From occasional to none at all, people living with bipolar disorder opened up about how drinking affects their mood and daily life.
Deciding whether alcohol fits into your life can feel especially tricky when you’re also living with bipolar disorder. It’s rarely a simple yes-or-no choice. One recent study shows that people with bipolar who drink more often experience stronger mood symptoms and more difficulty functioning day to day, which makes this decision worth thoughtful attention.
Alcohol can also interfere with mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, intensify side effects, and disrupt the sleep-wake rhythms that are so crucial for staying steady. Even small amounts can fragment sleep or nudge your mood toward depression, mania, or a mixed state. As Mayo Clinic points out, that’s why many clinicians recommend minimizing or avoiding alcohol, especially if you’ve had rapid cycling, mixed episodes, substance use concerns, or suicidality.
And yet, life isn’t lived in a clinical bubble. Alcohol shows up at celebrations, dinners, and social gatherings, and it’s normal to wonder whether a drink here and there is worth the potential fallout. The real question becomes: How does alcohol affect you personally? Paying attention to your own patterns — and being honest with yourself and your clinician — can help you decide whether the occasional drink feels safe or whether cutting back or avoiding alcohol altogether offers more stability.
We asked our community how they approach drinking with bipolar disorder. Here’s what they shared.
Drinking and Bipolar Aren’t a Good Mix
Drinking makes me feel lethargic and depressed the next day. When I’m manic, it lowers my inhibitions, and I make poor choices. I rarely drink since my diagnosis, and when I do, it’s just one glass of wine or a beer. I think bipolar and drinking don’t mix. In social situations, I order tonic water with a sprig of mint. It looks like I’m drinking, and no one asks questions. It was hard at first, since I live in wine country, but it gets easier with time.
—J.A., California
Feeling Much Better and More In Control
I used to drink to self-medicate and to be social. One day, I got so drunk that I committed an act of domestic violence against my partner. I promised both of us that day that I would never drink again, and I haven’t. I feel much better off and more in control of myself. I can see now how all those years of drinking made my symptoms worse, and I wish I had given up alcohol years ago.
— R.H., Utah
Drinking Isn’t Worth the Price
It’s a bad idea because you are going down a slippery slope that can cause you to go manic. And you know what happens when you go manic: reckless behavior. The price is too high.
— T.M., Tennessee
It’s Been a Trial-and-Error Process
Being a 27-year-old with bipolar can be difficult when it comes to alcohol. You want to party, but you know you have to set limits. Drinking occasionally is definitely fine. I just think you need to be cautious about how much is too much and how it will clash with your medication. I’ve had trial-and-error [experiences] a few times. Everything is a learning process. You aren’t human if you don’t mess up sometimes.
— B.M., Pennsylvania
Saying No to Alcohol Has Been the Best Decision
My experience has been that bipolar and alcohol are a bad mix, even in small amounts. As my symptoms got more out of control (overspending, inability to sleep, racing thoughts), I used more alcohol to stop the mental chaos. Then binge-drinking gave way to depression and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Eventually, I sought help and got sober. For me, sobriety gives me the ability to make good decisions and take good care of myself. I choose to say no to alcohol. Best decision ever.
— P.P., Texas
Mental Health Matters More Important Than Being ‘Cool’
Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in my early twenties, my prime drinking years were cut short. I currently don’t drink at all and haven’t for three years. Not only would it interact with the heavy medication I’m on, but I also can’t be certain what kind of mood swing I’ll be facing. In social situations, I usually joke about not being able to drink while sipping on a cola, mildly jealous of everyone else, but my mental health is more important than being “cool.” As for other individuals with the disorder, I would say to know your limits and check with your doctor before drinking.
— G.I., New Jersey
Drinking Impacted Medications
I used to drink a lot and it screwed things up in my life and made my medication less effective. So I stopped drinking. I know that when I really want a drink, I shouldn’t be having one. As for social situations, I just say I don’t drink anymore as it messes with my meds. People don’t get to know what meds they are, but that reasoning is generally accepted. And if it’s not, then you are around the wrong people if they pressure you to drink when you do not want to.
— C.H., Oregon
Thinking Before the First Drink
I have learned that I need to examine myself before I ever have the first drink. I’m completely capable of drinking socially and occasionally at home. I’m also someone who struggles with limits. The hardest thing I have had to learn is that just because I drank yesterday with no negative ramifications, it doesn’t mean that I can today.
— R.M., Tennessee
It Depends on the Person
I would say it’s different for each person. Some people I know who have bipolar disorder and drink seem to be fine, but for some, it puts them into constant mood swings, and for some people, it only fuels manic episodes.
