Perhaps because a central feature of both hypomania and depression is irritability, and because a characteristic of the "bipolar temperament" is a certain tendency toward an attitude of entitlement, interpersonal disputes tend to be common in this patient population. -- Ellen Frank, Treating Bipolar Disorder
Frank goes on to explain how this attitude of entitlement plays out in the clinical setting. Unlike the usually self-effacing patient with Major Depressive Disorder, grateful for any scrap of attention, people with bipolar get irritated at imagined slights, such as when the therapist cancels an appointment, or is late. Sometimes, the only way the therapist can maintain the therapeutic relationship is to go ahead and apologize for these imagined slights.
Yup, stick that fork in the 220 volt socket again.
Frank goes on to explain how this attitude of entitlement plays out in the clinical setting. Unlike the usually self-effacing patient with Major Depressive Disorder, grateful for any scrap of attention, people with bipolar get irritated at imagined slights, such as when the therapist cancels an appointment, or is late. Sometimes, the only way the therapist can maintain the therapeutic relationship is to go ahead and apologize for these imagined slights.
Yup, stick that fork in the 220 volt socket again.