[lovejoy91]

Which one do you say?

I try to leave myself a little wiggle room by self-labeling as 'bipolar curious'.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm bipolar. It's a part of who I am just is.

[Blue_Bird]

I have Bipolar Disorder, I am more than my illness.

[Blitter2014]

I have bipolar. And I am bipolar. I have bipolar in the sense that it is something that affects me, something that makes me different to what I would have been if I didn't have it. But I am bipolar. It is an integral part of me, and it affects every part of my personality, my reality, my life. I would not be what I am today if it were not for being bipolar. If I am the sum total of my parts, then the reason I am the person I am is because I am bipolar.

[Toodles333]

I choose not to tell people. Too few people would understand the disorder.

I have bipolar disorder (which is not information I share with people other than those that need access to my medical information). I consider it just a condition I have to deal with from time to time; thus "have" as opposed to "am." I don't at all feel it is who I am. I am Chris. I am a wife, a mother, a teacher, a singer, a reader, a lover of Mexican food, and a dog lover. Those nouns work together to define who I am. I am not a bipolar.

I have graying hair, a bad knee, allergies to cats, terrible eyesight, asthma, and bipolar disorder. They are just various issues and challenges I deal with from time to time. They don't in any way define who I am.

That said, I understand we all make our own decisions regarding this, and it doesn't particularly bother me what other people call their own disorder. We each have to make peace with this in our own way.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I don't let it define me. There's more to me than bipolar

[Capriciousness]

Originally Posted by Lefty the Salesman

I try to leave myself a little wiggle room by self-labeling as 'bipolar curious'.

Hahahahaha love it

[Capriciousness]

Originally Posted by Blitter2014

I have bipolar. And I am bipolar. I have bipolar in the sense that it is something that affects me, something that makes me different to what I would have been if I didn't have it. But I am bipolar. It is an integral part of me, and it affects every part of my personality, my reality, my life. I would not be what I am today if it were not for being bipolar. If I am the sum total of my parts, then the reason I am the person I am is because I am bipolar.

Yes..... My sentiments exactly

I liken it to the Grand Canyon. I am the stone earth and Bipolar is the water that over time carved it out. I might not be the illness but I can't change or deny that the illness has carved me.

I much prefer to say I AM Bipolar. I own it. It makes me feel empowered and I am proud of it. It elevates this magical blessing and curse and gift and hell that is this thing called Bipolar to something more special and worthy of being honored and valued than just an "illness". Blah. But I understand people who want to be separate from the illness. I guess a lot of it depends on our own unique experience of Bipolar.

However to someone in the medical profession I say I have Bipolar disorder. Just seems prudent.

I have bipolar disorder. But I have no issue with what term best suits others.

[bunnifoo]

I have lots of medical conditions...bipolar disorder, Interstitial Cystitis, anxiety disorders, asthma , etc.

That's what I tell people. Well not all that at once and not everyone but I'm fairly open about having health issues.

[Skywalking]

I use either one, I don't have a preference.

[Disorder7]

I have bipolar, PTSD, and panic disorder. I also have gallstones and degenerative disc disease.

But to each his own. Whatever people want to say is fine by me.

[~Christina]

I have Bipolar and that makes me Amazing

[lovejoy91]

I say, "I have bipolar disorder". To me, saying "I'm bipolar" means you are the disease. My disease doesn't define me.

[Row Jimmy]

I don't say either - I try not to triangulate a diagnosis. My p-doc isn't sure yet - bipolar mixed with hypomania or perhaps a PD like narcissistic or borderline. He sort of rubs his chin and says "hmmmm yes, there's something up here". He's great, I love him - very funny and honest. He calls himself a "diagnostic agnostic". I don't like being in a box anyway.

I have a lot of grandiosity, anger, and paranoia so who knows? I just focus on getting better.

[Shadesofdark]

I really had to think about this. Seems I say I'm bipolar, I have anxiety issues, I have OCD. Must be some deep meaning there...

[wiretwister]

as my signature says...."on the bipolar spectrum"...

[Moogieotter]

I mix and match. Sometimes I say "I enjoy bipolar."

[Crazy Hitch]

"I have bipolar disorder".

I have severe mood swings, but they don't define the grand sum total of who I am as a person, there's so much more to me than meets the eye, so it's just a small part of who I truly am.

Good question!

[BipolaRNurse]

I pretty much use both; it depends on the situation. I don't have any hang-ups regarding the use of "I'm bipolar" because the illness is a part of me, but I will often use "I have bipolar disorder" when I'm talking with medical people who don't know me well. It's a dignity thing then---I don't wish to be treated like a "mental patient" when I'm not getting care for that reason. Weird, I know, but that's just me.

[Brophy]

When I was first diagnosed, I didn't really tell anyone but those close to me. Then I began to wear it on my sleeve for awhile, I was manic through most of this. Depending on the day and my mood I say either or both. There are days that I feel small, times when I feel like the Illness consumes me and on those days I AM Bipolar. The days that I feel fine I HAVE Bipolar disorder. No single thing defines an individual but rather the sum of many small pieces. Bipolar is a large part of my life, forever.

[THE16THDOCTOR]

I am bipolar. Now I wear it like a badge of honor. I can get through my days with this enormous weight on my back whereas others don't have to.