Let your friend know when you’re worried about them by telling them so. Speak to your friend in private and say something like, “I’ve noticed that you have been acting differently lately, is there anything going on?” You may also want to identify behaviors your find troubling like, “when you don’t take my calls for a few days I start to worry, is everything okay?” It’s okay to get on each other’s nerves, but make it clear to your friend that you care about him or her. Express your feelings and concerns in a caring way.
Everyone needs some time to themselves occasionally. Your friend may be tired of trying to manage their feelings around people and simply need to relax. If you are worried that your friend may hurt themselves, don’t leave them alone.
Sometimes your friend may just need someone they can vent to without having to workshop possible solutions to what’s bothering them. Simply listening can help validate your friend’s feelings and help them feel more in control and understood.
If your friend starts experiencing issues with sleep, increased activity and irritability, they may be beginning to relapse, or their condition may be worsening. If your friend begins sleeping much more or is lethargic, they may be experiencing depression instead of a manic episode, and still may need to seek help.
Giving common and generalized recommendations like, “just look for the silver lining” or “cheer up” is ineffective and may do the opposite of helping your friend feel better. Using “canned” responses to your friend’s real problems can make him or her feel increasingly isolated and alone because they don’t have someone that understands what they’re going through. Instead of using canned responses, try saying something like, “I know this is hard on you, but you’re doing really well,” or, “I’ve never experienced something like that, can you tell me how it makes you feel?”
You may want to help your friend negotiate a treatment contract while he or she is doing well. A treatment contract gives you the power to take steps to protect your friend if they need it like contacting their doctor or helping them check in for treatment. Create a plan ahead of time for what you will do if your friend is going through a manic episode that requires your intervention.
It is not uncommon for someone experiencing a manic episode to spend significant sums of money, including money they do not have. Drinking and drugs can worsen the situation for people suffering bipolar disorder, even if they seem like they’re just trying to “have a good time. ”
Learn to identify the warning signs that your friend may be considering suicide. Some common warning signs are increasing alcohol or drug use, acting withdrawn, or talking about a sense of hopelessness. If your friend seems to lose interest in things that used to interest them, that may also indicate that they are considering suicide. If you think your friend may be considering suicide, find them help and don’t leave your friend alone.
Plan for children to stay with someone else while your friend works through the most difficult stages of a manic episode. Make sure children understand the nature of the situation and that your friend loves them. Clarify that the situation is not the children’s fault to ensure they don’t feel as though they caused an adverse situation to arise.
If your friend is undergoing treatment, it may take time for it to make a difference. Being patient can help your friend maintain their own patience for the process to work. If your friend is not seeking treatment, be patient with them as you encourage them to do so. Losing your patience will only make the situation worse, instead of better.
Acknowledging that bipolar disorder is not anyone’s fault and is indeed an illness is a good step toward seeking medical treatment. Bipolar disorder can get worse if left untreated. If you aren’t sure how to bring it up in conversation, take your friend aside and in private and say something like, “I know you’ve been having a hard time. Have you thought about seeing if a doctor could help?”
A person with bipolar disorder cannot always control their emotions or the way those emotions make them act. Suggesting that a person stop feeling a certain way or that they should “look on the bright side” will not help someone with bipolar disorder.
It’s okay to get frustrated at times, but try not to take those frustrations out on your friend. Instead, take a time out and separate yourself from the situation. Don’t expect too much from yourself. You are there to help your friend, but ultimately your friend will need to make the hard decisions for his or herself.
Do research online to learn more about bipolar disorder at websites like BBRFoundation. org. If your friend has not been diagnosed, learn how to identify the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Remember that each person suffers from bipolar disorder in a different way, so if your friend does not exhibit symptoms exactly as you’ve researched, that may just be a part of their situation.
