Going bipolar

I was recently reading a message board and a woman referred to a violent ex-husband as "going bipolar" on her. I sent her a message:

I found your comment about XH "Going bipolar" very hurtful. Bipolar disorder does not always equate to mental and physical abuse. Please be careful - bipolar is an illness, not an adjective to describe horrible behavior. It is an incredibly treatable illness, too. I have it myself. It is EXTREMELY offensive to use it the way you did. It stigmatizes everyone with bipolar disorder, including very responsible, kind and loving people such as myself. He may have had bipolar illness, and he chose not to get it treated, I'll guess he probably factored drugs and alcohol into the equation, which made him hateful, but people are not hateful because they have bipolar illness. The best way I heard it described is "It makes you more of what you are". I gave too much money to charity and wouldn't shut up when I was manic. I know it wasn't your intent to be hurtful; but it's very painful for people who do have a valid mental illness, under treatment, at a great personal and physical cost, to be lumped in with your violent XH. Thank you


She replied, basically stating "All you people are alike, you can't make me change my mind". Well, I disagree.

I stand by what I said. I know many people with bipolar illness who WOULD have "gone bipolar" on the woman for making that statement. I'm a Christian. I pointed it out, told her I'd pray for her, I plan to pray for her, and I'll leave it up to God to handle her bigotry.

Please, it's an illness, not an adjective.

Thanks.