I long dated someone with the disorder. It is a fairly straightforward medical problem, easily diagnosed, easily addressed. The problem is the horrible mess it makes before diagnosis & treatment, and the lingering effects of that mess, and the ongoing need to never ever miss meds. The question is which is in control: you or it.
On a tangent: I had heart surgery last year. Did it, it’s done, yes it’s a factor in my life but I manage what needs managing and go on. What amazes me is how some people _live_ it, talking about being a “survivor” decades later and attending support meetings and subscribing to post-surgery magazines and ... etc. Again, the question is which is in control: you or it.
You make it sound a lot simpler than my experience of “bipolar” in a loved one.
IMPO (P = professional), bipolar disorder is not hard to diagnose, but the only consistently effective treatment is psychotropic medication. The meds put individuals in a sluggish state. Hence, many bipolars stop taking their meds to get the "manic" high. That's when they can be very destructive of self and others.
It may be treated as a straightforward medical problem, but the current treatment options are limited and in need of further development. If the pharma companies are allowed to do R&D under Obama and the Democrats, there may be hope for better medications. Otherwise ...