how to help someone with manic depression, who doesn't necessarily want to be treated?

Question

I think I have manic depression. I don't know what to do?

Answer 1

Bipolar: Support, guidance, educate, reassure, role-model. Finally, acceptance of what you cannot change.

Answer 2

Agree w Dr. Ali.: It is hard to help someone who is unwilling to accept help. Call 911 if the person becomes a risk to self or others. Work to maintain support while simultaneously keeping healthy boundaries.

Answer 3

They have to want it: Your friend has to want therapy and medication, and all you can really do is encourage him/her to seek both and engage deeply and meaningfully in the therapeutic process. You simply cannot do it for him/her, much as you'd like to. You can either be his/her friend or therapist. You cannot be both, and even though you want to see him/her get better, trying to be both simply will not work.

Answer 4

MANIC DEPRESSION: If someone is in a full-blown manic or depressed state it is advisable to bring that person to an emergency room to have a consultation with a Psychiatrist. A person in that mental state is not capable of making a logical decision in their best interest and needs to be cared for. After the correct medication is prescribed then psychotherapy can begin with a Clinical Psychologist.

Answer 5

Yes: Yes some patients with bipolar have little or no mania episodes and can have mostly just depression.

Answer 6

No: By definition, there must be at least one episode of mania or hypomania for someone to have manic depression or bipolar illness. However, quite a few of the people with this illness spend more time being depressed and have their quality of life effected more by the depressive symptoms they suffer.

Answer 7

There are different: Forms of manic depression (now called bipolar disorder). You could have a less intense "up" episode called "hypomania" and never experience actual "mania".

Answer 8

Just depression: Manic depression without mania is just depression, or, bipolar II disorder, where the depression phases are severe, but the hypomanic phases are not quite so severe.

Answer 9

Learn and support: Learn everything you can about it and support in any way possible the treatment plan for your family member. The illness is not their fault (mostly genetic) but the treatment is their responsibility. Help them to seek out and follow treatment as much as they are able. Children or handicapped folks need more help than others yet can be surprisingly self motivated to get better and stay better.

Answer 10

Learn, love, do: Learn as much as u can about bipolar disorder (bpd), attend doctor & therapist visits if allowed, join support groups (balanced mind foundation- www.Balancedmind.Org). Ask person with bpd to determine methods to deescalate or cool down triggers to explosions. Give input to docs to help manage meds. See national institute mental health for great info www.Nimh.Nih.Gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder.

Answer 11

Learn and understand: A good start is to learn and understand about it.

Answer 12

Encourage: Treatment compliance! one of the most difficult problems is that the manias feel so good. It's almost like an addiction. And treatment prevents the manias from happening. Particularly young people have a problem with that.

Answer 13

Bipolar: Prognosis is guarded without treatment.

Answer 14

Serious: There are different types of manic depression, some with more dire outcomes than others. There are two major problems if not addressed. First, the active periods of both mania and of depression adversely affect both career and relationships. These effects accumulate. Second, as one ages the manic and depressive phases "fuse" into a mixed state with a high suicide risk.

Answer 15

Serious: In a worst case scenario, the person could die, either by their own hand or because of extreme/psychotic behaviors while manic. Undiagnosed, unmedicated, and untreated bipolar disorder can tear families apart and destroy marriages.

Answer 16

Depends : The classic symptoms go from a deep depression to high highs where the person might spend money foolishly or lavishly, not sleep, talk loud and fast , and might be anxious or paranoid. Not all people have classic symptoms so it is important for a professional to diagnose the disorder

Answer 17

Bipolar DO Symptoms: Mania or hypomania 1 :aggression, agitation, v judgment ; impulse control, distractability, rapid thoughts ; speech, ^ libido, v sleep, spending sprees, high risk behaviors, elation, ^ physical activity or psychosis. When depressed 1 may have low mood, v energy level, v concentration, amotivation, ^ or v sleeping, ^ or v in appetite, poor self esteem, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, lack.

Answer 18

Mood swings: Manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder, is characterized by swings of mood, often extreme, and these swings can happen slowly or quickly, even several times during a day, especially if left unmedicated. Manic phases can even become psychotic. Imagine waking up feeling as though you can beat up the universe with your pinky finger, then a short time later feeling suicidal and despondent.

Answer 19

Bipolar: Manic depression is a mood disorder that presents with extreme highs & lows, with at least few weeks of manic phases (abnormally elevated mood & energy level) alternating with few or more weeks of depressed phases (sad, guilty, hopeless/helpless, changes in sleep/appetite/energy level). Any phase can be severe enough to experience delusions or hallucinations.

Answer 20

Bipolar: Support, guidance, educate, reassure, role-model.

Answer 21

Common problem: When people are manic, they often don't see the need for intervention and believe that other people are unnecessarily complaining about them or prodding them. Most manic-depressive patients only seek help when they get depressed, but that is almost certain to follow a manic period. Education about the illness is essential. There are many popular books about the subject now.

Answer 22

He has to want it: Your friend has to want therapy and medication, and all you can really do is encourage him to seek both and engage deeply and meaningfully in the therapeutic process. You simply cannot do it for him, much as you'd like to. You can either be his friend or his therapist. You cannot be both, and even though you want to see him get better, trying to be both simply will not work.

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