{"formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","path":"/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","title":"Are bipolar sufferers abusive?","family":"Answers detail","description":"A reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical abuse.","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"custom-shared-preview","indexable":true},"provenance":{"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","wordpressId":"6060","contentCompleteness":"complete","dateScope":"original-source"},"authors":[{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck#person","name":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck"}],"reviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson"},"dates":{"datePublished":"2025-06-18T20:51:01Z","dateModified":"2025-08-26T20:29:31Z","lastReviewed":"2025-09-15"},"content":{"html":"<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers\">Answers</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Are bipolar sufferers abusive?</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"article-page answer-page\" data-answer-template=\"conversation\"><header class=\"answer-heading article-heading\"><a class=\"answer-back\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers\">Answers</a><h1>Are bipolar sufferers abusive?</h1><div class=\"answer-credits\"><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9364.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Written by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.</span></span></a><a class=\"answer-credit-person\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9210.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" loading=\"lazy\"><span><span class=\"answer-credit-role\">Medically reviewed by</span><span class=\"answer-credit-name\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</span></span></a></div><dl class=\"answer-heading-dates\"><div><dt>Published</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-06-18T20:51:01Z\">June 18, 2025</time></dd></div><div><dt>Updated</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-08-26T20:29:31Z\">August 26, 2025</time></dd></div><div><dt>Reviewed</dt><dd><time datetime=\"2025-09-15\">September 15, 2025</time></dd></div></dl></header><nav class=\"answer-nav\" aria-label=\"Answer navigation\"><a href=\"#summary\">Summary</a><a href=\"#question\">Question</a><a href=\"#answer\">Answer</a></nav><article class=\"prose\" id=\"article-content\" data-answer-thread aria-label=\"Reader question and professional response\"><section class=\"answer-overview\" id=\"summary\" aria-labelledby=\"summary-title\"><h2 id=\"summary-title\">Summary</h2><figure class=\"answer-question-image\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/answers/are-bipolars-abusive-20261003.webp\" alt=\"Two adults having a quiet conversation on a garden terrace.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" fetchpriority=\"high\"></figure><p>A reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical abuse. The question seeks clarity about whether a particular mood stage causes abusive behavior.</p><p>The response distinguishes bipolar disorder from an inherent tendency to abuse, while acknowledging that mood shifts or substances might reduce inhibition in some circumstances.</p><p>It emphasizes safety, telling a responsible adult or authority about ongoing abuse, and professional treatment rather than excusing harmful behavior because of a diagnosis.</p></section><div class=\"answer-originals\" id=\"original-conversation\"><div class=\"answer-originals-body\"><section class=\"answer-post answer-question\" id=\"question\" aria-labelledby=\"question-person\"><div class=\"answer-avatar answer-reader\" aria-hidden=\"true\">?</div><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"question-person\">Question</h2><span>Reader · Identity withheld</span></header><p>I’ve heard that people with bipolar disorder aren’t dangerous, but my mom has bipolar disorder and has mentally and physically abused my siblings and me. Could there be a specific stage or type of bipolar disorder that explains this behavior?</p></div></section><section class=\"answer-post answer-response\" id=\"answer\" aria-labelledby=\"response-person\"><a class=\"answer-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck\" aria-label=\"View Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. profile\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9364.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"44\" height=\"44\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div class=\"answer-post-content\"><header class=\"answer-person\"><h2 id=\"response-person\">Answer</h2><span>Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.</span></header><p>There is no specific relationship between <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/link-between-bipolar-disorder-and-anger\" class=\"article-inline-link\">bipolar disorder and abuse perpetration</a>, per se. Bipolar Affective Disorder (also known as Manic-Depression) is a mood disorder characterized by regular shifts in mood between depressed and manic/energized states. A person’s disposition to abuse is not a mood disorder, but rather is determined by complex and not completely understood personality, (lack of) coping skill and developmental history influences. Bipolar people can be abusive, but then, so can non-bipolar people.</p>\n<p>The above notwithstanding, the extreme mood shifts of bipolar disorder may sometimes have a<a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/link-between-bipolar-disorder-and-anger\" class=\"article-inline-link\"> disinhibiting effect on abusive impulses</a> that would otherwise not get expressed. Also, if your mother drinks alcohol or abuses drugs (as sometimes is the case), this could also have a releasing or disinhibiting effect on her behavior. This is to say that it is possible that your mother’s bipolar disorder may have made it easier for her to be abusive towards you, even as her being bipolar probably did not cause the abuse.</p>\n<p>You use the past-tense when speaking about this abuse you’ve experienced. I hope that you are now safely out of reach of your mother during times when she is abusive. If this is not the case – if you are still being abused by your mother, please take steps to make your situation safer!</p>\n<p>Get away from your mother when she is abusive. Tell a responsible adult, or authority figure (such as the police, a teacher, or a child protective services officer). Get your mother into<a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/diagnosis-treatment\" class=\"article-inline-link\"> treatment for her disorder(s)</a>. Also, help your mother to become treatment compliant if she is not (to the extent that this difficult task can be done). There are medicines that can diminish the mood swings and help your mother to lead a more normal life – but they only work if she takes them regularly.