Who we've become:

My friend told me she did not recognize this person that I'd become.  A person different, insecure, scattered not sure who she is.  I'm still the same, but different.  I did not know then that I was BP.  I thought I was different from all the life experiences that I now know some were painful because my bp illness was making me abuse substances on occasion, made me seek risky behavior that excited me and many times hurt me, and at times made me unsure of myself, guilty for no reason etc.  I used to think that I had outburst of rage because I had a good reason.  Abusive family members or having my fellings hurt or being disrepected etc.  Now things are more clear.  I'm very intelligent and make good conversation....Still my words often come off against the grain.  I ask too many questions, I have too many opinions and sometimes I think my level of thinking intimidates others.  Why do people have to think extreme crazy when they hear bipolar? How about you?  Experience anything like this?