"I couldn't tell you were bipolar"
Today I explained bipolar disorder to my manager who I have become close with the last few months and she told me she was surprised. I haven't had an episode since January, I think it's the longest I have ever gone. I am really proud of myself and I'm trying to be optimistic about this hopefully continuing to last. In the past when I was depressed, this comment would have made me angry, like, "Can't you even tell how deeply I'm suffering?" But I totally took it as a compliment this time.
It definitely hasn't always been the case, coworkers commenting on my weird behaviors has always been a sign of mania for me. When I told a coworker at my old job that I was bipolar, she said "Um yeah, everyone can tell..." Ouch, that really wounded me at the time. I was hospitalized for a week during my current job and had to take a leave of absence another time, my manager didn't know that those were for mental reasons.
I feel pretty proud about the whole thing. Hope everyone had a good week.