I have a friend who has bipolar disorder. The thing is that I can tell that this person really needs to go back to the doctor and take meds again, but this person refuses because they don't believe the meds work. I have told my friend several times that you have to give the meds time to work and to get into your system before you will feel good.
I know my friend has not given it enough time to work or make a difference. I also told my friend that most of the bipolar meds have side affects and my friend mentioned that their doctor explained that as well. I am concerned because whenever this person is online they do and say things they normally wouldn't and get upset with things that don't make any sense. I won't go into detail about last nights situation.But I believe it to be a delusion or something because this person normally is not like that and that upset.
I would like to encourage my friend in a positive way to go back to the doctor and get some help and meds because I have found that helps me instead of people saying if you don't do this then I am going to commit you or call the police. I would like to know how I can go about helping my friend to help their self.
Any suggestions? Again, I would like to do this as positively as I can. I want my friend to know that they are not alone and that people really do care.
1st, I ask, is this friend solely computer based or can you actually see them, smell them, and well... put a finger on them? Cause if they are in a certain state of mind and illness course - being computerized makes things a bit tricker. If they are flesh and blood around you and they become a danger to themselves and/or others then 911 is the best thing to do. Not certain what to do if they are computer based.
It is up to the individual themselves to decide as to whether to take medication or not. This may, and usually does, make those around the individual often times quite exasperated and yes angry. Course, in a lot of situations it makes those around very happy in that sometimes the meds make things worse, changes the personality of the person, or the folks surrounding don't believe in mental illness.
This doesn't help you though and you, I can tell, do care for your friend. I will assume here that your friend may not also attend therapy. If he/she isn't taking meds then I'll further assume he/she isn't seeing a psychiatrist cause why go to one if you aren't taking medication? Psychiatrists are primarily for medication to only treat the symptoms presenting themselves. Therapy and group support primarily treats and helps folks cope with what actually causes the illness and behaviors.
What you don't want to appear to be doing is nagging or pressuring because depending on what state of mind your friend is in - this will either anger them or guilt them and you really don't know which. Yet, you also need to let the person know that you are rooting for them and are concerned.
This is only my suggestion because each individual is different with the illness : keep chatting with them as you always have and as you normally do. Do not take anything negative or suddenly off the wall personal. Stay detached as best as you can in these situations. Every once in a while interject with the concern you have.
If your conversations suddenly lean solely on meds and docs that may throw them off. Yet, in casual normal everyday conversation you just express concern and then continue on with normal conversation as if nothing is happening - eventually this might (and I repeat MIGHT) help.
What you want to try and avoid is nagging, bullying, threatening, or guilt tripping them.
I'm just going to quit replying for a while cause my computer skills are getting weird. First I post 3 times and now my font size is huge. Sorry!
Hi Tabby:
Thank you for taking the time to respond. To answer your question I have known my friend since we were kids in junior high school so we go way back considering both of us are now in our early 30's. He moved to a different state so I am not able to see him in the physical sense at the moment. He does have family here however. He has been talking about either coming to live down here again or visiting for awhile.
I do my best not to get sucked up into everything he complains about because being bipolar myself I have learned that I can be one way one minute then the opposite the next so like the saying: "This too shall pass." Thats how I deal with myself and my friend.
While I don't always say things because of my better judgment, I do believe he should go back to the doctor and get back on meds. He has been offline for a few days so I while I hate to say this, I do hope he was hospitalized so they can help him stablize. Your right when you mention that I care about my friend. I honestly do. I care about all my friends. I just want him to be safe and be at peace with himself and this disorder.