What Not to Say to Somebody With Bipolar Disorder

What Not to Say to Somebody With Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Print 8 Things Not to Say to Someone Who Has Bipolar Disorder By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 13, 2019 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights lechatnoir/E/Getty Images If you have bipolar disorder, someone has said at least one of these things to you. If you know someone who has this illness, you may be guilty of saying one or more of them. You may have good intentions but not realize how these words can be received. Hearing them can be painful, infuriating, depressingâ€"even destructiveâ€"to a  bipolar family member, friend, co-worker, or acquaintance. Saying them is not going to be helpful. Youre Just Overreacting Again Overreacting is a symptom of bipolar disorder.?? Hearing harsh words that would be painful to anyone,  you may well respond with extreme anger or dark depression. Even a sad movie can make a person with bipolar disorder overreact, and so can a lot of other things. But youre not just overreacting, and its not as if you can always take a deep breath and stop it. Your illness can make that very difficult. Anything That Doesnt Kill You Makes You Stronger Yes, its true that some people go through difficult experiences, learn from them, and come out of it stronger. But this phrase is wrongâ€"bipolar disorder can kill. At least 25 to 60% of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide and between 4 and 16% die from suicide.?? Leave this cliche out of your repertoire. If you have a friend or family member with bipolar disorder, be alert for when they might go into a crisis and do not leave them alone. Everybody Has Mood Swings Sometimes Thats true. For one thing, 8 percent of American adults and 4 percent of adolescents have major depressive disorder, having periods of euthymia and depression. Even among those who do not have a diagnosable disorder that has mood swings, people have changes in mood. But only people with bipolar disorder, cyclothymia, schizoaffective disorder, and related severe mental illnesses have repeated and severe mood swings between mania or hypomania and depression.?? Everyone Is a Little Bipolar Sometimes This similar phrase is insensitive for the same reasons. Having mood swings is not the same as having a diagnosable disorder.?? You Are Psycho Nuts, crazy, cuckoo, deranged, bonkers, or any one of a dozen negative words and phrases are insensitive to people with diagnosable disorders. You might be used to throwing such phrases around to brand your friends behavior without realizing how they can be hurtful to someone who is coping with a disorder.?? Youre Acting Like a Maniac! This one is extremely offensive, as maniacs are portrayed as violent and deranged. Experiencing bipolar mania  does not automatically mean that a person will be dangerous. Its also not the same thing as  antisocial personality disorder and/or be psychopathic.?? I Wish I Was Manic so I Could Get Things Done! Thats not all there is to mania.?  ?There are many symptoms of mania, and it would be helpful if you studied them and understood what the bipolar person may go through.?? While they may have a lot of energy, they can also have racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, and do risky things. But You Seem so Normal! Maybe the person with bipolar disorder is between cycles, or maybe they are good at hiding what theyre feeling.?? They may be in a hypomanic episode and only the good things about it are visible at the moment. Consider how this would sound if you had a serious illness such as cancer and someone said, You cant be sick, you look so normal! It Must Be Your Time of the Month While its true that monthly hormonal changes may affect mood, passing off bipolar disorder as being nothing more than PMS is just wrong.?? Any person is liable to take offense at this statement, let alone a person with bipolar disorder. PMS Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder A Word From Verywell Take care to avoid saying insensitive phrases to a person with  bipolar disorder, or really, to anyone. Let your words be encouraging and supportive, without marginalizing people with psychiatric disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that you can help someone with bipolar disorder by being patient and encouraging them to talk and spend your time listening rather instead.?? Invite them  to join in fun activities. Understand that they may have mood swings. Listen to them and also let them know that its possible to feel better with patience and the right treatment. 10 Things to Know if You or a Loved One Has Bipolar Disorder