Why do people with bipolar feel compelled to cut themselves?

They do not: People with bipolar disorder do not necessarily feel the need to cut on themselves . It depends on how the individual handles painful emotions and stress. That has nothing to do with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. People who cut on themselves do it to overcome difficult emotional states that they cannot handle. They feel that the pain of cutting is better than the pain of the emotion.

They don't: Cutting is not a common symptom of bipolar.