Question about co-worker

I'm from the Depression part of this community and I have a question about a co-worker. She says that she has bi-polar and is in a manic stage.
She is bossy and seems to think she runs the store. I've now heard some claims that she has expressed some offensive opinions to some of my co-workers. She told one that she doesn't believe in inter-racial relationships. This co-worker is inter-racial and was offended by this remark. Another co-worker is in an inter-racial relationship and was bothered by the remark. The co-worker with bi-polar has always been nice to me except that she is incredibly bossy which really annoys me because of my lack of self-esteem. My manager has tried to speak with her and she doesn't seem to listen according to one of the supervisor who needs to learn how to keep her mouth shut. I wish she had never told me this stuff. Then, I wouldn't have got bothered as much when my co-workers started complaining about this. I told my co-workers that this is inappropriate behavior and that this particular co-worker has issues. This co-worker has always been very upfront about her bi-polar. Is this behavior a part of bi-polar? I rather like this co-worker because she understands my odd crying/sleeping problem better than the other co-workers do. I know that she treats her bi-polar in her own way without prescription medication. Is this a good idea? I haven't ever questioned her on it because I am just a co-worker and she has lived with this ever since childhood. So I suspect she knows what works for her.
Any responses will be appreciated.

Well, speaking for myself, I know my own reasons for not taking medication, but I would not defend that choice on the basis of how well I am able to get along with others.

It sounds to me like if she knows she's symptomatic but doesn't even try to address it with medication....
Well you know what they say about those who help themselves....

I wouldn't say her behaviour is due to Bipolar or not.
This may just be her personality,and her upbringings.
Bipolar doesn't define if someone is racial or anti racial,etc. Those sort of things are products of the person's environment.
Bipolar disorder and behaviour(s) are a little more complex than a person being snippy and prejudice(s) etc. for those things can and are found in people without Bipolar.
I'm not saying she is or is not manic, but to assume her racial hangups, and edginess is because of her having Bipolar disorder is within poor judgment.
Also if this person prefers in "prescribing their own meds" or refusing them, they will not progress much, and make those around them miserable.
When I was DXed awhile ago, I did not like the idea of meds(mood stabilizers) but eventually got out of denial mode, and took them.
Okay, I know some will reply here that they do not use meds, don't need them or whatever, but for most, meds are necessary and DO help.
If possible, find a time you can talk with your co-worker, if you are unable, try to look at this as you would towards a "non bipolar" person, for some people label themselves with this disorder and do not really have it, nor do they really know what it is all about.
Just my 2 cents

As a manager of a call center, I will voice my opinion. It sounds like there is no structure what so ever in this work place. You get into a lot of detail about your co-worker's personal lives. I am not saying that it is wrong to know about the personal lives of your co-workers but I do know that it makes everyone more vulnerable to the situation when the personal isuess that the employees are experiencing is being negatively reflected in their work.

Some workers who have mental illnesses chose to share it with their boss/co-workers and some don't. Personally, I don't think it is a good idea but many beg to differ. Either way, that information is private and most times, the worker is sharing it about themselves in hopes that others can better accomodate (this should be the reason why they are sharing their medical problem).

If this co-worker is saying racial things that are completely unaceptable at the work place, bipolar or not it cannot continue. The other workers do not have to put up with this and disciplinary action should be taken to protect them as well as the company for being liable. You could urge the person who is suffering from a mental illness to seek treatment perhaps but either way, it is not fair to the others. Do you have any type of a nurse hotline or medical hotline that your company provides to employees? My company has one that employees can call for issues like alcoholism, spousal absuse, mental illness, ect. It is included in their benefits and would be a tactful and appropriate way to help the employee realize they need medical attention without coming off as pushy.

I know it's a very tough situation but if you are a boss, it is okay that people come to you with personal issues but it should be expressed to them that they need to keep the information private with you and not spread it around the workplace.

~Lia
crazymusiclvr@aol.com

Excellent reply. I totally agree with you on this.

No, I'm just a co-worker. Our personell coordinator has one majorly annoying weakness. She blabs everything. We are a small drug store and so we tend to notice things. However, she tells us way too much and she has been told by a former manager about this. But, she tells too much and the co-worker joked that she is legally insane on her first day of the job. So, we would know to take her personality as is. I was shocked when she mentioned a mental health issue in that way on the first day of the job. I sure couldn't figure out what she meant by legally insane but that was her claim. I responded by claiming that I've had a counselor say interesting things about my mental health. So, this co-worker pretty much told almost everyone working there when she first started and told me, the manager and others more later. Since I have joked around about being able to worry/think my way into a headache, I suspect this part of the reason why she tells me things. I just wish she'd be carefull about expressing her racial/political views at work. I don't go around telling everyone that I fantasize about suicide sometimes or preach at people to be born again.