Does it really make a difference which way it is said? Do you think the person that listens to you will also make this distinction, or even care to? Once they hear “bipolar”, no matter how you said it, they will respond. Hopefully this will happen in a nonjudgmental way, but that is frequently what will not happen. I do believe most with BP say that they “are” BP, as I do. Do you think this will make a difference if said differently? To whom? You or the person listening? These are just words. They do not need to matter to any of you. You know what you mean, and so will the person listening to you. IMO that is all that matters.