03/31/2026
Language matters.
That is especially important to point out on a day we recognize a condition people experience all over the world on 🌎
Mental health advocates, professionals, peer support specialists, those who live with and experience bipolar disorders, those who love and support someone who has a bipolar disorder, and informed and compassionate people in communities, like you, say it all the time.
How we talk about a person with bipolar disorder and the condition that is bipolar disorder, it matters.
It helps change how people are perceived and treated, and can shape systems that affect opportunities and access.
You. Your words, in public and in private do that.
🗣️“He’s so bipolar,” is harmful when used to describe someone who is in a bad mood or loses their temper under stress.
🗣️”She’s bipolar,” can also be harmful when describing someone who is “living with bipolar disorder,” which is more compassionate and less stigmatizing language.
🫶🏼 To avoid being nervous about what to say, try to remember putting the person first, “Jane lives with bipolar disorder,” or “My son experiences extreme shifts in mood that result in him making risky decisions and feeling very depressed.” Assuming he has given permission for this to be discussed, “He takes medication and goes to therapy. He is doing much better now, and I am very proud of him for his resilience while living with a difficult condition.”
💚 If you or a loved one think you may have experienced a manic episode, like:
🎆 Days or weeks of intensely high energy that may feel “good,” or euphoric, like you are able to accomplish more than usual, floods of thoughts and ideas, loved ones notice your speech is rapid, sleeping less, maybe not at all for long stretches,
Or
💥 An especially “bad” mood for those days or weeks, filled with anger or irritability, possibly lashing out in ways you would not normally, risk taking, such as using drugs, gambling, or illegal behavior,
Followed by:
💔 Days, weeks, or months of depression, including such experiences as profound sadness, irritability, loss of or increased appetite, difficulty or increased need for sleep, no longer enjoying those parts of your life that bring you joy, feeling “numb,” feeling tired or sluggish, having aches and pains,
And, especially, if you or a loved one experience:
‼️ Thinking about or being drawn to ideas of death, thoughts of wanting to die or planning su***de (our 24/7 Emergency Hotline is 1-866-453-6216),
Talk to a mental health professional. We are here for you at Life Help Community Mental Health Center
Most importantly, know that treatment works, and you can have better days in front of you again, days in which you are steering the ship of your thoughts, emotions and behavior instead of feeling tossed in the storm 💚
We’ll be waiting for your call. Our contact information is pinned at the top. Until then, here is a good resource for you with a wealth of information about bipolar disorders https://www.dbsalliance.org
DBSA offers wellness tips, education, and peer support for people living with depression and bipolar disorder.