— R.J., Vermont
Bipolar Symptoms Are More Stable When Alcohol Is Removed
I quit drinking when I was 27 because it was both exacerbating mood settings (highs and lows) and causing reckless behavior that I punished myself for afterward. I’m much more stable now.
— Name Withheld, United Kingdom
Staying Honest Through a Mood Log
Moderation is key. I keep a mood log, including alcohol consumption. The log helps keep me honest — and I’m always honest about my documentation. I generally limit myself to two beers a day, making exceptions for social gatherings, etc., where I keep to one beer per hour, plus water. I don’t do mixed drinks often, but when I do, it’s half of what I’d drink for beer, or just one per day. I can’t recommend this for everyone, but it works for me.
— R.D., New Hampshire
Doing Self-Checks When Drinking
I don’t drink often, but I like to have some fun occasionally. But I always do self-checks. I ask myself why I’m drinking. Is it because I’m depressed or manic? If that’s why, I do not drink. If I am stable and in a good place, I’ll have a drink. I also set limits on my drinks and boundaries before I start drinking. By doing this, I can have fun but stay healthy.
— K.D. Indiana
It’s Fine in Moderation
I dislike blanket statements that no one with bipolar should drink. I drink maybe once or twice a month. Why change something I enjoy in the absence of harm? My psychiatrist says a little in moderation is fine for me, with a caution about drug interactions. I’m always sober when I take my nighttime meds. Everyone is different. Some people with bipolar should not drink at all due to meds, brain chemistry, problematic behavior, history, or who knows what.
— R.O., British Columbia
Husband Says Drinking Affects Symptoms
I like to drink on occasion, but my husband doesn’t want me to. He says it affects my bipolar. I guess it takes an outside point of view to see the negative effects of drinking with bipolar because I don’t see it. My husband says drinking really has a negative impact on my moods and triggers. It annoys me that I am not allowed to drink because of my mental health issues. I don’t like the lack of control I have over this subject.
— A.B., Illinois
Being Honest About Why You’re Drinking Is Key
My psychiatrist told me specifically that I should not “drink a lot” since it can induce a manic episode. It was actually binge drinking that brought on the manic episode that led to my bipolar 1 diagnosis. At the beginning of my treatment, I abstained from alcohol so I could focus on my recovery. However, once I became stable, I slowly started to drink again because I do like a good Jack and Coke or strawberry mojito when I’m out with my friends after a tough week. I keep a journal to log when I drink and how much, so I can share this information with my psychiatrist. Being honest about why you’re drinking and understanding its effects is key.
— C.P., California
Bipolar and Drinking Vary By Person
Bipolar and drinking vary. Never drink when you’re depressed, angry, or have any type of strong feelings, or to avoid feeling. Drink responsibly by becoming aware of your emotions and mood swings, and it shouldn’t be a problem. Those not able to become aware of or control their drinking habits should stay away from it to have a healthier lifestyle. We can all live a healthy life with bipolar by choosing what’s best for us individually.
— Y.R., Pennsylvania
Learning to Identify Triggers
You can have fun in social situations with or without alcohol, but you need to know how much you can drink while staying “in control.” Once you can identify your triggers, you can test your limits to see what works for you. There have been times when I’m completely happy, I’m surrounded by good people that I trust, and I’m able to have a few drinks with no regrets. Sometimes, after one drink, I can feel myself slowly crashing, and that’s when I stop drinking and find my way back to level ground.
— K.V., Michigan
Rarely Drink Because of Medications
I’m very aware that I should not drink alcohol, especially considering the medications I take. Which is why I rarely drink. When I do decide to drink, I do so with trusted family and friends. Admittedly, when I drink, I have a tendency to overdo it. Most of my life is spent managing bipolar and so the occasional night of drinking is a kind of release that I crave. I’m not saying it’s the responsible thing to do by any means, but I’m human.
— M.C.
Mostly Stopped Drinking
I never used to listen to my psychiatrist when she told me to keep my drinking to a minimum, not just because of the interaction with medication, but also because alcohol is a depressant. I had the occasional glass of wine during the week and easily more than a bottle on the weekend, so I was really binge-drinking. Last year, I realized I was no longer a happy drunk, but a self-destructive, angry, and frustrated drunk, and my lowered inhibitions and aggression made it easier to self-harm. I mostly stopped drinking.
— W.J., South Africa
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
- Sperry SH et al. Longitudinal Interplay Between Alcohol Use, Mood, and Functioning in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders. JAMA Network. June 7, 2024.
- Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism: Are They Related? Mayo Clinic. February 13, 2024.
UPDATED: Originally printed as “SoundOFF! on Bipolar & Alcohol,” Summer 2017