Yeah I know... I had a Pdoc say that to me once. It really sucks when people think your fine when inside you know your not. Its probably one of the biggest things I battle with.

lol Yeah generally speaking now you have to look like you are "sick" to be sick. Obviously I was late getting the memo.

I don't really like people to think of my as sick. I tell them the truth and let that be the end of it, unless they just are really curious about my illness and the symptoms.

I deal with that every day. It seems like people sometimes cannot see beyond the facade that we place forward.

During my "better times" I have people tell me I'm looking so well.
This implies a lot of things, especially that you're happy and love life.

Difficult and actual when everything is place on outward appearances(embarassing when your boss especially in a meeting in front of of everybody she says how good I'm looking, she's seen me smiling, etc,etc!!! Have left that job).

I've recently begun to confide to a friend how I truly feel and have felt in the past. He said he and no one else would have ever guessed it. I think many of us are so good at masking how we feel ( we have to in order to interact and be accepted) that people don't believe it isn't genuine. If I did act the way I really felt sometimes, I don't think there would be much sympathy. People in general just wouldn't want to be around me and I wouldn't blame them. I would be unpredictable and in their minds "two faced." There are only a few people I trust this with. My children, who are understanding beyond belief and this friend. Not even my parents know how I really am. I don't think they could accept it.

I'm very thankful for my friend because he has been extremely understanding and has told me he would always be there when I needed him and he has never let me down. In my eyes, his friendship has been a gift from God. That's how rare I've found it to be.

I don't like to think of bipolar as a sickness..I think of it is a mood disorder.
I don't tell many people that I have it or the details of how I feel. I have learnt that telling people that you "don't feel well" implies a physical illness, so I have resorted to tell everyone "I'm having a bad day" and leave it at that.
I have found that most people don't understand bipolar. It seems that the general population believes only that we are manic or depressed, not any of the other symptoms that go along with it like irritablity, hallucinations, paranoia, rage, etc.
I wish I could wrap you up and protect you from the world, Soley, but unfortunately, we all have to deal with it on our own and in our own way. Maybe you can write down a response for when people are complete a**es, memorize it and when you are manic and they are being ignorent, pull it out and verbally knock them back a step.
I wish you the best of luck.

I am so sorry you are having that problem...I can relate though...my whole family thinks I am fine because I look okay...It is very hard to explain to people how your brain is feeling...It also gets old telling people that you feel off...I also have mostly my family thinking I am some kind of pill addict...I am always being asked what medicine did you take just because I am being quiet or the same thing when I am manic...You really need to just be strong and do what is best for you...I decided to join this group after reading your comment and seeing your picture...you look like you are a hundred miles away and it also looks like you are thinking of a thousand things...you look like I feel...I try to hide it but I can't...it is to hard...I will be here for you if you need to talk, I know I need someone that can understand me...day by day is the best I can tell you...