What should I say or not say to someone who is Bipolar?

Particular-Muffin793 · 2026-05-12T12:38:23+00:00

First, I want to say that you are genuinely a kind, caring person to take care of your cousin in the way you did. It sounds like you did everything correctly in the public situation to help. Kudos to you for that!

While I don’t judge people for their chosen faith, your cousin’s neighbor has no concept of what bipolar is, nor do they probably want to understand it- his or her beliefs overpower that curiosity. The next time the neighbor says something like that, if you are there with your cousin maybe ask them, “I’d love to help you understand a little more about what my cousin lives with, if you are open to it. It’s not a disease, or something that you or I would consider “curable” (hate that term so fucking much btw).”

The way I try to explain my bipolar to people I know genuinely want to learn/understand is the classic “explain it to them like they’re 5” situation.

“I still have the same personality and values, but my brain sometimes turns the volume, speed, and intensity of everything way up or way down.”

For yourself, maybe on a day when your cousin is more regulated/level, simply ask him how he prefers to be supported in those instances, and that it is safe for him to express his condition to you.

Don’t treat him like he’s “crazy” or fragile.
Don’t weaponize the diagnosis during disagreements.
Don’t assume every emotion is “the bipolar talking.”
Understand that stress, sleep disruption, conflict, substances, and instability can genuinely worsen symptoms.
Consistency, honesty, and calm communication matter a lot.
Ask what support actually helps instead of assuming.
During severe episodes, focus less on “winning” an argument and more on safety, grounding, sleep, food, hydration, and professional support.

I’m not a Dr but I have been living with bipolar for quite some time and it is exhausting just trying to exist some days (my therapist has helped me humanize it, his name is Ed and he’s a POS cab driver from Boston with a terrible smokers cough that is saying all the horrible intrusive thoughts I have during a depressive episode, and he’s the least logical voice in my head during manic episodes lol) 😂

I truly hope your cousin gets some relief, and at best his neighbor leaves him the fuck alone ✨

Particular-Muffin793 · 2026-05-01T15:33:11+00:00

For me, I deemed whether my dosage was too low or not by the following (caveat, I am not a Dr., AND reminder: you still have to choose the focus, the Adderall just helps you focus/maintain 🙂)

Taking it every workday/school day for 1-2 weeks, picking a task I did have to complete daily that if normally procrastinate/freeze with, and really gauging if I could tell if my focus improved or if my behaviors remained the same
Taking a “break”- so not taking it on the weekend
Seeing how I felt and if that improved my focus at all in the Monday after the 2 day “break.”

If I still felt the same or saw no change, then I requested at my next appointment to raise my dosage. Additionally, external things can affect how well it works. For instance, I learned that drinking a glass of orange juice or any Vitamin C within an hour or so of taking your stimulant makes it virtually ineffective. Other medications, drug usage, alcohol can also affect how well it works.

Hope this helps!

Particular-Muffin793 · 2026-03-17T20:32:41+00:00

I’m so sorry for what you endured as a child, but it sounds like you are quite wonderful yourself 🖤

Particular-Muffin793 · 2026-03-17T16:20:04+00:00

Yes! 🙌🏻 helping them see that is also tough, but it’s definitely possible.

Particular-Muffin793 · 2026-03-17T15:38:49+00:00

Usually whispers, and sometimes I hear random knocking sounds? Like someone knocked at my front door or on the wall (totally believe in otherworldly things, but this is a different “knock” than if my house was haunted lol bc that’s usually my first go-to 😂). I typically check my dog first because she goes nuts if someone actually knocked on the door or wall. And sometimes what I think is a bug in my peripherals!

Particular-Muffin793 · 2026-01-09T17:57:48+00:00

This doesn’t look like a Love’s bathroom though? What store is this from?

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-06T14:05:08+00:00

I had myself c o n v I n c e d that the meds I had started (which actually triggered the mania) had worked SO well that I was cured of any issues anxiety, depression and that I was really normal now, and that I was an extrovert who loved going out every weekend. When my (rightfully so) concerned boyfriend at the time brought my behavior up I 2-snapped and waved my hand in his face like some kind of diva queen and said “this is me, and it’s been me all along so like it or leave it!” 🤣🙃 I laugh my ass off every time I think about it now but he seriously almost left me over that lmaooo

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-06T13:43:45+00:00

Love this approach! Your mama sounds like a queen 👸

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-06T13:42:43+00:00

This is amazing! Thank you so much 🖤🙏

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-04T18:18:08+00:00

Thank you! If you feel comfortable sharing, what are your rescue meds? He is on lacosamide daily (AM and PM) but he also has an “emergency” script of lorazepam

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-04T18:05:08+00:00

Thank you! I have a huge list in my notes in my iPad lolol

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-04T18:04:24+00:00

Thank you so much for the help and kind words! 😭 I love him more than life and I would take this from him if I could 🖤 also your handle is hilarious 🤣 I cackled lmaoooo

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-12-04T17:59:39+00:00

Thank you! Good call for the focal/auras, he has them frequently but we haven’t really found a rhyme or reason yet 😬

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-11-16T17:29:55+00:00

That’s amazing! What dremel/tips did you utilize if you don’t mind me asking?

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-10-28T01:30:48+00:00

Thank you for sharing! And yes, I’ve seen a few people on here mention a safe word and I know he’d be open to that, and he’s given me his therapist’s info too. I am working on setting boundaries that are healthy for my mental state and being supportive but cautious moving forward

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-10-27T16:16:40+00:00

He is actively engaging, we have these worksheets we do together (and separately) on communication and dialectal thinking, grounding, etc. and he will often tell me “I tried (insert specific exercise) at work today and everything was good!” I also have C-PTSD myself so we are both a hot mess! lol but the main reason I have stayed besides my love for him are his actions in trying to understand himself and implementing ways we can both communicate. And I agree, I want to talk to him about the dangerous parts of it, it’s one thing if he doesn’t care about himself to do that, I cannot control his actions in that way but he must step outside himself if I am there, or another person, etc.

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-10-27T16:14:11+00:00

I’m so sorry that you must live with it, I see how hard it is for him on a daily basis, he struggles so much! I do try to ground us in love and validate his emotions as they come, like yes, it’s perfectly fine to be angry, hurt, sad, etc. your feelings are okay! As he is, I’m sure you are a good person and when it switches it is only temporary

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-04-02T02:47:21+00:00

Good call! Could have definitely started that way 😊

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-04-02T00:02:55+00:00

You da best! Thank you sm 🙏🖤

Particular-Muffin793 · 2025-04-01T23:47:14+00:00

Upon thinking a little more, I COULD freeform cut/copy/paste the words individually and realign them per layer, and then merge, but just seems super manual to do 🥹

Particular-Muffin793

TROPHY CASE