Replies to 'Bipolar Disorder'

I have bipolar disorder with ultra rapid cycling, but many of my friends would be surprised to know this.  I have some people I share with about my bipolar life, yet most people I don't.  I am a teacher and have worked many years in an ESL lab.  I take medicine which helps, but I still cycle very much.  I wish Dr. Phil would have on the show about some people who are living normal lives.   Not all bipolar people are out of control all the time.   I want people to know that as bipolar with the right medication and therapy we can live a good life.  It is true without medication people really go off the deep end.  I had trouble accepting my bipolar disorder because I felt like my only problem was depression and I never had mania.  I learned about hypomania through my studying about bipolar disorder.  No one had ever talked about hypomania and I thought it was just times which I was happy, talkactive, self confident, friendly and creative.   

Many people with bipolar disorder are compassionate, caring and good people.  I wish people would know this about bipolar disorder.  The violent, out of control behavior is what most people think when they think of bipolar disorder.  I know this because for a long time, my family did not believe that I had bipolar disorder because I seemed so normal.  How can we help other people know that people with bipolar disorder are great people to know?  How can we help people to understand that people with this disorder can be productive members of society?  If anyone has any answers on helping others understand that people with bipolar disorder can live normal lives. 

Safariman