I used to say, "I am bipolar." Never thought anything of it. I considered bipolar as defining, in part, who I am as a person. Recently it has become unpopular to say, "I am bipolar" and more acceptable to say, "I have bipolar disorder."

The "I have" is supposed to reduce stigma. Personally, I kind of feel like "I am" is still defining...I am not ashamed of being bipolar; it's part of who I am, my very fabric.

If I have an illness such as diabetes, that is not a part of who I am. It does not define my personality or character. It is a disease I am fighting against, not a disorder that is integral to the person I call "me". So I'd say, "I have diabetes."

But, since it's important to work on stopping mental illness stigma, which is apparently perpetuated by saying "I am", nowadays I say, "I have bipolar disorder."