I have bipolar disease and want too know why we get such a bum wrap?

I have been on meds for 16 yrs. It took a long time to get a correct mix of meds for me, seroquel and lamictal. I knew I had a problem, but didn't know why. One day I saw Mark Harmon on tv telling that his sister Chris (whom was married to Rickey Nelson) has bipolar. He told the symptoms and I knew that was me. I told my dr's for yrs. I thought I had bipolar and was told, "That's ridiculous." Bipolar is inherited, as is arthritis, heart disease, bad cholesterol, etc. We don't just become manic or depressed because we want to. Meds and a medical professional in this field help, but can't take it away like a depression from your worldly problems, because it is a predisposed mental condition. A therapist told me don't label yourself bipolar, say, "I have bipolar." This made me feel a lot better about myself. I'm a good person and have good morals. I 'm just predisposed with a medical condition I surely didn't asked for. To me there is no normal for anyone. Every time you laugh, cry, have pain, grieve or any other feeling it changes chemicals and neurotransmitters in your brain. Have you ever thought about that? So please don't judge us so harshly, because you can't walk a mile in our shoes.You may be walking that mile and won't admit or you just don't realize you have bipolar. Check out bipolar sites.