I hate the term illness. Sometimes I will refer to myself as unwell when in a severe episode, like right now...but in general I do not call myself ill. Especially because I do not spend the majority of my time ill. I often refer to bipolar as a condition. I'm more comfortable with that. It's just part of my life, right now a huge sucky part, that I have to deal with, but to think of it as an illness to me is depressing and kind of casts a tone of hopelessness. I don't need any more hopelessness right now.