Yes, bipolar disorder puts us at great risk. Certainly my psychiatrists have acknowledged that. And I have been at risk of losing my life on more than a couple occasions in the past, but definitely not so much when I am medication compliant and working hard to maintain my stability.

A lot of people write about SI's. They should always be taken very seriously. My family lost my youngest nephew back in 2017. He was only 24 years old. He had voiced threats many times during his short life. Sometimes after so many one wonders if they are empty threats, but they weren't. Or such danger could even be from something else, such as extreme drinking or drug abuse (or just a severe one-off). Or the disinhibition, impulsivity (and its recklessness), and lack of common sense that comes with mania, severe depression, and/or psychosis. For example, manic people have jumped off bridges thinking they will survive. These are realities in this illness. That's part of why when people use the word "bipolar" casually, that it is frustrating.



BethRags definitely makes a good point regarding the increased vulnerability to diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Definitely some medications can play a part, but also bipolar disorder, itself. Living too high in mania isn't much different than taking cocaine too long. Being too depressed can contribute to being overweight and inactive, which has obvious risks.