Bipolar Mum Journey

Anyone with bipolar disorder struggles to contain their emotions, a challenge often referred to as “bipolar rage.” While everyone experiences outbursts as part of being human, those with bipolar disorder often lack impulse control, leading to more frequent and public displays of emotion.

It’s important not to judge these outbursts, as individuals with bipolar disorder usually manage to regulate themselves and return to a rational state after a short time depending on the circumstances.

I recall taking my children to a soft play centre many years ago. A woman there kept staring at me. I tolerated it for as long as I could, but eventually, the impulsivity of bipolar disorder took over. I marched over to her and asked if she had paid for her children to play on the equipment or to sit there and watch me. After that, I quickly gathered my children and left the play centre in tears, upset both because I couldn’t control my impulse to ignore her and because I had cut my children’s playtime short.

People with mental health conditions can sometimes display intriguing behaviour, which may naturally draw attention or even stares. It’s crucial for us not to take everything personally. If someone is staring, it’s safer to smile and “kill them with kindness” rather than give in to a moment of bipolar rage.

Those with bipolar disorder often struggle to regulate their emotions, especially when mixed with past trauma, leading to public breakdowns. If you encounter someone having a public outburst, resist the urge to judge. You never know what that person has been through. If it doesn’t concern you, move along and be grateful it’s not happening to you.