Do you know anyone with bipolar disorder? What are the impacts of the disease in this person's life?

I don't want a list of symptoms. I want shared experiences of someone who really knows a person with the disease. Thanx

My daughter denies her bipolar disorder, she can't see the manic side as part of her illness. When she is on the high manic upswing, she thinks things are just great, she only recognizes the depression when she is on the down side of the swinging of the pendulum. It effects the way she is raising her son, there is no consistency, some days she is strict about bath and bed time, other days she doesn't pay any attention to his schedule, she will suddenly decide to take him shopping at 8 pm, for something she doesn't really need, like more make up. She is an impulsive shopper and spender, can't budget money, even though she works full time and lives rent free at home with us. Its a real roller coaster ride for us.

I have a close family member who is bipolar. My family & I have been through alot with it. There is medication that can help it, however, it pretty much has to be proven that the person really needs it. Such as, if they are physically dangerous to society or if their not able to hold down a job, or handle an every day life.
The member of our family who has it can handle the every day life, so they do not agree to take the medication. We have had many tramatic moments with it, including abusive moments. They are much better now and we thank God for it. Alot of prayer has gone out for it. They were also drinking heavily at the time, which really adds to the problem.
I really don't want to go into experiences b/c they are pretty personal. However, it is something that you have to be patient with the person and be careful how you handle the person. Some tend to want to attack back or lash back at them which really only makes things worse. Patience and love really help to control the sitsuations.

Fairly simple, really: It depends on whether or not the bi-polar is medicated.
I have been bi-polar for a long time and wouldn't be without medication.
With medication there are side effects usually, which vary with the individual.
It is not true that you have to be proven dangerous before you get medication. I have never been proven dangerous and I've been medicated for over 20 years.
Without medication a true bi-polar (most of them) go through mood swings that incapacitate or nearly incapacitate (depression), causing the person to withdraw; or overexcite, causing the person to get usually too involved with sex, spending and activities with grandiose ideas. That is a simple description.
To my mind, any moderately serious bipolar is better off medicated. It's very hard to fight it without medication.
And why not get medication? It's one of the few mental problems that can be treated so easily!

I have bipolar disorder and I thank god I have a good man like my fiance in my life... when I'm off of my meds, I go crazy! I throw fits and get super angry over little dumb things! I have lost many friends and some people are afraid to come back to our house because I go so crazy! I have punched and kicked my fiance, hurt myself and broken many things in the house... all of which I cannot remember. This disease keeps me from getting a job because I can't keep my moods in line to work and when of medication, I sometime have bad bouts with illegal drugs to self medicate. It's a serious and life threatening-altering disease. But thankfully my fiance reminds me to take my medication and everything is fine.

The best I can say is that it can cause you to be very depressed. They said I had it but I quit taking the medication. I feel somewhat better now. I hardly ever have panic attacks now but I used to have them often. Maybe I didn't have it after all.

my sister and one of my friends have it one second they can be happy the next sad and emotional or really nice then really mean every case is a little bit different hope this helps