Key Takeaways
- A bipolar meltdown isn’t a clinical term, but many people use it to describe emotional outbursts linked to bipolar symptoms.
- These episodes are often triggered by mood swings, stress, or major life events — and can involve anger, impulsivity, or despair.
- With the right treatment and tools, you can reduce the risk of future meltdowns and feel more in control of your emotions.
A “bipolar meltdown” can be defined as any time the symptoms of bipolar disorder get so intense that you lose control of your emotions and behave in ways you might not normally — like lashing out, harming yourself, or acting impulsively.
It can be painful to realize that you’ve had a bipolar meltdown, especially if you’ve hurt yourself or others in the process. Self-compassion is important, and by learning more about your mood episodes and getting treatment for bipolar disorder, you can prevent them from happening in the future.
Signs of a potential bipolar meltdown
Bipolar meltdown isn’t a clinical or officially recognized term. But we might use a term like “meltdown” to describe when someone with bipolar disorder has a difficult time managing intense emotions. Both mood “poles” — depression and mania/hypomania — could lead to overwhelming emotions.
Bipolar meltdowns are often associated with rage. Research shows that people with both types of bipolar disorder are more likely to experience anger and aggression, especially during acute mood episodes (either mania or depression). This doesn’t mean that people with bipolar disorder are angry or aggressive people by nature. But sometimes, your emotions may become so overwhelming that you lash out.
A bipolar meltdown could look different depending on the symptoms you’re currently experiencing.
For example, you might:
- Go on a “binge,” or “bender,” of continuous reckless activities, like substance use, unsafe sex, or spending money
- Become verbally aggressive with someone, even someone you love
- Feel anger and rage that may not be proportionate to what triggered it
- Experience uncontrollable crying or hopelessness
- Feel paralyzed by despair and unable to get out of bed
- Have thoughts of self-harm or harming others
- Attempt suicide*
*If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming themself or others, please call or text 988 on any phone for the Suicide & Crisis lifeline, contact a local crisis line, or head to the emergency room immediately. Any of these resources will ensure that the person in crisis receives support right away. For more information on getting help, go to 988lifeline.org
If experiencing a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate help, please call 911.
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Common triggers of bipolar outbursts
Studies show that rage and aggression in people with bipolar disorder is more common during acute mood episodes. In other words, when you’re in a severe depressive or hypomanic/manic episode, you may be more likely to lose control of your emotions.
Knowing what these episodes look like for you can make it easier to notice when it’s happening and allow you to take action before things come to a head.
Depressive episodes often look like:
- Loss of interest or motivation
- Hopelessness or despair
- Fatigue or sleeping too much
- Irritability and social withdrawal
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Manic or hypomanic episodes often look like:
- Excessive energy or restlessness
- Racing thoughts
- Risky or impulsive behavior
- Talking more than usual or feeling “wired”
- Irritability or grandiosity
Experiencing co-occurring psychosis with either of these episodes can also raise your risk of experiencing aggression. This may be due to heightened paranoia, delusions, or disorganized thinking that can accompany psychotic symptoms. As a result, individuals might misinterpret others’ intentions or feel threatened, leading to defensive or aggressive behavior.
It’s also important to know your triggers. Mood episodes can come on seemingly out of nowhere when you live with bipolar disorder. But it’s also possible that you’re facing triggers without noticing.
For example, alcohol and drugs may often trigger you into a manic episode. Or facing possible rejection or failure might trigger a depressive episode. Your brain also might have a pattern of entering into a depressive episode directly following a manic one. You might notice that your mood is generally more unstable when you’re under a lot of stress or haven’t slept enough.
When you start to become familiar with how bipolar disorder manifests for you, you can make a clearer plan for how to prevent meltdowns from happening — and how to deal with them when they do.
Healthy ways to manage a bipolar meltdown
Bipolar meltdowns or emotional episodes can be one of the most distressing parts of living with this condition. But there are strategies you can use to better manage these moments and reduce their impact.
When you feel a meltdown coming on
The easiest way to deal with a bipolar meltdown is to prevent it from happening. Once you can recognize the signs of a meltdown within yourself, you can take proactive steps to regulate your emotions before they spiral out of control.
For example, if you feel yourself becoming irritated or angry while having an impassioned conversation with someone, take some space before you say something hurtful. Or, if you anticipate a stressful week ahead, take proactive steps to manage the stress and build buffers for yourself before you feel triggered. Basic self-care practices can go a long way.
You can also talk to your therapist or mental healthcare provider to support you in building out a plan and using strategies to prevent a meltdown from coming on.
In the midst of a meltdown
If you notice you’re already having a meltdown while you’re in the midst of one, you should pat yourself on the back. It takes a great deal of insight, self-awareness, and mindfulness to be able to come to that realization in the heat of the moment.
Just because you’re in the middle of a meltdown doesn’t mean it’s too late. Try to identify the emotion you’re feeling. Is it rage? Irritation? Despair? Once you’ve named it, take some space. This can be especially important if there’s another person involved in the meltdown or if you’re hurting yourself.
If it helps, remove yourself from the environment entirely — even just going into another room or outside can help break the cycle. You can also try grounding strategies to reconnect to the present moment, like running cold water over your hands or describing everything you see around you.
After a meltdown
After you’ve already had a meltdown, first ensure your safety. Bipolar mood episodes can lead to impulsive and even dangerous behaviors. So, it’s essential to get to safety first. This might mean removing yourself from an unhealthy environment or reaching out to someone you trust for immediate support.
Compassion is also important after a meltdown. If you’ve said or done something hurtful while you were angry, apologize and take accountability as soon as you can. Understand that it may take some time for others in your life to come to an understanding about how bipolar disorder affects your behaviors.
But it’s also important for you to be compassionate with yourself. Learning more about bipolar disorder and your relationship with anger can help you understand your brain and behaviors more deeply. It’s not about making excuses for hurtful behavior but simply about trying to understand yourself better so you can do things differently moving forward.
To prevent future meltdowns
Getting treatment for bipolar disorder is essential for preventing meltdowns from happening in the future and for learning how to manage your symptoms overall. Mood-stabilizing medications are often the first choice of treatment. Psychotherapy — especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — can also help you build skills to manage mood swings and intense emotions.
One helpful tip is to practice self-compassion by reminding yourself that a meltdown is a symptom — not a personal failure. Bipolar disorder affects how your brain processes emotions, and responding with kindness instead of shame can help you recover more calmly and learn from the experience. Everyone has tough moments. What matters most is how you care for yourself afterward.
Find care with Rula
Meltdowns can be a painful part of bipolar disorder — but they don’t mean you’ve failed or that you’re a bad person. They’re a sign that something in your system needs support. By learning your triggers, practicing self-awareness, and getting the right treatment, you can feel more grounded and less overwhelmed.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we’re here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
About the author
Saya Des Marais
Saya graduated with her Master in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in mental health from the University of Southern California in 2010. She formerly worked as a therapist and motivational interviewing trainer in community clinics, public schools, mental health startups, and more.
Her writing has been featured in FORTUNE, GoodRX, PsychCentral, and dozens of mental health apps and therapy websites. Through both her clinical work and her personal OCD diagnosis, she’s learned the importance of making empathetic and accurate mental health content available online.
She lives in Portland, Oregon but you can find her almost just as often in Mexico or in her birthplace, Tokyo.
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