User blog comment:Mr.Zalgopasta/Depression/@comment-4841724-20120326182652

Bipolar is a tricky diagnosis. There is more than one type. Type one is the "Manic/Depressive," or better known as the one with the severe mood swings. This is the one most people think of when they hear the word bipolar. There is also a second type of bipolar.

The second type sounds more like what you have described. Basically, instead of having "really happy and really sad", you tend to see emotional ranges between "sad and angry." There is neutral ground in there and it is possible to be happy at least sometimes. Medication can help balance things out, and has improved greatly in the past ten years or so.

When people see someone have a severe mood swing and say things like "I think s/he's bipolar or something," they often don't really think about what they are saying. Bipolar tends to get a bad rep from tv or movies. Having it doesn't change who you are.

I hope this helps.