[Travelinglady]

Don't Ever Say I Am Bipolar

This older article from PC's newsletter reminds us that how we tell people about having bipolar can make a difference in our thinking. For goodness sake, we don't say "I am cancer" or "I am coronavirus," do we?

[Fuzzybear]

I certainly hope nobody would say either of those other 2 things. ugh

Good point about Bipolar not being someone's whole identity.

[Fuzzybear]

with the so called PD's - people say ''He is Narcissistic'' or ''she is borderline''

I think those are also not particularly helpful

I am allergic

I am also allergic to ****

[Merlin]

I’m okay with it. We might say “I am diabetic”. I think it’s the same. I do think it shouldn’t be your whole identity.

[Moose72]

Right! I have bipolar disorder would be better, though it certainly FEELS like all I am is bipolar when I'm in an episode!

[Daonnachd]

We don't say, "I am cancer" because cancer is a noun. "Bipolar" is an adjective so it is grammatically correct to say, "I am bipolar." Besides, it's not your job to tell me how to talk. Leave this topic alone.

[lightly toasted]

Originally Posted by Daonnachd

We don't say, "I am cancer" because cancer is a noun. "Bipolar" is an adjective so it is grammatically correct to say, "I am bipolar." Besides, it's not your job to tell me how to talk. Leave this topic alone.

Thank you! Every bipolar forum or support group I've ever attended, someone will bring this up. Geez, I say I am Canadian, I am short, , I'm middle-aged, I am fat, and yes, I am bipolar. These things aren't all that I am, but they're true. Bipolar is not my entire identity, but it is certainly a piece of it.

[Soupe du jour]

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.

[Trippin2.0]

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.

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.

[FluffyDinosaur]

I say "I am bipolar," but I know it's not my whole identity. I just say it that way because it's a whole lot shorter than "I have bipolar disorder." Also, maybe it's just me, but I don't like using the word "disorder" to describe myself.

[bpcyclist]

I find the entire taxonomy of these diseases pre-Cambrian and byzantine. Myself, I avoid the term MI because the word "mental" has been appropriated by bigots. I respect any language concerns. We all have unique triggering mechanisms.

[fern46]

I've tried to understand this issue, but I cannot. I just cannot find the value in caring either way. Labels are such a hot mess in general. I feel like the world has gone bipolar on them. Some groups cling to them as if they are essential to existence. Others refuse to be defined. All of it distracts from the more important aspects of any issue. Call me what you like. I'm over it.

[Blue_Bird]

Originally Posted by Daonnachd

We don't say, "I am cancer" because cancer is a noun. "Bipolar" is an adjective so it is grammatically correct to say, "I am bipolar." Besides, it's not your job to tell me how to talk. Leave this topic alone.

Wow. A little harsh.

[Blue_Bird]

I’ve always said “I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type “ rather than “I am schizoaffective.“ I don’t see myself as simply a schizoaffective persons. I’ve always thought this was important too.

[Blue_Bird]

People can have differences of opinion. If you don’t like a topic keep scrolling.

[*Beth*]

Ugh, I used to struggle with this subject. I used to say "I am bipolar." Now I do tend to say "I have bipolar disorder", just because it seems more accurate. But at this point I'm accepting of either.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

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.

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.

Lia Logic

[sarahsweets]

I really do not think it matters how one describes oneself when it comes to having bipolar. Its sort of like having "ownership" over the illness to describe oneself how we see fit. You know how some ethnicity's will take ownership of derogatory terms and use them amongst themselves or to each other? I see it that way. I can talk about my BPII the way I want to if I am talking about myself. If I am talking about someone else with BP I default to "that person who has BP" Or "do you have/suffer from BP?)
It matters to me how I talk about it but I do not presume to know how others talk about it.
I agree that a non-suffering layman might say "you are so bipolar" or "you are bipolar" and I would take issue with it. The reason being is someone else does not get to take ownership over describing my illness.

[Travelinglady]

Gee, I didn't know I would ruffle feathers by bringing up this article from PC's newsletter. I certainly wasn't trying to tell people how they should label themselves. I just thought it was something to consider and I, personally, find it helpful not to label myself that way--but to each their own way of labeling themselves.

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Gee, I didn't know I would ruffle feathers by bringing up this article from PC's newsletter. I certainly wasn't trying to tell people how they should label themselves. I just thought it was something to consider and I, personally, find it helpful not to label myself that way--but to each their own way of labeling themselves.

I think it’s a great thread.