go on but, for my own self identity, I'm not bipolar, who I am experiences it. Is it an illness? Crazy? I don't know. I know sometimes I am crazy, but maybe I need to question that idea.

I struggled a lot with stigma and most of it was self imposed. I do my best to stop labeling myself since I became aware of how my perceptions were affecting me. I like the term mood disorder.

Bipolar is something like fire to a moth.

I've always been this way, even as a child, I was extreme and volatile, not unruley and undisciplined (quite the opposite actually) but my behaviour was noticeably different. Now idk if that's a sign of being symptomatic or not, but you get the idea as a teen it became painfully clear just HOW different, and that's when I decided my brain was just wired differently,and I had to find ways to work around it to deal with life and school in order to cope and that's how I still view it today, it just has an official name now

Well...now Im not sure how I feel about it...It was a little over a week ago that I discovered I am cyclothymiac...Ive gone from being elated because I finally found out what the "issue" is.... to accepting the fact that Im bipolar...and then thinking "Oh crap" :/ Ill probably flip flop again before the nite is through... Has anyone else experienced this?

Often grin.

Mmmm yup!!! I've done it for years! I do the same thing with my physical illnesses and with anorexia. I think it kind of course with these kinds of things.

BP makes me go bat shi t crazy some times but it's always been me. I can "be" crazy at times but it comes and goes. I AM and hopefully will always be my ED it's a majority of who I am. I haven't given up nearly as much for my bipolar as my ED. So to sum it up BP is something that just makes life a bit more interesting and I have it instead of it having me but ED IS me it's part of my identity.

Interesting question! I consider myself to "be" bipolar, and when it comes down to it, technically I accept the fact that I am "mentally ill" by some definitions. I think everyone is crazy sometimes, and I think I am crazy very often, but at least I know it and I accept it. I've been struggling with BP since childhood, I just never knew what was wrong until I was properly diagnosed about 5 years ago. Now everything makes sense. It's part of who I am, and while I'm not happy about it, I'm done with being embarrassed by it.

When you go through hell for so long that you have no idea of what "normal" is anymore, a diagnosis is a blessing, at least for me. At least I have something to call it now and can begin to treat it and get help. I accept it and embrace it. I have to because it is the biggest part of who I am. It sucks mostly but there are moments few and far between that it is beautiful and I have to put a positive spin on it because I don't want to view my life as crap forever. BipolaRNurse's siggy pretty much sums it up for me... "Being bipolar is like seeing everything in the world as poetry---the highs, the lows, the pain, the wonder, the intensity of it all.....sometimes overwhelming, but ultimately worthwhile."

I think I've had this for a long, long time but undiagnosed. I mean, since childhood. I have memories of believing things to my core that when I look back at them makes me sad, because they have that resonance of psychosis. Such as when I was 8 years old I was afraid to use the bathroom in my house because I honestly believed my classmates had installed closed circuite surveillance system there so that they could make fun of me. I remember sitting in the bathroom and hidding myself with towles and looking in all the corners for signs of the "hidden cameras."

I don't consider myself "crazy." I don't like that word. But I do consider it a mental illness. I don't like "mood disorder." Because it isn't just a "bad mood/happy mood." I do believe it is genetic, there are varying degress, and it is a phsyical, chemical disorder of the brain and nervous system. It isn't our fault that we have this and it doesn't make us less of people because we have it. Just like having diabetes or thyroid troubles, or any other chemically imbalanced body disorder makes people less of people...

I also agree with cocoabeans. I am not bipolar. I have bipolar, and I experience it and have to live with it. But it isn't who I am.

Still not sure about the whole Bipolar thing. I am confused and anxouise about the whole thing. I live in the depression stage and nothing else right now. Except for yesterday and a great feeling of being normal again until I went home after work. Today I don't have that feeling anymore. I hate the emotional rollar coaster its driving me insane and want to be stable. I crave for stability. often find myself wanting to cry but nothing comes out of my tear ducts.

I did the same thing in the bathroom throughout most of my childhood. Not thinking cameras were there but that i was being watched and was always uncomfortable using the bathroom or being naked. I still feel this way at times. I know now its not real but sure does feel like it.

I do say Im bipolar because bp is a huge part of my life. It is always there no matter what. So for me it is part of who I am. As far as being crazy, Im not crazy all the time so I dont consider myself crazy technically but yes I am notorious for doing saying and feeling crazy things.

I have come to the conclusion that I am bipolar the same as the night is dark, the sun is warm and life is both living and dieing. Everyone can appreciate the fragrance and beauty of a rose but still manage to complain about the thorns. I am bipolar and yes I have aspects of my person that others will complain about but I refuse to let that bring me down because just like the rose there are parts of me that is beautiful and pleasant. So if the world doesn't mind I'll continue to love that aspect of me.

You're not crazy at all. In fact, ALL of you rock... Ur just... different.

I think it sucks!

I didn't realize just how hypo I got until I was put on the anti psychotics. Now... I have a better understanding of who I am. Or... what happens. Or whatever lol!

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II have had delusional thoughts since I was a young child. From believing in "bloody mary" and avoiding mirrors when lights were off to believing aliens had put a device in my fingertips. I dealt with a young sui attempt and feeling godly presences. Lithium alone for me has stripped me of my "bipolar" identity. I still have some anger issues that are a residue of mood control and the impulsive reflexes but I havent had a lasting mood change for a few months now. I dont miss the rollarcoaster and Ive been more strict on myself about med adherance. The only reason I think Im doing so well was getting diagnosed early and a supportive family. I honestly believe much like schizophrenia, a good support is the best remedy for overcoming trials.

Since the nature of bipolar disorder is experienced through behaviors and thoughts I refuse to see myself as a chemical imbalence. That takes away the very human aspect of the disorder. We might have chemical imbalances but often times these medicines that are prescribed are a hit or miss so its clearly not a science yet. When they get to a point in technology where they can tell me where the imbalance is I will consider calling it that. I dont see myself as ill either...I believe I have times where I am less functional and feel ill pr elated. It is easy to stigmatize yourself as bipolar and it consuming every part of your life.