Yes, people know that I am weird or they figure it out at some juncture. I don't really care anymore because I am too busy focusing on survival.

I've always been awkward, weak and slightly socially stupid. My psyhiatrist says that he thinks I might also have Asperger's, but like I say, he can bite me.

I have a friend who is a super high functioning person with bipolar I. She used to be a school teacher. I could not see her symptoms until I got to know her very well and not until after this really mean principal and these really harsh children stressed her out to where she could not teach anymore. It was after that that her mood swings and unpredictability showed up. She's still cool though and she turns her manias into these great crusades to save dogs and to be the manager of a retail store. She's quite awesome.She takes meds but she still has mood swings; her swings though, are slower than mine (more like taking days or hours) and her manias, obviously, are pure and not mixed.

I guess that it is fairly obvious that I have bipolar because I have super rapid mood swings, some of the most rapid that you would ever see (I have bipolar II).

And yes, I am way outside the social norm even though I am conventional and even though I live in the Bible Belt. The Leftist Liberal side always comes out, no matter how much I try to control myself.

nope. i'm a good actor.

I think it would depend on a Lot of things (I do LOVE sonofsitka's answer LO).....

Many people here are under-informed, so they do Not automatically think "bipolar", because I am not wearing a gun, flying a plane without a license or preaching the Word of God from an overpass whilst waiting to Jump.

However, the generally think I am a Fruit Loop because I do Not behave like they do. And that's Okay with me, because I don't Like the way they behave!


:/

Everyone I've told has been surprised. I don't think you can tell unless the norms are told.

I don't know if people can tell. The few people I've told are automatically telling me, I don't think that's right. But they've never seen me in my acute states. I want to be more of an advocate but I'd need to have a different job first. Working in the public is a difficult thing for someone with BP to manage, I think.

I'm also visiting extended relatives right now, and I don't think I could disclose my illness to them. I'm trying to be normal all the time, and it's really tiring. :(

Nope- unless I disclose that I am the masses are clueless.

I do not believe that BP has a ranking order. Whether BP1 or 2 bipolar sucks and they are different for each person. idk I guess I split hairs over certain things... Moving on now...

i'm odd but i think i would be anyway regardless of bp, am a bit of a free spirit who hates rules. am generally a very happy person and people find it impossible to believe i have bp because I never inflict myself on anyone in real life and only tell my pdoc or vent here when i need to. I might tell some friends but only in the same way that i might say that I bought a loaf of bread. nobody needs my shit unless they know where i'm coming from. I have one friend, my brother's girlfriend who will say things like 'did you enjoy that?' if I accidentally burn myself or fall or something because she self harms too and she gets it and we try to help each other to stop doing it. Most people think i am always in unbelievably good form!