HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Is Aggression a Common Symptom of Bi-Polar

Support Forums
>
Bipolar Disorder
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/7/2008 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
It's me again!  Sorting out the separation and a little confused when my husbands parents keep telling me how he is not a violent guy and the violence is not a symptom of bi-polar.  If this is true, then why did he assault the nurses and me?  Albeit, me 9 years ago. He only held me from leaving the room a couple of months ago - no hitting.  Is it?
Posted 8/7/2008 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
I am very aggitated and irritated at times but never violent.  My sister who also has bipolar and is not properly medicated is very violent.  They may have to check his medications. 
Posted 8/7/2008 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I had violent tendencies before I was diagnosed and medicated. Even now I have my moments but I know enough to walk away. The last time I was violent was when my pdoc added Respirdal to my Lithium a few months ago. I was like a mad woman cycling from one mood to another. I attacked my husband when he tried to call an ambulance for me. I stopped taking the Respirdal and saw my pdoc who replaced it with Celexa.

Posted 8/7/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
JH,

I too used to get violent tendencies, especially when I was having a manic episode. Most people get irritable but never go as far as being violent. Also, I think the violent tendencies are not too common, but it does happen. I am not sure about the %.
Posted 8/7/2008 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
mad  Yes. Unmedicated and under a great deal of stress, about 20 years ago, I had violent outbursts. I slugged a woman who was harassing me at a bar (BiPolar's should not drink) and spent the remainder of the night in lock-up. On other occasions I would hit walls and break dishes but the anger was rarely directed specifically. As  I've aged, I've learned there is very little in life to get twisted into knots about. Most things roll off me like water off a duck's back. I prefer my little ducky self to my angry roaring self.
Posted 8/7/2008 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I would say yes. Some Bi-Polar people can be aggressive as part of the "manic" cycle. (Some people have "Happy-Highs" and others have "Aggressive-Highs"). Without medication, it can be exaggerated to the point where they can be violent either to themselves or others.

Hope that helps

Darren
Posted 8/8/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JH

I was very aggressive in my manias. Your husbands parents are in denial. How could wonderful little jr. be anything but fantastic? Sorry, but your in-laws are perpetuating the problem.

This may be harsh and generate some criticism, but bi-polar does not excuse bad behavior. Your safety is of the upmost importance. You love your husband and desire to help him, but do not put your own wellbeing at stake.

Good Luck

Cap
Posted 8/8/2008 9:10 AM (GMT 0)
I had violent tendencies. I would attack my husband and punch walls and break things. All that pre diagnosis by about 15 years and since then I have learned to control them. I sometimes have the feelings but I do my best to just walk away. As others have said, yes it can be part of bipolar and I also believe that your in-laws are in denial. I hope that your dh can get his meds straightened out.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply