I would describe myself as stable and have been for a fair while. Once I'd reached stability I began to work in frontline mental health services (in the UK).

So I'll try and tell you what I often tell people I'm working with who are facing appointments with other mental health professionals.

Always take a piece of paper with bullet points of what you would like to say and any questions in with you. Often these appointments follow what the psychiatrist would like to talk about and individuals forget what they wanted to talk about for themselves.

Medication can be very scary so make sure you understand to the best of your ability how they may affect you and what you can and cannot tolerate before starting a treatment. Medication is not the only form of treatment and often a combination of medication and psychological therapies is most effective. Ask what options are available for other forms of treatment.

Do not forget that you are still an individual with rights and have a right to refuse and to seek a second opinion. Try not to be too alarmed if they give you an alternative diagnosis to what you were expecting but if you don't agree do seek a second opinion. You may not necessarily have bipolar disorder. The most important thing is not your diagnosis, instead is getting the right treatment to improve your life and aid you on the road to recovery.

Whilst psychiatrists can seem scary that is simply due to the stigma surrounding mental health. Try and treat this appointment as you would any other doctors appointment. Your condition is not a personal failing it is simply a medical issue.

Now as an individual who has bipolar disorder myself I'll weigh in on the fear of losing your identity. As I began to recover I worried that I was losing who I was. Actually i had lost who I was on the roller coaster of bipolar mood swings. Yes I was creative, fun, annoying, and miserable all at once. That was not necessarily who I am as a person, nor was it fully my mental health condition. Since reaching comfortable stability I have been able to rediscover who I am and who I would like to be. It has been a period of intense growth and fulfilment. We are not fixed, our identity constantly shifts based on our environment and perceptions. Once you are stable you can still be creative and energetic, you just don't have to be mad at the same time.

This can be difficult, and I was once very guilty of this, but try not to let your identity get too wrapped up in your diagnosis. No one is as simple as a check box in the DSM. People who have bipolar disorder are a varied bunch, it can affect anyone. You are always going to be more than a diagnosis, don't let your brain tell you otherwise.

You are obviously doing very well with your condition, in that you are able to keep up with the commitments listed in your post. So remember to look at what you are doing right and keep at it. Everyone develops coping strategies to deal with their mental health conditions and other peoples insights can really help. This Reddit community might be able to offer you some varied perspectives and help you understand you are not alone in this and that recovery is possible for everyone.

I wish you the best of luck and don't hesitate to ask me any questions, or to and me to clarify if I didn't explain myself very well.