Question:
my cousin is bipolar. any ideas on how i could talk to her to help her out? thanks!
Answer:
Does she take medication? This is a mental (medical) illness, and requires medical treatment. The best thing you can do is support her in getting and staying on a treatment program.
Answer:
yeah, she's on some kind of medication, i'm not sure exactly what it is though. she's also going to counseling, but that isn't helping at all. she doesn't think she needs it, and her sister is always getting on her case when she doesn't take it.
Answer:
Honestly, badgering and forcing her to go to counselling won't really help. She has to want help before she can get help. Just be supportive and let her know how much you care, without pestering.
Answer:
THANK YOU Chris! *goes to link several friends to post*

I'm not too familiar with bi-polar, but with most things of this nature, the most important thing is to just be sure the person knwos you are there for em when they need you
Answer:
As Tony mentioned, bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive disorder) occurs due to an embalance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Because of the neurochemical rollercoaster, people with bipolar thus experience an extreme emotional rollercoaster where they're extremely happy and on top of the world (manic) then turn with a blink of an eye to extremely depressed and often suicidal (depressed). So yes, it's good to be there for them and show them that you care, but in the grand scheme of things, that's really of no help to them. What is of help to them is to solve the root of the problem and that's the neurochemical imbalance that's throwing them into these fits of mania and depression. You and this girl's sister and her family need to love her and be there for her and also continue to make sure she takes her medication, yes badger her if you need to, but that medication is something she needs; you also need to continue to encourage her to go to councelling.
Answer:
I don't think going to the point of badgering your cousin to continue with medication and counselling would be a good idea unless you are sure she can take it. Sometimes people can't and it backfires - I deal with something similar and I know that if the people around me weren't patient in encouraging me to continue with treatment, I would've given up entirely and insisted "I'm fine" even as my problems worsened drastically. Obviously not all people will react like I do, but you know your cousin better than we can and need to judge how best to support her in this way. You might even consider asking her how you can help; even if she doesn't know, it's a way of showing you are serious about helping, and she very well might have some suggestions after all.
About the counselling, do you know why it's not working? Do you know if she could try to see another therapist? Counselling can be done very differently between different methods of therapy, and even between therapists working with the same method. A good "fit" can make an amazing difference in the way things turn out. Also, it may help your cousin to remain motivated to continue going and seeking help; therapy can be difficult enough at times without the therapist/method being ill-suited to the patient.
Answer:
don't wanna sound rude, but i think this country is over-medicated
Answer:
Originally Posted by alteregowar don't wanna sound rude, but i think this country is over-medicated No, that didn't sound rude. Only ignorant.
In some cases, yes, that may be true. Some forms of depression, like bipolar are caused by some mismatch of chemicals in the brain and DO in fact need medication for treatment.
Answer:
as someone who is bipolar, let me see if i can clear up a few things.
Not all bi-polars have a "happy" manic state. Type II bipolars experience a manic state that is characterized by anger and irritability. Both Type I and Type II bipolars also have another interesting side affect of the manic side-- irrational behaviour. This can be characterized in many different ways. Spending way more money than normal, eating too much, drinking too much, smoking (if out of character). Etc. The manic stage is also one of the most dangerous mental states to the well being of self of *any* mental disorder, but we'll get to that later.
Alteregowar: did you know that many, many people die from bipolar disorder as a result of being unmedicated, or incorrectly medicated? It's a very tricky disease, and the medication for it is complex. Some people are incorrectly diagnosed with depression and when put on anti depressent meds go into an almost constant manic state, which can often result in death. Others are never medicated at all, and eventually lose the ability to control the states at all, and can die.
The "death" thing sounds funny, as i blame it on the disease, but it's really self inflicted death. The cause of the death is the sickness, assuredly enough, however the final means is by the person's own hand.
Do you remember me mentioning irrational behaviour during manic phases? Well, one of the side affects is that not only does suicide not sound like a bad idea, it can sound fun, or exciting, or a way to get your head to stop spinning around at 10 million miles per hour. There's a reason that almost all bipolars who choose to commit suicide do so during a manic state rather than the depressed state. It's simply a matter that the latter state is predictable and easy to deal with. The former can be downright frightening. Then there's the matter of what they call dual-phasing. Typically, you experience one phase at a time, though you may switch rapidly between the two. In a dual phase situation you are simultaneously experiencing both phases. So not only are you incredibly depressed, you're also incredibly manic (be it happy or angry) and very irrational. Not exactly a healthy combination.
I've got no desire to deal with myself as for the time being i can keep a handle on things for the most part. I don't like pills and i don't have a desire to be medicated. Not to mention the fact that the affordability factor is nil.
Some people reach a point where any semblance of control is compeletly robbed of them, and they are forced into medication.
I can not emphasize how much better people's lives are when they are medicated. I have several friends and family members who have been medicated, and have experienced very marked improvements in outlook and behaviour due to a balanced neural chemical situation.
I'm sure my life would be better medicated too, however I'm not ready for that at this point.
Just so you know.
Oh, and for stan21: just be her friend. Don't treat her differently, there's no reason to. The only change you might notice is that as she starts to take her meds regularly (most take almost 30 days to really kick in) she may become easier to deal with, and more enjoyable to be around.
FWIW of course. I simply deal with people how i deal with them, so it's hard for me to give advice in that regard.