How to Deal With Friends With Bi-Polar Disorder & Manic Depression

Bipolar disorder and manic depression are the same mental disorders; the only difference is the name. This mental illness is unique as there are two distinct "phases" of it: the depressed phase and manic phase. Helping your friend with bipolar disorder get treatment and cope with the illness is crucial.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand more about your friends' bipolar disorder and manic depression by conducting library and internet research and asking questions; go to the Mayo Clinic's or American Psychological Association's website for help. Learning more about the disorder and its two phases of mania and depression should help you become more patient and compassionate. A few symptoms of the mania phase include increased activity or energy level, elevated mood and aggression; symptoms of the depressed phase include withdrawal or isolation from others, fatigue, increased sleep and loss of interest.

• 2

  Explain and try to convince your friend with bipolar disorder or manic depression that he needs to seek treatment by visiting a psychiatrist or medical professional. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder may not recognize the problem, but getting it under control with psychiatric medication and other therapies helps.

• 3

  Find a depression or bipolar disorder support group that your friend can attend; offer to attend the meetings with your friend if she is apprehensive or nervous about it. Support groups help individuals realize that others suffer from the same disorders and symptoms and they also can help with treatment steps and life skills for coping with both the mania and depression phases of bipolar disorder.

• 4

  Take your friend with bipolar disorder out on fun events at least once a week if you have the time; shopping trips at malls and movie theater entertainment are a couple examples. Someone who has bipolar disorder experiencing the depressed phase of the disorder may be feeling extreme sadness and loneliness and getting out may help.

• 5

  Help your friend find ways to reduce stress in his life. Stress mixed with bipolar disorder or any mental illness often makes the situation worse. Help out with weekly errands, enlist the help of family members, and try to help unload any burdens that your friend with manic depression is carrying.