Is extreme paranoia common with severe bipolar disorder?!

Is extreme paranoia common with severe bipolar disorder?

Even on meds (lithium, etc). What about the ability not to cope with any stress at all? Anxiety attacks... low self-esteem... inability to enter into dating relationships?

5 days ago
oh... it's not me. I'm trying to decipher the behavior of a friend who is diagnosed bipolar and is currently in a depressive episode...

Bipolar disorder can include many different symptoms which differ for each individual. When a person with bipolar disorder is going through a manic phase, they can become very psychotic, which is where the paranoia comes from. When this goes unchecked, it can become severe enough that its often misdiagnosed as schizophrenia. In general with many mental illnesses, low self esteem and relationship difficulties result...this is where counseling and strong family/friend support helps.