dudesomewhere Posted May 21, 2004 Posted May 21, 2004 hey folks...hoping someone is familiar with bi-polar conditions or more accurately, has experience with a friend(s) with bi-polar. Recently I met this girl, who I've grown to love as a sister and in the truest sense. I believe she is bi-polar as she suspects she might be. I read up on it after she told me and well, it scares me. They've said 20% of bi-polars commit suicide...which ends up being a huge number. Now, question for those with experience. If someone is bi-polar and goes through a depression state, will they not consider talking to anyone? Not even the closest of friends? I've tried making it clear to her that she can turn to me whenever she feels down but am worried the condition makes those afflicted turn away from everybody, including family. So that is my concern. Will she turn to me if her world becomes dark or will she suffer alone because sucha thing prevents her from reaching outward? And is it something that can only be overcome with prescription drugs? No mental therapy but drugs? thx eeh, just realized this might go in some medical forum too? need to search...
faux Posted May 21, 2004 Posted May 21, 2004 Originally posted by dudesomewhere hey folks...hoping someone is familiar with bi-polar conditions or more accurately, has experience with a friend(s) with bi-polar. Recently I met this girl, who I've grown to love as a sister and in the truest sense. I believe she is bi-polar as she suspects she might be. I read up on it after she told me and well, it scares me. They've said 20% of bi-polars commit suicide...which ends up being a huge number. She suspects she might be, eh? Unless she has been diagnosed by a medical professional with Bipolar type I or II, then she really has nothing to worry about. If she is wondering or "suspecting" then she ought to seek a professional evaluation. Reading up on an illness that you have, or suspect you may have, NEVER does any good. It makes things far worse. I take it that she, knowing some interesting facts about the disorder, must have read a great deal about it. Do not fall into this trap, and stop reading up on it. Tell this girl to get a professional evaluation before she jumps to such conclusions. Additionally, the rate of suicide among those with a form of Bipolar disorder is higher than twenty per-cent, and Bipolar disorder is a particularly nasty thing to deal with. If she suspects she has it, again, tell her to seek a professional evaluation or be quiet about it. I'm unsure at this point if I was mis-diagnosed, as I'm fairing quite well now, but I was tagged Bipolar II for a while. Make sure she gets an evaluation. Now, question for those with experience. If someone is bi-polar and goes through a depression state, will they not consider talking to anyone? Not even the closest of friends? I've tried making it clear to her that she can turn to me whenever she feels down but am worried the condition makes those afflicted turn away from everybody, including family. Firstly, she needs to turn to more than just you. If she suspects she has a problem then she needs to seek reliable medical advise about it. All that you can do is inform her you are there to help her if she needs or wants it, as any friend can do. Aside from that you are powerless. This strange situation is all in her hands. I recommend you refrain from calling her Bipolar until you know for certain whether or not she is diagnosed with some type of Bipolar disorder by a licensed medical professional. And yes, with depression, one generally tends to clam up and not wish to speak with anyone. At all. Again, stop worrying about a condition that may not even exist. A lot of people get strange notions, after reading up on disorders, that they suddenly have them. I do not know your friend, but remember that this is a strong possibility. Without a medical professional to back her up, I'm skeptical. If you really want to help her out, tell her to set up an evaluation. If she does not set up an evaluation, or refuses to go, she most likely just wants to live out a fantasy of having a disorder. I've seen it many times before, so I wouldn't be surprised. I hope, however, that her seeking help will end up finding the root of the problem, whatever it may be, and provide her with some answers. So that is my concern. Will she turn to me if her world becomes dark or will she suffer alone because sucha thing prevents her from reaching outward? And is it something that can only be overcome with prescription drugs? No mental therapy but drugs? One person can never guarantee the actions of another person. You will never know what she, or anyone else will do in a particular situation, until she does something. She may not be suffering. Again, don't freak out about this until you have a medical professional saying "Yes. I, as a licensed medical professional, am diagnosing this individual with such-and-such condition." If one really does have Bipolar disorder, one most often goes through inpatient and outpatient hospitalizations, quite a bit of medication, and a great deal of therapy. Once one comes far enough in ones treatment, one then may be advised by medical professionals to decrease, or eventually discontinue most of the treatment. Not everyone needs to remain on medication for the rest of their lives, but mental illness is always an individual case.
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