I don't, personally, like the "I am" version. I'm not a mood pole. I don't think of it as an adjective for myself. I solely look at bipolar disorder as a noun. I would vote to get rid of any adjective version "bipolar" in terms of a mental health issue. I see it as a word of stigma. For magnet poles or other use in chemistry, I see it as fine.

If people like the "I am bipolar" for bipolar disorder, that is fine for them, but don't use it as an adjective for me. In that respect, we are different, fundamentally. Actually, I rather dislike the name bipolar disorder, as a whole. If I had a choice, I would come up with a different descriptor for the psych issue that "I have".

It sucks to have a major psychological illness. I don't take pride in having one, but of course I know that it wasn't anything I brought on myself. It's an illness I have to deal with. I'm proud of how I have dealt with it. It's no more part of me than, say, genital herpes, but I have them both. I didn't choose the latter, either. I'll admit that the latter is a bit less of a challenge than the former, but they're both illnesses that can't be cured, at the moment. They are also both sadly stigmatized. At least most wouldn't go around saying "Soupe du Jour is genital herpes."

Does my genital herpes conversation gross anyone out? If so, why? Do you have a more romantic notion about bipolar disorder? That having the disorder is an inate part of your identity, but herpes wouldn't be?

I think this is a topic that should be discussed many times.