i was embarrased, and totally in denial. i came here to disprove the dx... only to find comfort and commonality... and friends.

it's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time, truely.

All normal feelings..you've been hit with a shock...once you get a grip on your illness,maybe the shame will ease p.
Good luck

It will pass. Focus on the here and now . do the next right thing.
I am still ambarassed about it. haha
I dont tell anybody. Its my and your seceret

Most, if not all, people will never notice that you are bipolar unless you let them in on the secret. I am really embarrassed of the scars on my arms because they are so visible, and I think people assume that I am bipolar or something (who knows what people think when they see that kind of stuff?) , but other than that, how can they tell? I have a tendancy to do everything with both hands, bat, pitch, bowl, etc. I have often thought that people may notice that, but in all honesty, they don't. Most people are too caught up in themselves to notice us bipolars unless we come out and tell them.

I hope you will find the info, association and friends here that will help you be who you want to be and not let Bipolar define who you are.
Let me know if I can help.

the way i look at it is you've always had the disorder...

the diagnosis now gives you something tangable to move forward with....

This is completely natural. I too felt the same way. I still do to a certain extent, but I am starting to care less & less how others perceive me so much.

Just think...there are tons of people who walk around everyday wearing the most horrendous outfits & don't feel the slightest bit embarrassed. And this is by choice ;)

Welcome & best of luck!

I promise that there is no flashing neon light on your forehead that says, "BIPOLAR". Even if it feels like it. There are some Very cool B/P people, your with the it crowd now, just some days an't going to feel so IT.

One thing I wasn't is embarrassed. If anything is was kind off a relief, I had been struggling with it for years and I had known it inside of me that I was bp, so being diagnosed gave me answers and it felt like it validated me at last.
But despite that, I did go through those normal stages: denial, shock, doubt, etc.

Now I own it, I'm proud of being bp (well maybe proud is a little strong of a word), it's who I am and people will just have to live with it, 'cuz I do.

No one will think less of you, some may re-act strangely to it, but they aren't worth the energy to worry about. You can waste so much of your life away by worrying about what others think. Please don't do that.

I was embarressed, inthat I do not want everyone knowing about it, esp family, I have not told either of my parents, as they are strict, southern christians, and would chalk it up to demons or evil spirits, what ever, the meds work, and I have a better quality of life,

It's a part of you, like the color of your eyes, or my freckles, just not quite as obvious.

Maybe it's my age, or my years of struggle, but I don't hide it from anyone anymore. If someone asks, I tell. If someone is ragging on the mentally ill, I speak up. It's no different than someone with diabetes or any other life long illness that requires treatment.

My dx was actually a relief. I could finally put a name to it. Then research was available to help explain it to others.

Welcome to the nut house. :)

Having BP is just something I don't share with just anyone. I don't really think that people realize it, they knew me before my diagnosis and see me the same now. There is no spotlight on you giving it away.

Hopefully you'll become more comfortable with the diagnosis over time and see that it is just something that you now know which direction to go with in treating it.