re: Bi Polar Disorder question...?

Question

A friend of a friend has a bi polar disorder and should a person try to force "reality" on them to bring them back or should you play along with them? She came off medication and the family doesn't want to put her back on because a new Dr. said she doesn't need it but she is dilusional and really bad! Any advice is welcome.

Answer 1

I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for over fifteen years, and I am worried about your friend. Problems with understanding "reality" are an indicator that she may be going into an unsafe mood swing. My feeling is that a different dotor or another opinion is a good idea. Also, is your friend a minor? if not, the family shouldn't be making her healthcare decisions for her (unless she is incompetent, in which case she probably definitely needs meds)

Answer 2

Hello......... When your friend's Dr. decided to take them off of their meds, he must have had good reason. However, I have never heard of anyone being "cured" of this affliction. I know very well what you are going through as my daughter is bipolar. Without meds she has no rational thoughts , needs 24 hour attention and simply cannot function normally. Her family must not see her on a regular basis or they would certainly see what her psychosis is doing to her life. Have you tried to intervene where they are concerned? Have you told them what you are seeing? More often than not, denial plays an important role for both the family members and the patient. For the patient it's, "I'm fine, leave me alone!" and for the family it's, "The Dr. says she's better, so we will go with that." In a perfect world,we could just leave it at that. However, if she is exhibiting any symptoms of mania, soon to follow will be the depressive side of the illness, where statistically , 30% of bipolar patients wind up taking their own lives. As a friend, you should find out exactly why she was taken off her meds. Can you be 100% sure that the decision to take a medication holiday was, in fact, made by the Dr. and not your friend's own doing? It's very common for any bipolar patient to say that the doctor told them to stop. They may feel great and believe that the illness has actually gotten better. She may not want to be a burden to her family anymore and think she is doing what's best. I don;t know your friend's history but I do not think that any Dr. would ever purposefully deny their patient the proper care. As for trying to talk sense to her, I wish I could offer some good advice to you. The best I can offer is to try to keep her safe and when the depression reveals itself do whatever it takes to get her into a hospital. While manic and delusional, she may also be a threat to herself and others. She is not rational and will most likely find herself in some kind of legal trouble. Of course she will not believe that she has done anything wrong, but the authorities will have the right and power to commit her to a psychiatric unit where she will get the help she needs. At that point, you and her family will be powerless to help her. If you have anything to say about your friend, you should do it now, go to her family and tell them what you have seen. She may become very angry with you but once she has become level again, she may not even remember. The task of dealing with a person with bipolar cannot be done alone. It is nice to see that at least one person in her mixed up world has the good sense to ask what to do. Good luck to you . I hope that everything turns out well for your friend. Stay positive.........peace

Answer 3

It sounds like you've already done some research about bi-polar. I work with teenagers who have mental illnesses including bi polar. Most teenagers have a hard time whatever their challenges are. When a person is manic (up) it probably wouldn't work to force reality. My advice would be to be a friend and set your own limits and boundaries with your friend. You can be a better friend when you take care of yourself. Some people have manic episodes that spiral into schizophrenic episodes. They might see things and hear things that aren't there and believe things that aren't true. Sometimes doctors take kids off meds to get a baseline behavior (to see what they are really like off medications) because they want to know if it really is bi-polar or ADD or PTSD or anything else. Some people keep a diary of events and food they eat and thoughts and whatever to give the psychiatrist an idea of what's going on. Mental illnesses are sometimes misdiagnosed because they can look like something but be something else. Most adults tell me that their ups and downs kind of mellow out after adolescence. I got into this career by accident. I started out as a Special Ed teacher's assistant and saw for myself that many kids who have mental health challenges are also very bright and need to be given a chance to succeed. Sometimes we need to just ride it out.