</p></div></section></div></div></article><div class=\"answer-endmatter\"><section class=\"article-expert answer-expert-card\" aria-label=\"Subject matter expert\" data-expert-kind=\"related\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/simone-hoermann\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9447.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div class=\"answer-expert-copy\"><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Subject matter expert</p><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/simone-hoermann\">Simone Hoermann <span class=\"expert-credentials\">Ph.D.</span></a></h2><p class=\"article-expert-focus\">Personality disorders, anxiety, and depression</p><a class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/simone-hoermann\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"article-topic-community\" aria-label=\"Related communities\"><img class=\"topic-community-banner\" src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/library/editorial-13316.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" loading=\"lazy\"><p class=\"topic-community-label\">Related communities</p><h2>Bipolar Disorder</h2><p>Connect around experiences of bipolar disorder, relationships, and everyday life.</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/community/bipolar-disorder\">Explore community</a></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9364.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Author</span><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck\">Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. is a trauma-informed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate mental health challenges.</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck\" class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"answer-author-card answer-reviewer-card\"><a class=\"answer-card-avatar\" href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\"><img src=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9210.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\"></a><div><span class=\"answer-reviewer-label\">Medical reviewer</span><h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\">Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.</a></h2><p>Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…</p><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson\" class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\">View experience</a></div></section><section class=\"answer-related\"><h2>Related questions</h2><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/trying-to-save-37-years-of-marriage-with-my-bipolar-husband\">How can I save my 37-year marriage with my bipolar husband?</a><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/relationship-with-my-bipolar-and-adhd-girlfriend\">How can I support my girlfriend who has bipolar?</a><a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/advice-for-delusional-friend\">How do I help a bipolar friend who has lost touch with reality?</a></section></div></div>","text":"HomeAnswersAre bipolar sufferers abusive?AnswersAre bipolar sufferers abusive?Written byMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D.PublishedJune 18, 2025UpdatedAugust 26, 2025ReviewedSeptember 15, 2025SummaryQuestionAnswerSummaryA reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical abuse. The question seeks clarity about whether a particular mood stage causes abusive behavior.The response distinguishes bipolar disorder from an inherent tendency to abuse, while acknowledging that mood shifts or substances might reduce inhibition in some circumstances.It emphasizes safety, telling a responsible adult or authority about ongoing abuse, and professional treatment rather than excusing harmful behavior because of a diagnosis.?QuestionReader · Identity withheldI’ve heard that people with bipolar disorder aren’t dangerous, but my mom has bipolar disorder and has mentally and physically abused my siblings and me. Could there be a specific stage or type of bipolar disorder that explains this behavior?AnswerMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.There is no specific relationship between bipolar disorder and abuse perpetration, per se. Bipolar Affective Disorder (also known as Manic-Depression) is a mood disorder characterized by regular shifts in mood between depressed and manic/energized states. A person’s disposition to abuse is not a mood disorder, but rather is determined by complex and not completely understood personality, (lack of) coping skill and developmental history influences. Bipolar people can be abusive, but then, so can non-bipolar people. The above notwithstanding, the extreme mood shifts of bipolar disorder may sometimes have a disinhibiting effect on abusive impulses that would otherwise not get expressed. Also, if your mother drinks alcohol or abuses drugs (as sometimes is the case), this could also have a releasing or disinhibiting effect on her behavior. This is to say that it is possible that your mother’s bipolar disorder may have made it easier for her to be abusive towards you, even as her being bipolar probably did not cause the abuse. You use the past-tense when speaking about this abuse you’ve experienced. I hope that you are now safely out of reach of your mother during times when she is abusive. If this is not the case – if you are still being abused by your mother, please take steps to make your situation safer! Get away from your mother when she is abusive. Tell a responsible adult, or authority figure (such as the police, a teacher, or a child protective services officer). Get your mother into treatment for her disorder(s). Also, help your mother to become treatment compliant if she is not (to the extent that this difficult task can be done). There are medicines that can diminish the mood swings and help your mother to lead a more normal life – but they only work if she takes them regularly.Subject matter expertSimone Hoermann Ph.D.Personality disorders, anxiety, and depressionView experienceRelated communitiesBipolar DisorderConnect around experiences of bipolar disorder, relationships, and everyday life.Explore communityAuthorMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D. is a trauma-informed psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate mental health challenges.View experienceMedical reviewerJesse Hanson, Ph.D.Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a clinical and somatic psychologist with over 20 years of experience in neuropsychology, specializing in integrative, mind-body…View experienceRelated questionsHow can I save my 37-year marriage with my bipolar husband?How can I support my girlfriend who has bipolar?How do I help a bipolar friend who has lost touch with reality?","wordCount":538},"schema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#organization","name":"MentalHealth.com","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#website","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/","name":"MentalHealth.com","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#organization"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Answers","item":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Are bipolar sufferers abusive?","item":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive"}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#primaryimage","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/answers/are-bipolars-abusive-20261003.webp","contentUrl":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/answers/are-bipolars-abusive-20261003.webp","width":1000,"height":667,"encodingFormat":"image/webp","caption":"Two adults having a quiet conversation on a garden terrace."},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck#person","name":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck","jobTitle":"Doctor","image":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9364.jpg","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-dombeck-phd-530a573/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","jobTitle":"Clinical Affairs Director","image":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/wordpress/9210.jpg","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-hanson-phd-7215216/"]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#article","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","headline":"Are bipolar sufferers abusive?","description":"A reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical abuse.","wordCount":427,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/#organization"},"articleSection":"Answers","inLanguage":"en-US","datePublished":"2025-06-18T20:51:01Z","dateModified":"2025-08-26T20:29:31Z","author":[{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck#person"}],"image":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#primaryimage"},"hasPart":[{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#question"},{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer"}]},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#question","name":"Are bipolar sufferers abusive?","text":"I’ve heard that people with bipolar disorder aren’t dangerous, but my mom has bipolar disorder and has mentally and physically abused my siblings and me. Could there be a specific stage or type of bipolar disorder that explains this behavior?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#question","answerCount":1},{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer","text":"There is no specific relationship between bipolar disorder and abuse perpetration, per se. Bipolar Affective Disorder (also known as Manic-Depression) is a mood disorder characterized by regular shifts in mood between depressed and manic/energized states. A person’s disposition to abuse is not a mood disorder, but rather is determined by complex and not completely understood personality, (lack of) coping skill and developmental history influences. Bipolar people can be abusive, but then, so can non-bipolar people. The above notwithstanding, the extreme mood shifts of bipolar disorder may sometimes have a disinhibiting effect on abusive impulses that would otherwise not get expressed. Also, if your mother drinks alcohol or abuses drugs (as sometimes is the case), this could also have a releasing or disinhibiting effect on her behavior. This is to say that it is possible that your mother’s bipolar disorder may have made it easier for her to be abusive towards you, even as her being bipolar probably did not cause the abuse. You use the past-tense when speaking about this abuse you’ve experienced. I hope that you are now safely out of reach of your mother during times when she is abusive. If this is not the case – if you are still being abused by your mother, please take steps to make your situation safer! Get away from your mother when she is abusive. Tell a responsible adult, or authority figure (such as the police, a teacher, or a child protective services officer). Get your mother into treatment for her disorder(s). Also, help your mother to become treatment compliant if she is not (to the extent that this difficult task can be done). There are medicines that can diminish the mood swings and help your mother to lead a more normal life – but they only work if she takes them regularly.","author":{"@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck#person"},"inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer"},{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#webpage","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","name":"Are bipolar sufferers abusive?","description":"A reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical 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byMark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Medically reviewed byJesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#summary","label":"Summary"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#question","label":"Question"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer","label":"Answer"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/link-between-bipolar-disorder-and-anger","label":"bipolar disorder and abuse perpetration"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/link-between-bipolar-disorder-and-anger","label":"disinhibiting effect on abusive 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experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":""},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D."},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson","label":"View experience"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/trying-to-save-37-years-of-marriage-with-my-bipolar-husband","label":"How can I save my 37-year marriage with my bipolar husband?"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/relationship-with-my-bipolar-and-adhd-girlfriend","label":"How can I support my girlfriend who has bipolar?"},{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/advice-for-delusional-friend","label":"How do I help a bipolar friend who has lost touch with reality?"