What do you do if a family member (probably) is bipolar and will not talk to her family?

Question

Someone I know has changed their personality drastically and has kind of become a hermit, not working...extremely angry and has severe ups and downs...manias, we're all pretty sure it is bipolar.

What can we do?

Thank you sincerely for your thoughtful and candid answers.

Keven, if you read this: how do you feel about gabriels answer? I am struggling with whether to take action.

Answer 1

That is a tough one, if they are not dangerous to themself or others all you can do is wait and love them even when they can not love themself. If they are a danger to themself or others and a Dr. will commit them they could be incarcerated for 72 hours for observation. But then if they get out you you will probably never have a chance to really help them in the future.

It can be tough to love them when you see it is so obvious they need help but that is what they need even if they push you away. Is this person using drugs or alcohol? How can you make a differance and get them to allow you into their world where you can help nudge them towards seeking help (don't push).

The best thing you can do is to be a freind to them in their time of darkness, at some point they may come to you for your emotional support and that is when you can begin to make a differance. Possibly ask them to take the Bi-polar tests up on the internet, let them talk about their feelings without judging them.

Good luck, the person you care about is lucky to have you even if they do not know it yet.

Peace
From a Bi-polar guy who is trying to make it one day at a time.

Answer 2

Dear Justagirl,
When loved ones get really really sick and their personality changes drastically for the worse, and it becomes worrisome that they might physically hurt themselves and/or others, the thing to do is to get at least 2 family members and drive them to a mental hospital and either sign them in or have them sign themselves in. When that is accomplished, the following will happen: 1.they will be safe, 2.they will be cared for, 3. they will be evaluated physically, 4.they will be evaluated mentally, 5.a course of treatment will be prescribed and will be implemented.
Basically, they will be treated and cured. In order to get out, they have to be approved for release by 5 people: psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, psychiatric aide, and psychiatric nurse. This takes anywhere from 1 month to 1 year, but you get your loved one back, happy, healthy, normal and fit to be a productive member of family, community, and society.
How do I know this? I know this because this happened to me 40 years ago. In all these years, I have been normal, happy, and productive, and a loving member of my family. I thank God and those who did this for me. Had they not done it, I would still be all messed up, maybe dead, but for sure I could have never had a good job, a career, a wife and children, or a good life. Bottom line: People that need help need someone to take them for help!
And they need someone to take them for help even if they don't want to go for help. I didn't want to go. I didn't even think I was sick. Boy, was I wrong. It took me 5 months to get out of there. But when I fianally got out of there, I was healed, fixed, and prepared for life. And you know what, it actually saved my family from a lifetime of grief and worry and sorrow. I hope the very best for you and your relative. I just wanted to share with you a really good solution that works.

Answer 3

not much.