Answer 4

She needs to see another doctor. Bipolar Disorder is a serious diagnosis and a second opinion is definitely called for here. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when I was 16 and am still taking medication for it four years later. It can be tough trying to find the right drug/dose to control both the mania and the depression, and it's hard for everyone; patients and their family. My mom had a really rough time getting me to take my meds, which was hard on her, too, but she and my doctors knew that medication really does help.
The fact of the matter is this: Bipolar Disorder is nothing to joke around with. Your friend needs to speak to a doctor very soon. It sounds like she needs to be on medication, and a psychiatric consult is in order. If she is as bad as you say, then it is horribly irresponsible of the doctor and the family to let this continue. Depressive episodes can lead to suicidal ideations, and manic episodes can lead to grandiose feelings (feeling like you're invincible) and both are VERY serious and dangerous. I hope your friend gets the help she needs!!!

Answer 5

A lot of Dr. don't undrestand the difficulty of bi-polar and it is very common for patients to take themselves off thier meds when they have felt "normal" for a longer period of time. If she is not posing a threat to either herself or others, there is little you can do to "force" a bi-polar person to stay on their meds. YOu can't force reality on them since what they are percieving is real to them. Eventuall tho, these delusions will beging to effect her life in a negative way (interfering with her job, her relationships, etc.) even if she never becomes threatening or violent. My advice would be to talk to her parents. Have them get a second opinion from a pshychiatrist/psychologist who specializes in treatment of bipolar. If possible, give them a list of names and numbers. Having a bipolar child is extemely difficult for the parents..there is a lot of anger and guilt and often times they will jump at the chance of their child being "cured", even tho deep down inside they know it probably isn't so. My bet is her parents know she needs her meds...they may just be exhausted and need help to help her. However, they may also be in serious denial, and if that is the case, after you offer your help, what they do or do not do with it is up to them.

Answer 6

She obviously needs some help and definitely needs to get back on the meds. Her parents never should have taken her off of the medication. I am Bipolar and there is a rule to it. Once you have been put on the medication you are to stay on it for the rest of your life otherwise what has happened to your friend will continue. I have stopped my meds because I was feeling better and didn't think that I needed them anymore. In my case I ended up on the Psychiatric Unit of my local hospital and had to be put back on a regimen of drugs to stabilize. Your friend doesn't seem to be stable and needs help. Please go to her parents and explain to them that she is delusional and needs some help badly. She can't help being the way that she is, it is because she was taken off of the medication abruptly. If you care about her go explain what you just told us and see if her parents will get her some help. Good Luck

Answer 7

Is she delusional? I mean the new doc says no. If she is-HE HAS TO GO! (on the other hand, think about it-psychiatry has to be self-perpetuating, O/W...oh, never mind, just my facetousness)
A delusional person is in danger to self and others. Dont go along with distorted reality.
A bipolar person generally needs to be on meds for this truly genetic condition of chemical imbalance.
A delusional person not on meds has no place to go but down. It is very serious.

You may want to tell the family the statistics that Bipolar Disorder is considered a fatal condition. 20% of sufferers will commit suicide. Thats one out of 5. Thats a HUGE percentage.

It is neglect for the family to keep her untreated.
A common way of thinking is that while someone is on meds, they're better, hence they dont need meds. But of course, DUH, the meds are why they are doing so well.
If she is over 18 you can try to intervene, but its a huge emotional and physical burden.
I'm praying for the best for this young lady.

Answer 8

That new doctor should have consulted with the older doctor! You do not take a patient off of meds - particularly cold turkey - without either replacing it with another med or gradually reducing the doseage "weaning". Something is obviously wrong with your friend, and it may be that withdrawal from the meds is contributing to the problem.

Definitely speak to your local mental health clinic, or see another doctor. If things get too out-of-hand, get to the emergency room!

Answer 9

Let me tell you from experience. I have a grown daughter who refuses to take her medications. If you try to bring her back to reality she is going to become very argumentative and combative. You need to try to go with the flow and if you can't handle it, then go someplace for a while. My daughter moved out but comes back often to visit because I have custody of her children. Sometimes I just can't tolerate her lies and the world she lives in so I tell her I have to go someplace so she will leave.

Good Luck, I know what you are going through.

Answer 10

Consult Mind the mental health organisation, I'm not prepaered to comment on this without knowing more aboput this particular case and I an not qualified to deal with it. Consult NHS direct.