I don't care either way, it's not my entire identity, and how I say it doesn't affect me, I mean I honestly don't feel better saying "have" instead of "am" so my habit of saying "I am bipolar" isn't a big deal.

And for me there's a distinct difference between contracting a disease and developing a disorder, so it feels kinda incorrect saying I have it, like I caught it.. lol

Guess when you get to the crux of it, it probably comes down to perception and acceptance, I have accepted my DX, without reservation from day one... Even though the Dr said "You have BP disorder" first thing I said to my then BF as is got into his car was "So I'm bipolar".... And my perception is that it doesn't change who I am... And saying it differently won't make me feel better about having it.

See I am bipolar but I discuss having it.... Grammar does come in to play.

My personal opinion is that some people who struggle with how to word it has over identified with their DX or maybe struggles with accepting it.

It's not the entirety of my identity, I am also Borderline, I am also a mother, I am also a woman and I am also a human being....

luckily for me I am not diabetic, nor do I have diabetes, luckily for me, I am not HIV+ or I don't have HIV.

Again me with the grammar not a disease oriented joke.

Also I think it's selfish to get rid of a term just because a fraction of the population find it has a negative connotation to it and feel dis-empowered by it or something.

Don't the rest of us matter....

Imagine I say I am bipolar and someone stops me and gets offended by my use of words and rectified me on how to word my DX. [emoji33]

I would probably want to punch them. Especially if they're a "non"

Everything is about being PC, and it's all good and well until you change how people speak for no discernable reason other than it doesn't sit right with a few members of society.

It's not a derogatory term for Pete's sake.

It a diagnosis.