Agreed. It can. We just (unintentionally) put it to more of a test than the average bear! Anger (and in my case, sometimes flat-out rage) does tend to scare the bejeebers out of them. Freaked current BF out, that's for sure. I remember one of the lesser ones (merely throwing a few utensils then standing in a corner screaming), he said, "Yikes! Mellow out -- we don't want somebody calling the cops!" But when flat-out mixed episode rage hit one time? He went outside. It was too scary inside. I was raging at myself, he wasn't in any danger, but I'm sure he couldn't know for sure. That can't be easy for them.

Been thinking on this topic. Reading on the forums here, it seems more people speak of losing people over manias (but maybe this is just a perception). I lose them in depression, probably mostly on account of a huge tendency to isolate. It probably seems I've fallen off the planet, or worse, that I don't like them anymore or something. I'm not good at fixing those bridges. The other hypomanic/irritability/rage end of the spectrum, most bad effects are on those at home (inner circle), and total strangers (outer circle) who piss me off. Those in the middle circle tend to see more the sometimes overwhelming, but usually amusing parts of it (quick with the joke etc.). I'm quick to mend the inner circle damage, because I feel really horrible about it. Well, apologize. It helps balance it out, but can never really fix it.

Yeah, it's no picnic.