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Bipolar friend-How can I help?

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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 3/16/2011 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I have a friend that was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She is having a hard time coming to terms with it. She was on medication and doing a lot better but now she has stopped taking it and she has been doing some pretty out of control things lately. She is also going through a divorce which of course isn't helping the situation any. She has 2 young children and at the moment she really isn't in a good position to take care of them.

I guess my question is: Is there anything I can do to help her? I don't know what to say to her and I feel so bad for her and especially the kids. Her family (parents & siblings) live pretty far away and she doesn't have a lot of people around her right now to support her. I just want to help in any way I can.

Posted 3/16/2011 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
being a good friend will help a lot. here are some things that can also help.

she needs to grieve, both for the lost marriage, and the lost her. by that I mean that the meds change who we are, and you need time to grieve for the parts of you that you have lost. also be supportive. most meds need changed to get the right doses at the right time. it took me five times with dose and timing to get the right mix.

this is a journey of years, not days or months. there will be upps and downs. tell her to ceibrate like crazy the successes, and to not beat hersef up over the failures too much.

good luck. bill
Posted 3/16/2011 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much...I just don't know much about this and I don't want to say the wrong things to her. I think at this point the next major hurdle for her is realize she needs her medication.
Posted 3/19/2011 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
THAT'S THE HARD CHAT..........GETTING HER TO THE DOCTOR. WILL SHE ATTEND IF YOU GO WITH HER? MOST WILL GO IF A TRUSTED FRIEND GOES WITH THEM. MAYBE YOU CAN ADVOCATE A BIT FOR HER AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE. I WISH YOU WELL WITH YOUR FRIEND. JAMIE
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