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Help me understand my bipolar friend
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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 77002" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>Not sure if this will help you understand your friend of not.</p><p></p><p>I did some research a few years back when we were looking at bipolar as a diagnosis for my difficult child. Quite a number of sources seemed to feel that the manic phase can actually create pathways in the brain. The more manic phases you have, the more likely you are to have another one. It is almost addicting. People with bipolar will actually crave the manic state. Many of them either go off their medications to get this "high" or seek triggers to get it. Much like drug addicts do things to get high. And hte longer you have the disease, the more likely you are to seek out hte highs.</p><p></p><p>It is one reason why ruling out bipolar is recommended to be the FIRST thing we do when our kids show signs of mental illness. Rather than starting stimulants or antidepressants (both of which can make bipolar worse), starting with a good mood stabilizer can make all the difference in the world. It is a shame that so many docs will write a prescription for controlled substances for little kids, but won't take the time to figure out if bipolar is part of the mix. With a stimulant or antidepressant on board, it is very hard to see if a mood stabilizer is doing its' job.</p><p></p><p>I think that holding your friend accountable, esp with a show coming up, is probably very important. He sounds like a wonderful friend in many ways. Maybe by pushing for some accountability you could end up being a better friend. LIke the doctor in the show "House" said last week, "If he had tuberculosis I would still treat him. But I wouldn't let him cough on me." In this case you can be his friend and work with him, but you don't have to tolerate disrespectful or unproductive behavior.</p><p></p><p>Hugs,</p><p></p><p>Susie</p><p></p><p>by the way, do you have any of your art posted on a website? I would love to see some of it&gt;</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 77002, member: 1233"] Not sure if this will help you understand your friend of not. I did some research a few years back when we were looking at bipolar as a diagnosis for my difficult child. Quite a number of sources seemed to feel that the manic phase can actually create pathways in the brain. The more manic phases you have, the more likely you are to have another one. It is almost addicting. People with bipolar will actually crave the manic state. Many of them either go off their medications to get this "high" or seek triggers to get it. Much like drug addicts do things to get high. And hte longer you have the disease, the more likely you are to seek out hte highs. It is one reason why ruling out bipolar is recommended to be the FIRST thing we do when our kids show signs of mental illness. Rather than starting stimulants or antidepressants (both of which can make bipolar worse), starting with a good mood stabilizer can make all the difference in the world. It is a shame that so many docs will write a prescription for controlled substances for little kids, but won't take the time to figure out if bipolar is part of the mix. With a stimulant or antidepressant on board, it is very hard to see if a mood stabilizer is doing its' job. I think that holding your friend accountable, esp with a show coming up, is probably very important. He sounds like a wonderful friend in many ways. Maybe by pushing for some accountability you could end up being a better friend. LIke the doctor in the show "House" said last week, "If he had tuberculosis I would still treat him. But I wouldn't let him cough on me." In this case you can be his friend and work with him, but you don't have to tolerate disrespectful or unproductive behavior. Hugs, Susie by the way, do you have any of your art posted on a website? I would love to see some of it> [/QUOTE]
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