How can you not...

How can you not define yourself as bipolar. I find this really difficult. every day I need my support group, I read on here daily, I see a therapist once a week, group once a week, pdoc every month or so, and meds multiple times a day. I'm constantly reminded of my illness. that's the first problem. the second is bigger, and that is I can see how something like MS or cancer wouldn't define someone, but something like BP is different. Because I have BP, it governs how I think, I act, and what I say. its a big part of ME a big part of WHO I AM. and BP is the reason I am where I am in life right now (still undergrad at 26, been in school since I was 17).

how do I not define myself as primarily bipolar? who the **** am I then?!

I hear you!

It is hard!! I'm still struggling with the dx after a year and a half. I'm 45 years old and still don't know who the **** I am. Frustrating

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BP is a part of me it's in my face every day. Yes I define myself as having bp. I'm still responsible for what I do/say. I don't see identifying with bipolar as a bad thing just like I am a mom, wife, daughter. I am Bipolar.

You are you. Sure you might have a condition some scientist named bipolar disorder, but in the end its just you. Its your brain with its own chemical combinations running your body.

So you just keep being you and doing what you gotta do to keep keeping on.

I chose to adopt an "it is what it is" attitude and its helped me be me at face value and not let the whole mental illness deal get me down.

I think once a person accepts their condition, the bipolar label becomes not so much an issue. Bipolar does effect who we are and how we are being toward others. It is very much a part of us, something that will not go away. Some people manage it better than others. Everyone has personality flaws. Do you let that define who you are?

Tucson

If it makes you feel any better, I'm 42 and still working on my undergrad.

Well, I see myself as a mom. I see myself as a lawyer...I'm disabled but once a lawyer, always a lawyer.

And, frankly, I have several other diagnoses for MI. And chronic pain.

I suppose I could define myself as a "hot mess"? lol

I hear you, though. I'm disabled because of my bipolar, mainly. Sure, I've got the other stuff but bipolar is the big one.

I think it's the glass half-full approach. It's not giving up. Not giving in.

My boyfriend has bipolar 1 and is disabled. He gets depression and when he gets manic, he gets psychotic and wild. He gets nuclear psychotic and hospitalization always happens, if not 911 or an APB out on his car. For real lol. So his is severe. One day, I asked him:

You've never tried to kill yourself? (I've several attempts, unfortunately.). He said "no." I said, "why not"?

He said: "I want to see what happens tomorrow."

I think that is an example of someone that thinks outside the bipolar box.