According to the National Institute of Mental Health, between 4 and 5% of the U.S. population has bipolar disorder.
It’s a mental health condition that can cause extreme mood swings in a person. They might spend several days stuck in a depressive episode that makes it impossible for them to get out of bed, and then they might go through a manic episode that has them on the verge of losing touch with reality.
If you know someone who suffers from this mental disorder, you should take the time to learn how a bipolar person thinks. It might help you have a more healthy relationship with them.
Find out how a bipolar person thinks below.
Negative Self-Talk During Depressive Episodes
When a bipolar person is going through a depressive episode, it’ll be very difficult for them to function normally. They’ll often get stuck in an endless loop of negative self-talk that will sometimes make it challenging for them to do anything other than just lay around the house and do nothing.
A bipolar person might feel worthless when they’re having a depressive episode. In some cases, they might even have suicidal thoughts that can scare both them and the people around them.
Racing Thoughts During Manic Episodes
While it can be scary to see a bipolar person go through a depressive episode, it can be just as scary to see them go through a manic episode. During these times, they’ll often seem like they have a million and one thoughts going through their heads at any given moment. It’ll lead to them jumping from one topic to the next while communicating with others.
A bipolar person might also act erratically when they’re going through a manic episode and make impulsive decisions that they wouldn’t make while in the right frame of mind. It can make it tricky for other people to keep up with how a bipolar person thinks.
An Inability to Regulate Thoughts and Emotions
The average bipolar person will really struggle to regulate their thoughts and emotions, both when they’re having a depressive or manic episode and when they’re stuck in between these two extremes. They won’t typically be able to pull themselves out of a funk or calm themselves down as necessary.
It’s why you should attempt to get a bipolar person the help they need. The experts at Greywood Health Center might be able to help them get their bipolar disorder under control.
Recognizing How a Bipolar Person Thinks is Important
Living with someone who has bipolar disorder can be a huge challenge. You might have a hard time figuring out how a bipolar person thinks.
But now that you know some of the thoughts that a bipolar person will have, you might be able to communicate with them more effectively. You might also know how to react to a bipolar person when they’re having a depressive or manic episode.
