No, people with bipolar disorder don't always argue, but increased irritability, arguments, and conflict are common symptoms during manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes, often stemming from emotional dysregulation, racing thoughts, and intense reactions, though the severity varies greatly by individual and episode type. While anger and rage can be a part of bipolar disorder, it's a symptom that can be managed with treatment, and not everyone experiences it or argues constantly.
Being in a Relationship with Someone Who Is Bipolar
Those with bipolar disorder may also engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex or extramarital affairs while manic. During episodes of depression, your partner may avoid sexual contact altogether.
Stick to a routine
Day-to-day activities, such as the time you eat meals and go to sleep. Making time for relaxation, mindfulness, hobbies and social plans. Taking any medication at the same time each day. This can also help you manage side effects and make sure there's a consistent level in your system.
You could try to:
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
The first red flag of bipolar disorder often appears as significant changes in sleep patterns, mood instability (irritability/euphoria), increased energy/agitation, and rapid thoughts/speech, frequently mistaken for unipolar depression or normal moodiness, with sleep disruption (insomnia or oversleeping) and heightened irritability being very common early signs, notes Better Mental Health.
You can use a 48 hour rule where you wait at least 2 full days with 2 nights sleep before acting on risky decisions. Review your decision to avoid a tempting, but risky, behaviour.
Impulsivity: Bipolar individuals may struggle with impulsivity, which can manifest as saying things without thinking about the consequences. This can result in hurtful comments being made without consideration for how they may affect others.
Being a close family or friend of someone with bipolar disorder (BD) can lead to experiences of increased stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms related to the burden of caring.
These mood episodes cause symptoms that last a week or two, or sometimes longer. During an episode, the symptoms last every day for most of the day. Feelings are intense and happen with changes in behavior, energy levels, or activity levels that are noticeable to others.
However, many people with bipolar disorder have found the following tools to be helpful in reducing symptoms and maintaining wellness:
How many hours should a bipolar person sleep? People should try to sleep at least 7 hours per night, regardless of whether they have a condition such as bipolar disorder.
In severe circumstances, over-sharing may also be a symptom of mental health problems like bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder, which can make people impulsive and emotionally unstable.
A healthy relationship with someone experiencing bipolar disorder requires a nuanced understanding of triggers that influence mood swings. A partner's consideration and proactive efforts in managing these triggers reflect a deep sense of care and concern for the relationship's well-being.
Continuous Abuse or Neglect: It is essential to prioritize your safety and well-being in any relationship. If you find yourself being subjected to continuous verbal, emotional, or physical abuse, or if your needs and boundaries are consistently ignored, it might be time to reassess the relationship.
Manic Episodes: Racing Thoughts and Grandiosity
During these periods, individuals may experience racing thoughts that jump from one idea to another rapidly. This can feel overwhelming and challenging to control. In addition to racing thoughts, grandiosity is a common symptom.
Introduction
If you spouse fully accepts the diagnosis and resolves to get treatment, you could begin working together and make the marriage stronger than ever. Many people with bipolar disorder have happy, successful marriages. Read our article on Encouraging a Loved One to Get Help for tips on discussing bipolar with your spouse.
Mood-stabilizing medicines help control manic or hypomanic episodes. They also may help depressive bouts. Examples include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid, divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote ER), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Tegretol XR, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal).
The Big Five personality comprises independent traits of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness (McCrae and John 1992) and forms the basis of several personality inventories (Costa and McCrae 1992).
Most of the time, people experiencing a manic episode are unaware of the negative consequences of their actions. With bipolar disorder, suicide is an ever-present danger — some people become suicidal in manic episodes, not just depressive episodes.
People with bipolar disorder often experience periods of extremely “up,” elated, irritable, or energized behavior (known as manic episodes) and very “down,” sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes).
Those with bipolar I depression were mainly hospitalized in summer and winter, whereas for bipolar II depression most admissions for depression occurred in the spring and summer.
Watching someone you love struggle with Bipolar Disorder can be equally challenging and exhausting. Seeing your loved one experience hopelessness, frequent crying spells, social and career frustrations, and feelings of worthlessness can be heartbreaking.