Bipolar disorder?

Question:

My friend is in a manic state I believe as all her dicisions are way out of line.She also says she is a believer in God and preaches it but does not practice what she preaches.I was up front and said she had to stop and gave advice.As you expect she listened and thanked me and said i was right,but didn`t take any suggestions.I feel i have done what i can and now will be a listening board,that`s all.Is this desease similar to alcoholism,unless they want to change nothing can be done.I told her she has to see a M.D phyciatrist and get her meds checked.

Answers:
It is important that your friend get a correct diagnosis and the most appropriate meds. If your suspician is right that her medication may not be right, there is a chance that her current meds are making her worse - and are driving her further into mania. You could make a game of it and sit down togther to take some of the high quality free online bipolar tests - http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-tes... These are the same bipolar tests that professionals use. However, it is critical that she also take your advice to get an expert evaluation from a psychiatrist who is familiar with bipolar. Many bipolar people get misdiagnosed as depressed or as ADHD. The meds used to treat depression and ADHD can make bipolar people worse, so testing and correct diagnosis are VERY important. Maybe if you do it together it will seem like a friendly and supportive thing - if she feels criticized and judged that will just make her worse as these can be triggers for bipolar people. The link below takes you straight to some of these excellent free online biplar tests and more info on the right diagnosis and meds for stabilizing her moods. Poor decision making is a bipolar symptom so maybe your intuition is correct. Thanks for trying to help your friend - I am a bipolar person and if I had had support and help in figuring out what was really wrong with me when I was younger my life would have been much smoother and happier. Don't worry if she is bipolar - it is very possible to get well with the right meds and other support.

take your friend to the docs as soon as and get her looked over by experts. good luck x

the fact that she believes in god tells us something. Bipolar people, during mood episodes can become obsessed/preoccupied with religion and the occult and so i dont doubt you saying she is in a manic state. Just watch that she doesnt start to claim she is god or jesus because then shes way to high and is psychotic.

if shes not helping herself simply close down when she babbles at you and uses you as a vent, dont let her **** you around when shes in a certain mood.dont give her any special treatment

When in a manic stage its very hard to reason with us at all. Its not that she does not want to get well but for the most part she does not believe she is ill at all. just be there for her tell her you really think she should get help and watch out for the come down as this will be the time when she will most need her friends and most need someone to help her get to a doctor. take care

Bipolar disorder?

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