Having bipolar disorder is not easy. It is also not a curable condition. Those who have it must usually undergo treatment for their entire lives.
There are types of mental health treatment that can assist people with bipolar disorder. If you know someone with this condition, though, it’s also helpful to treat them tactfully. That means not saying the things we’re about to list.
Can’t You Just Be Normal?
Normalcy is in the eye of the beholder. What any doctor will tell you, though, is that someone who has received a bipolar diagnosis will probably never feel normal in the conventional sense. This is a disrespectful thing to say to someone who has received this diagnosis.
Have They Found a Way to Cure You Yet?
There is no known cure for bipolar disorder. There are various treatment options out there, but suggesting that someone can be cured is insensitive and needlessly cruel.
What’s It Like Being Crazy?
Someone who has received this diagnosis might have an inner voice telling them that they’re abnormal sometimes. That’s not something that’s easy to deal with. Such a person does not need someone who doesn’t have this condition to ask them questions about their mental state. It’s not helpful or productive to say such things.
You’re Overreacting
People with this condition sometimes have what appears to be an extreme reaction to outside stimuli. That does not mean they’re overreacting, though. Saying that to such a person is a method of belittling them and invalidating their experience of the world.
You Seem Normal, Though
You might think you’re paying someone with bipolar disorder a compliment if you tell them they seem normal. If they’re in control of themselves, that’s great, but they don’t need you passing judgment on how good of a job they’re doing. It’s best not to bring up their mental state at all. If they want to talk about it, they should be the ones to bring it up.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
This kind of stale platitude is definitely not helpful. If you don’t have this condition, you don’t know the first thing about what it’s like to live with it. Downplaying the severity of this diagnosis or trying to put a positive spin on it might seem like a good idea, but it’s not.
Being Manic Probably Has Some Advantages
Manic episodes can be a part of this disorder sometimes. When someone goes through these dizzying highs, they might try to get things done, but that productivity can come with a high price. Don’t try to tell someone who has received this diagnosis that you would enjoy this part of the condition. It’s rude.
Everyone Gets a Little Bipolar Sometimes
It’s also not helpful to try to say that everyone knows what it’s like to be bipolar because they also have mood swings. It’s simply not the same. Saying that you sometimes feel bipolar or that everyone has ups and downs does the diagnosed persona a disservice.
