My Friend Has Bipolar And I Don't Know How to Help Posted: 06-08-07 11:15am
Any advice on being friends with someone
with bipolar? My friend is in denial even
though her husband, myself and other
friends are pointing things out to her
that we all agree on. She doesn't take her
meds. responsibly and she's always making
excuses. She has started therapy and
appears to be trying to get help but now I
have been told I must change the way i
talk to her and i can't upset her or i'll
be responsible for throwing her into a
cycle. I just don't know what to do. we've
been friends for 10years!! I don't know if
I want to change in order to make her life
easier. I'm a "tell it like it is" person
and basically I'm being told I can't do
that with her???????? Please give me some
advice. Thanks so much!!
JJS
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Jessika
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Cleveland
Posted: 06-08-07 11:49am
who told you you can't talk or act a
certain way around her? That's good she is
getting therapy but why isn't she taking
the meds? You shouldn't have to tip toe
around her, even though it seems Like you
have to just for her to be stable. Sounds
like she needs to be on meds fast. I mean
I wouldn’t do anything to start a fight
with her since she isn’t medicated right
now but the best thing you can do is
convince her that she needs them.
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adamnoor84
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Falls Church
She Needs to Be On Meds Posted: 06-11-07 23:11pm
I am Bipolar and I have noticed that since
being on Meds, my moods have gotten 10
times better! I also noticed that I am not
as sensitive to criticism as I had been in
the past, except from my family thats
whole new issue! But you should give her a
chance to get stabilized on medication
before you guys can resume a normal
relationship! You guys must absolutely
convince her that Meds are important, If
she waits then it will only get worse, the
disease progresses, from experience I wish
I was on medication earlier! I am
definitely glad I am on them now!
I hope this helps
Adam Noor
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Charlie Anderson
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 3
Meds Posted: 06-12-07 12:28pm
Hey
Yes. I am a very mild mannered person who
has BD. And when someone asks me "have you
taken your meds" i do really have to
control myself to not be angry.
Im not sure why this is.
I guess when people say "take your meds"
it is almost like saying a person is
unwell or is abnormal. Of course, in a
sense this is true. But i like to think
when i take my tablets (i dont like
medicine word) that they are just simply
resetting a slight misbalance i have in my
brain. In a way, BD sufferers are unique
since our brains become hyperactive and
thus we need a little help to control our
moods.
I take lithium and the thing that i found
really interesting was the history of the
drug. This isnt a modern day
pharmaceutical product. This has
unknowlingly been used for millenia. In
ancient greece, there were old men who
were manic (insane, use whatever word you
like) and they were sent to relax in spas.
Now these water areas had lithium salts
within the water and this could have
helped calm the person down.
Try to talk to the person when they are
really calm. And dont make the stuation
into a big event, like dont say "i need to
talk to you at 8pm abot a serious matter."
Just casually throw it in there. Or get
them to find out how the drugs actually
work, modern pharmacology is very good.
Charlie
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mrsbuzski
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 103 Location: U.S.A. -- Illinois
Hyperactive Brain Posted: 06-15-07 04:55am
I agree with Charlies answer, and I
especially like his explanation of
Lithium.
As far as your friend, leave her be.
Let her know your there for her but give
her some space and don't try to
psychoanalyze her.
Keep the topic light, don't dwell on the
past and try to look at the bright side
when talking to her.
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