Hello Heather. I'm sure that it is devastating news. I can't speak for anyone else but myself, but I have bipolar and so does my son and we both can trigger each other. It doesn't mean that either of us is a bad person, it just means that we can set each other off.
Usually I'm the bigger offender. As a parent I care about my son and especially as someone who has bipolar, I can really get on his nerves for a lot of reasons. Mostly it's unwanted advice or caring too mush. We've worked out a system over the yrs where we get along really well this days, but there is still the occasional blow up.
I find my worst habits are, in no particular order: Asking too many questions, suggesting too many solutions, being too concerned and a host of other things that parents do.
For example he will once in a long while ask for a couple hundred dollars (like once a yr or less) to pay some expenses. Now it has already injured his pride to ask Dad for money, I can very easily compound that by saying something simple like. "why do you need the money" or worse yet "how come you didn't budget for that". For a normal person it is no big deal, but for someone with bipolar who is managing their life as well or better than can be expected, me asking questions is a sure fire way to trigger him. So I try and say sure no problem, do you mind if I ask you why and if he answers fine and if not fine.
My wife , who is one of the most caring people in the world, can also trigger him but smothering him in concern and asking motherly questions. Each family has to take their own steps to find out how to handle a loved ones illness. And it is an illness, one that isn't fully understood even today, so sometimes finding answers can be difficult. I hope this answers some of your questions, but please don't hesitate to ask ore. You may find additional, answers by going to the Mood Disorders Assoc Of Ont website and going through it. Take Care. paul m