When you are talking to a person suffering from?

Question

bipolar and they are in their "down" stage.....when you tell them how important they are, how awesome they are and how much you truly car about them, do they REALLY "hear' you? My best friend - I've been trying to tell him (he's been sleeping for 3 days straight getting up just every so often) - he's been bad before but this is horrible. Are my words helping him? Iknow most will say he needs meds/doc, etc. but he won't go and I haven't the control over him (he's in his 30s). He mean so much to me and I'm soooo scared right now. I can't go to his home (family issues). I can only wait for him to call me as he won't answer his phone. He has called but short calls and that he doesn't care about anything but sleep. What WORDS will help him?? It's all I have when I can't get to him. DO THESE TRUE WORDS HELP AT ALL???

Answer 1

They show that you love and care about him. He's not responding to them because of his zombie-like depressed state right now. Unfortunately, that includes a desire to not do much of anything, including going to the doctor. The words can't hurt, but they probably aren't really helping him with his real problem. You know that the only thing that can help the underlying issues is medicine, therapy, etc. but he is lucky to have you as a friend. There's not much else you can do, unless you talk to someone who lives with him or knows him well that can go there and help him get out of the house to a doc.
Maybe he will be more 'convinceable' during a manic phase.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Bipolar is such a difficult issue. He needs help. You are not a doctor and if he hurts himself you will feel that it's your fault. Isn't there someone you can call (professional) that can help. Get him help. Don't take on what you can't handle.

Answer 3

tell him that you need to talk to him right away and that its urgent. Once you get him out of the house, try to make him feel better