I find that some people in my life are the opposite. Almost not believing that the illness comes with symptoms that manifest in hard-to-understand ways. I just lost a friend of 20 years....she thinks I should "just DO IT". Meaning all the things in my life that need to be fixed and seen to.
It's so sad, because her son suffers from a neurological illness. Would she be so kind to someone who would say that he is weird and bratty due to his "behaviour"??? (He gets seizures) I think not. But she judges me.

Ditto Shawn, I am so sick of hearing those words....

That is why I don't tell many people. One less thing to worry about with this disease.

i never tell...

part of me wants to get a t-shirt with some cute bp logo or saying...and stand together with other bipolars and go out and change the world. but the other part, doesn't want to be condemend when trying to hold a job or relationship or whatever in life.

I don't have all the problems you have with your family and step family. I have no contact with my family for years. With the exception of my mom and sometimes my youngest sister I don't talk to any of my family. I think I talk more with my inlaws than I do with my family.

This has all happened prior to my diagnosis of bipolar.