Complicating the problem of bipolar disorder
and violence is the fact that victims of abuse, especially domestic abuse, are
more apt to develop mental problems, including bipolar disorder, than are
non-victims. While bipolar women are more often victims of domestic violence
than are bipolar men, both are more often victims than are those without a
mental disorder.
While the question of whether abuse can cause
bipolar disorder has yet to be answered, there is some evidence that as many as
half of all bipolar people experienced physical, sexual, and emotional trauma
as children.
Nonetheless, most bipolar people are not
abusive. A bipolar person who does become violent is probably in a manic or
mixed state, although these do not always lead to violence. Bipolar violence
can be addressed with psychiatric help that includes bipolar medications and
will probably put an end to violent episodes. When all else fails, a bipolar
person experiencing extreme mania, whether or not violence occurs, may have to
be admitted to a locked psychiatric ward until the mania ends.
If you have a relationship with a violent
person, bipolar or not, you should seek professional counseling about how to
leave. Unfortunately, just walking away from a violent partner can put you at
risk for his or her following you and continuing the abuse, because violence is
a lack of impulse control. A good counselor should help you escape safely.
Bipolar people in a severe manic or depressed
state may be at risk for violence against themselves as well as for violence
against others. They may start cutting themselves, even to the point of
bleeding to death, or they may turn to other suicidal methods. They should not
be left alone, although practically speaking, providing someone to keep an eye
on them may be tricky. On the one hand, a companion may not be available, and
on the other hand, the bipolar person may insist on solitude.
Bipolar men of low socio-economic status are
more likely than other bipolar people to become violent, because they have less
of a support system. This suggests that efforts should be made to reach
economically disadvantaged communities with bipolar counseling and support.
When a violent bipolar person first seeks treatment, the result is not necessarily immediate. There will probably be a period during which the doctor and patient try different medications until they find the most effective ones. Moreover, some medications for bipolar disorder can take over a week to show results. After the correct bipolar meds kick in, however, any violence should subside.
