I *Am* Bipolar

 So out in the world I've heard quite a bit recently that you shouldn't say someone "is bipolar", you should say they "have bipolar". Of course you should respect how people wish to be described, but I am going to offer here another perspective.

I am bipolar.

Nearly a decade ago, I was diagnosed as Bipolar I with psychotic episodes. I've seen people argue that you would never say someone "is" cancer - but bipolar is not like cancer. I do not believe any physical illness is comparable.

In fact, we use "I am" all the time for all kinds of things, even transient things like:

I am hungry. I am cold. I am happy. I am sad.

We also use "I am" to describe things that make up only a part of our identity, not our entire identity, just as bipolar does:

I am a woman. I am a white person. I am asexual.

So, in conclusion, feel free to refer to me as "being" bipolar.