Does anyone have any advice to share on supporting a manic depressive friend? I have read copious websites about encouragent, motivating etc....but there just feels like I should be able to do more!
I appreciate any suggestions.
2006-10-11 05:07:19 · 9 answers · asked by reckonthis 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
first never refer to them as "bipolar" or "manic depressive". They are people who suffer from bipolor disorder or manic depressive disorder. They are not the illness...very important for them to maintain their identity outside of the bipolar disorder.
i am not sure who this person is in your life, but there is an awesome book (i bought it for my husband) but it applies to anyone close to a person with bipolar disorder.
Title: Loving Someone With Bipolar Disorder, understanding and helping your partner.
Authors : Julie A. Fast & John D. Preston, PSY.D.
It is only 211 pages long and is clearly laid out and written in simple terms (for a regular person)
Even if this person is not your "partner" i think anyone could benifit from this resource if they have someone in their life with bipolar disorder.
It is paperback and cost $14.00 at Borders, you may be able to find it cheaper on line.
Best wishes!
2006-10-11 05:40:07 · answer #1 · answered by nobyus8 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, first of all, the person must not rely on anyone.that will worsen the condition, the patient knowing that there'll always be support when he/she fails...you must teach the person to deal with it's own issues.mania and depression are a result of serious inner unresolved problems, that the person may not even be aware of.i was in your friend's position, and i had a friend who, just as you, was trying to help me.it did not work at all, i was so confident that the person will be there no matter what.then he did something that changed me deeply.we talked, after i had had an eppisode of quickly alternating moods and severe depression, and he told me that he does care about me, but it's best that we don't see eachother indefinetly, nor talk, until i deal with this.so, he left me alone.and after a week, i was better.i began to see myself as an individual, and to find my purpose.your friend needs time alone...as much as he/she will say that he/she doesn't :) time alone will help to determine what is wrong.when there is always someone there to hold you when you cry, you'll begin to rely on that support.and that makes u cry even more, knowing someone's there, but you're missing the point...something needs to be done to end the pain.tell your friend to make a list of what he/she likes and do it.also, to do things he/she had always wanted to do but was too scared or lazy to do it.your friend must find strength within himself, because no one can do it for him.if you want to help the cause, do what i told you.if you want to help the symptoms, keep on encouraging.and creating dependency.it's good that he has a good caring friend, but the right way is never the easy way.there is no solution that will fix this in a day or two, it requires time, and effort.and endurance.good luck :)
2006-10-11 05:21:04 · answer #2 · answered by vehrim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I happen to have a manic-depressive who is very close to me. When I asked my doctor what i could do to make him realize his own behavior,here was the respons:
"The manic-depressive will NOT do anything to get help until he realizes he has a problem...and that may take a VERY long time!"
Having seen the bipolar parent of one of my son's friends, I'm inclined to agree!
I guess you have to choose: do you go along with their wild swings and try to ignore them, waiting 'til reality "swims up and bites them on the a**", or do you deliver an ultimatum: "get help or we're done"?!
Everyone has to make that choice, I suppose. It's a really SUCKY disease!
2006-10-11 05:12:35 · answer #3 · answered by Gwynneth Of Olwen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a manic depressive woman. And my best friends know to just go with the flow. It's the only way, really. A lot of the time they humor me, and later when I'm like, "Hey when I told you that I was going to become a Christian missionary in Brazil, what were you really thinking?" And then they'll say, "Yeah...not such a good idea, that." Heh.
2006-10-11 05:11:06 · answer #4 · answered by apeystar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them it is a medical condition that can be helped with a prescriptive drug. Most important, once they are medicated, accept them for who they are with the disorder. A good friend is golden during times of depression (or mania for that matter). Tell them that they can live a very normal life. You wouldn't cast away a friend for having diabetes, well for the same reasons you shouldn't cast away a friend who has bipolar.
2006-10-11 06:10:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there really isn't. You have to be careful that you don't get sucked in--especially during the severe depressive phase. People do and then they get terribly depressed and sometimes have to end the relationship because they can't take it anymore. I hope your friend is on medications to control the severe mood swings...??
2006-10-11 05:11:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cousin and roomate was m/d, as was my former fiance. My advice is more of a warning, as both of these people are out of my life now, by their choice.
They both took my attempts to help as being attempts to control their lives, to make myself 'better than' them, to make them feel bad about themselves, etc. If I could go back now, I don't know what I would do, though. I don't feel bad that I stopped one suicide attempt and reported another to a mental health facility. I still feel those were the right things to do. But it cost me my friendships.
Best of luck to you and your friend,
J
2006-10-11 05:25:00 · answer #7 · answered by HoneyGirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just be there for him/her. Don't judge or criticize
2006-10-11 06:24:26 · answer #8 · answered by grrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just be there,, be there,, its nice to know someone cares
2006-10-11 06:22:18 · answer #9 · answered by phllipe b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