Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Terese asks

Q: I belive a friend has the disorder, she belives she was enlightend and now has a gift

I belive my friend has the disorder. We used be roommates and I have know her most of her adult life and know some of her fam. background.

She joined AA about 6 months ago, to get help with a drinking problem she has periodicly, like alot of things in her life, it is not consitent,and she is still sticking to it, wich is great.

My experience with her is extreams with everything. When we shared a house she was

sometimes depressed, slept all the time, did not eat much, just kind of hiding in her room.

Other times she would be out all the time, party, date and so on, always kind of "crazy"

We really had a name for her sober and one for her drunk.

She is now more Manic than I have seen before. She belives she had an enlightment a couple of months ago, maybe she did?And that she has been awakend to a new life.

Anyway, she is not really working anymore, belives her "gift" she got from being enlighted needs

to be used to help others. She went on a shopping spree and has charged up all her

credit cards, but still belives everything will be alright with some positve thinking.

Cleaned out her house and gave away almost everything, even things for her business.

She stayes up and reads all night, everything from god to aliens and everything she reads

in books or on the internet is the truth to her, she was quiet frankly shocked that I did not agree with some of it, really shocked, wich worried me, usually we are all aloud to have our own opinions, but not anymore. She sleeps 2-3 /day or night, she said

sometimes she goes to bed 6 am or just whenever her body tells her to, no ryme or reason. I do not belive this can last much longer, she has got to be running on empty soon?I am also afraid she is not paying her bills, medical insurance, rent? Her fam lives in

another country but I could contact them?

What are the sympoms of the Manic ending and quite honestly, how do I talk to her about that she might need help with something, I am just guessing she is bipolar.

Please help me with some ideas of how to talk to her about this, I feel she will alienate

me if I rain on her parade, I am getting frustrated with her sometimes when we speak, I feel like I am walking on eggshells and try not to even discuss things.

please help me with any suggestions or a place to contact.

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Answers (1)

John McManamy, Health Guide

10/22/09 1:17am

Hi, Terese. From what you describe, your friend is exhibiting all the classic signs of mania, but before I continue I am not qualified to make that call, nor would a qualified person be advised to make a diagnosis from a distance. Having said that:

This is an almost impossible situation for you. Individuals with mania typically do not want to be helped. By definition, they have lost their power to reason, so there is no reasoning with them. And they tend to react with great hostility to anyone who dares suggest something is not right with them or that they need to get help. Typically, the only way those with mania get treated is by being brought to a psychiatric facility by the police. Which means someone had to have been alarmed enough to dial 911.

There is a chance of engaging with a person who is manic, but that means demonstrating your willingness to accept their version of reality. So, if your friend thinks she's enlightened, then you need to show an interest and ask her about it. Then, during the course of the conversation, try to wind her down a degree or two. If she says she wants to give everything away, support her good intentions but gently see if you can delay her acting on it. And so on.

If there is a way you can encourage her to sleep, please do. People in mania have a hard time sleeping, but a good long sleep can often bring a person down. Manias tend not to last forever, so there is a possibility if you see her coming down to help ease her into a soft landing.

In the meantime, if you feel she is acting in a way that poses an imminent danger to herself or others, please do not hesitate to call 911.

Sadly, it's usually only when people are depressed beyond belief that they are willing to accept the suggestion that they need help. This really is a difficult situation for you, and I can appreciate how distressed you must feel. But please accept the fact that this is largely a situation out of your control. There is not much you can do, so please don't beat yourself up for not being able to work miracles. All the best -

Q: I belive a friend has the disorder, she belives she was enlightend and now has a gift

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