In the past I would frequently refer to my Bipolar as an "llness". "When I became ill"......."since I became ill", etc. Now I avoid that at all costs. It is a mental illness but to call it that somehow diminishes me. On PC now I say "since my diagnosis" or "since I was diagnosed" quite often. (I know that's a bit off-track for this thread but just thought I'd mention it.) Other than that I tend to say I have Bipolar or I have Bipolar disorder.