oldie but goodie

This question hasn't been asked for a while and lots of new people here now.... just wanted to toss this one out again

How do you refer to your Bipolar ?

I am Bipolar
I have Bipolar

I usually say "I am bipolar"

Probably should change the way I look at that.

Thinking about it I actually say it both ways. I think I say "have" more though.

"I'm bipolar" 'cause I am.

I don't say it. I say, I have a mental illness. I'm still struggling with the label BP. Even so I rarely say the MI either.

I'm bipolar just like everything else that makes me who I am.

Im bipolar. It isnt meant in a way that means thats all I am or it defines me but just how I speak I guess. Im sure I have said I have bipolar too.

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My T has been very into reframing how I label myself in all sorts of ways. I tend to really beat myself up with judgements, so she is constantly on me about my language. Ever since I have been seeing her I am careful to say "I have..." instead of "I am".

I am Bipolar. Take it or leave it. I do not care.

I have it , I am not it.

I like i have better than i am. I don't want to define myself by my illness

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I have BP. I am not just BP. But I very rarely say either to anyone, just think it.

I say I have bipolar. My illness doesn't define me. I want others to see me as me. Unfortunately there are ignorant people out there who turn away from me if they find out I have this illness. For example, I confided in my best friend from high school that I have a mi. She slowly pulled away from me and now we don't have a friendship anymore. Obviously im better off without her because of her feelings towards me but it still stings a bit. You would think I could tell my best friend but it just goes to show you how uncomfortable people are with it. Makes me sad. Not mad but just sad.

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I'd say I'm bipolar.

I wouldn't say I have depression or I have mania in every day talk...I'd say I'm depressed or I'm manic. Same thing with bipolar, to me, it just sounds better to say I'm bipolar.

Whether the statement defines me or not is a whole different thing. I can understand why people would want to say I have instead of I am.

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I'm with Lobster Hands

I have a mood disorder.

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They are interchangeable with me, except I'll sometimes use "I have bipolar disorder" in a more formal conversation, like when I'm seeing a new doctor for an unrelated condition. Otherwise there's no special meaning to "I'm bipolar" versus "I have bipolar" for me.....it's not all of me, but it is a part of me.

Whether I like it or not, being bipolar does define me in many ways.

I am bipolar.

For me its not a negative perception either, I'm far more than a diagnosis, but it has definitly played a major role in shaping the woman I've become, and its not all bad either.

I guess its just how I speak, "I am" comes way more naturally than "I have", and since the former doesn't come with any negative connotations, I see no reason to change it.

Also, I do feel weird when I try saying I have, because I didn't get infected with it or inherit it from anyone and I sure as hell can't cure it.

I use "have". Using "am" feels too self-defining and I am so much more than a diagnosis. All of us are.

Also, saying "I AM Bipolar" reminds me of all of the ignorant people who say "oh my gosh your so bipolar!" When someone is in a bad mood or gets frustrated over something. It's also thrown around as a bullying word. "Don't talk to her, she's crazy and bipolar".
Gag.

-Ally

When I refer to it, I always say I HAVE bipolar because I agree that my illness doesn't encompass my entire being, which is suggested if I were to say I AM bipolar. I read on here something yesterday that was very helpful: One wouldn't say, "I am diabetes" or "I am cancer." Similarly, I choose to say, "I have bipolar."

I say both, almost 100% interchangeably. Bipolar is part of me. It doesn't define me, but no one thing defines anyone.

Well, I just say it like it is. Pick your flavor: bipolar or atypical depression.

I tend to say "I am"

But, I think that this is a product of our society

We define ourselves by "am"

I am short
I am tall
I am a redhead
I am a dentist
etc

I am bipolar...I have manic depression...I don't know, I just thought I'd think of it in a different way.

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