I think a family member is manic and bi-polar and it is scaring

[nadine_mn]

4. This is tough..because in a manic phase

People feel great so trying to talk to them is pointless. It's hard when people don't have insight to their behavior...even if it's as simple as acknowledging some thing is wrong.

One thing I am getting from your post (correct me if I'm wrong) is not knowing if the person actually is bi-polar? What stood out to me is your comment about "is it real".

What is real is that this person's behavior is scaring you - that doesn't need a diagnosis. There is a reason you are feeling scared - unpredictability in a person's mood especially extreme swings can make you feel like you are constantly walking on eggshells. And if no one else sees it, sometimes it can make you feel like you are going crazy.

I don't know your living situation so I can just make broad suggestions about making sure you are safe emotionally and physically - hopefully finding someone to talk to about the situation. I lived with a roommate who would have intense extremes in her moods: sometimes going into depressive episodes where she wouldn't pay her share of the rent risking eviction for both of us or she would invite random strangers to spend the night and waking up not knowing who the heck is in your home is terrifying. But she could put on a mask of such normalcy, I seemed like the crazy one. So do whatever you need to do to protect yourself from any consequences of their behavior.