}],"conversation":{"status":"complete","summary":{"question":"A reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical abuse. The question seeks clarity about whether a particular mood stage causes abusive behavior.","answer":"The response distinguishes bipolar disorder from an inherent tendency to abuse, while acknowledging that mood shifts or substances might reduce inhibition in some circumstances. It emphasizes safety, telling a responsible adult or authority about ongoing abuse, and professional treatment rather than excusing harmful behavior because of a diagnosis."},"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","sourceReviewer":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson#person","name":"Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/jesse-hanson"},"question":{"id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#question","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#question","html":"<p>I’ve heard that people with bipolar disorder aren’t dangerous, but my mom has bipolar disorder and has mentally and physically abused my siblings and me. Could there be a specific stage or type of bipolar disorder that explains this behavior?</p>","text":"I’ve heard that people with bipolar disorder aren’t dangerous, but my mom has bipolar disorder and has mentally and physically abused my siblings and me. Could there be a specific stage or type of bipolar disorder that explains this behavior?"},"answer":{"id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive#answer","html":"<p>There is no specific relationship between <a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/link-between-bipolar-disorder-and-anger\">bipolar disorder and abuse perpetration</a>, per se. Bipolar Affective Disorder (also known as Manic-Depression) is a mood disorder characterized by regular shifts in mood between depressed and manic/energized states. A person’s disposition to abuse is not a mood disorder, but rather is determined by complex and not completely understood personality, (lack of) coping skill and developmental history influences. Bipolar people can be abusive, but then, so can non-bipolar people.</p>\n<p>The above notwithstanding, the extreme mood shifts of bipolar disorder may sometimes have a<a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/link-between-bipolar-disorder-and-anger\"> disinhibiting effect on abusive impulses</a> that would otherwise not get expressed. Also, if your mother drinks alcohol or abuses drugs (as sometimes is the case), this could also have a releasing or disinhibiting effect on her behavior. This is to say that it is possible that your mother’s bipolar disorder may have made it easier for her to be abusive towards you, even as her being bipolar probably did not cause the abuse.</p>\n<p>You use the past-tense when speaking about this abuse you’ve experienced. I hope that you are now safely out of reach of your mother during times when she is abusive. If this is not the case – if you are still being abused by your mother, please take steps to make your situation safer!</p>\n<p>Get away from your mother when she is abusive. Tell a responsible adult, or authority figure (such as the police, a teacher, or a child protective services officer). Get your mother into<a href=\"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/library/diagnosis-treatment\"> treatment for her disorder(s)</a>. Also, help your mother to become treatment compliant if she is not (to the extent that this difficult task can be done). There are medicines that can diminish the mood swings and help your mother to lead a more normal life – but they only work if she takes them regularly.</p>","text":"There is no specific relationship between bipolar disorder and abuse perpetration, per se. Bipolar Affective Disorder (also known as Manic-Depression) is a mood disorder characterized by regular shifts in mood between depressed and manic/energized states. A person’s disposition to abuse is not a mood disorder, but rather is determined by complex and not completely understood personality, (lack of) coping skill and developmental history influences. Bipolar people can be abusive, but then, so can non-bipolar people. The above notwithstanding, the extreme mood shifts of bipolar disorder may sometimes have a disinhibiting effect on abusive impulses that would otherwise not get expressed. Also, if your mother drinks alcohol or abuses drugs (as sometimes is the case), this could also have a releasing or disinhibiting effect on her behavior. This is to say that it is possible that your mother’s bipolar disorder may have made it easier for her to be abusive towards you, even as her being bipolar probably did not cause the abuse. You use the past-tense when speaking about this abuse you’ve experienced. I hope that you are now safely out of reach of your mother during times when she is abusive. If this is not the case – if you are still being abused by your mother, please take steps to make your situation safer! Get away from your mother when she is abusive. Tell a responsible adult, or authority figure (such as the police, a teacher, or a child protective services officer). Get your mother into treatment for her disorder(s). Also, help your mother to become treatment compliant if she is not (to the extent that this difficult task can be done). There are medicines that can diminish the mood swings and help your mother to lead a more normal life – but they only work if she takes them regularly.","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck#person","name":"Mark Vigil Dombeck, Ph.D.","url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/people/mark-dombeck"}},"summaryScope":"Editorial overview of the original question and response; original review dates apply to the source conversation."},"presentation":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-03","template":"answer-conversation","imageGeneratedAt":"2026-10-03"},"seo":{"title":"Are bipolar sufferers abusive? | MentalHealth.com","description":"A reader asks whether a parent’s bipolar disorder explains emotional and physical abuse.","canonical":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/answers/are-bipolars-abusive","robots":"index,follow","socialImage":{"url":"https://mentalhealth-v2.workspace-454808.chatgpt.site/assets/social-tiles-20261006-dots/answers.png","width":1200,"height":630,"alt":"MentalHealth.com — Answers","type":"image/png","sitemapGroup":"answers"}},"subjectMatterExpert":{"name":"Simone Hoermann, Ph.D.","url":"/people/simone-hoermann","profileId":"6419","topic":"mood","focus":"Personality disorders, anxiety, and depression","selectionBasis":"Documented expertise in the existing published profile","reviewAttribution":false},"navigation":[],"relatedCommunity":{"community":"/community/bipolar-disorder","basis":"topic match"},"collections":[]}