A bone-tired mom finally collapsed after a hellish week, only to have her 25-year-old daughter and 16-year-old daughter burst in, shaking her awake while shrieking with laughter.
When she snapped, the teens mocked her for being dramatic. Later the 16-year-old (bipolar) escalated, screaming at her adult sister to “get out of the house forever.” Mom refused to ground the teen, saying the 25-year-old instigator started it and should know better than to torment someone with a mental-health diagnosis.
Mom refuses to punish daughter with bipolar disorder after siblings deliberately trigger meltdown.
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is universal. Having your siblings deliberately drag you there is another level of sibling nonsense. What makes this case stand out is the age gap and the mental health factor. Experts agree that sleep is sacred for people managing bipolar disorder.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen explains the science behind it: “Sleep disruption is one of the most powerful triggers for mood episodes in bipolar disorder. Even one night of poor sleep can push someone toward mania or depression.”
As noted in Psychology Today, “prolonged wakefulness is a known trigger for manic episodes” in bipolar disorder. In Kendall’s case, her siblings knew she’d barely slept and still chose chaos. That’s not playful teasing; that’s poking a bear they were repeatedly told is off-limits.
From the outside, Ava’s complaint that she “can’t treat Kendall like a normal sibling” sounds almost reasonable. Until you remember she’s 25, not 12. Developmental experts point out that by the mid-20s, the brain’s impulse-control center is fully cooked. Deliberately triggering someone for laughs (especially a minor with a diagnosed condition) crosses from sibling rivalry into bullying territory.
A 2023 report from the American Psychological Association notes that 1 in 5 teens experience mental health challenges, and family support (or lack thereof) directly impacts recovery. When older siblings model cruelty instead, it can deepen isolation and resentment.
The healthiest path forward? Clear boundaries, genuine apologies from the pranksters, and maybe a lock on Kendall’s door.
Therapists often recommend “structured access” when one family member keeps crossing lines.
Mom’s already grounded the 13-year-old and read the riot act to the 25-year-old – solid start, but Reddit’s loud-and-clear message is: protect the vulnerable kid first, adult feelings second.
Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:
Some people say NTA but are horrified that a 25-year-old is deliberately bullying and tormenting her teenage sister.
Some people emphasize that the 25-year-old’s behavior is outright bullying and recruiting the 13-year-old makes it worse.
![[Reddit User] − NTA I'm appalled by the behavior of Ava and Darren. Especially with Ava.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wp-editor-1763956970879-5.webp "Middle Child Yells At Eldest Sister To Leave The House, Mom Completely Lets It Slide For Concerning Reason")
Others stress that with bipolar disorder, disturbing sleep is especially harmful and the older siblings’ actions are dangerous.
![[Reddit User] − NTA with a BPD diagnosis, what your other two children are doing is f__king awful.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wp-editor-1763956944748-5.webp "Middle Child Yells At Eldest Sister To Leave The House, Mom Completely Lets It Slide For Concerning Reason")
Some people say NTA and insist Kendall was simply minding her own business and deserved no punishment.
Everyone agrees Kendall deserved peace in her own bed. The real question is whether Ava and Darren will finally grow up and stop treating their sister like a live-action reaction meme, or if mom will have to play bouncer forever.
Would you let a 25-year-old keep a key after pulling stunts like this? How do you protect one kid’s mental health without alienating the others? Drop your thoughts, we’re all ears!
