How to Help Someone During a Bipolar Manic Stage
Dealing with bipolar disorder can be disastrous and destroy relationships with friends and family members. Mania can bring out destructive behaviors and attitudes that an undiagnosed bipolar person will be unable to account for or even recognize in himself. Being a friend, family member or lover to a bipolar victim can be challenging---especially during manias. You may be unable or unsure how to help your friend. Help is available, however, from many sources and includes information about the way you interact with the bipolar person during a mania.
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Instructions
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Assess the severity of the mania, if possible. If the person in a manic state is someone you have known for a long time intimately, try and decide how bad this particular mania is. Delusions (false beliefs), paranoia, intense anger or euphoria may be signs that the mania is particularly strong and serious.
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Do not try to try and talk the person out of her mania. Generally, an undiagnosed bipolar person in a strong mania does not realize that she is acting strangely. Contradicting the intense emotions the manic person has can spark volatile reactions in some bipolar people. Mania is not always characterized by intense euphoria; it can also refer to intense anger or irritability. Instead, try to speak calmly to the person, and if reasoning cannot help the manic person, then try to simply be impartial to any strange beliefs or claims that the bipolar person may adopt. Delusions of conspiracies, hidden enemies or feelings of superiority or invincibility may all be brought on by euphoria, intense anger or paranoia. Try not to overly affirm or deny these beliefs simply because a bipolar person believes them when he goes into a mania.
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Call an emergency mental health hotline or the bipolar person's psychiatrist, if available. If the bipolar person is currently in treatment and seeing a psychiatrist or health professional, the health-care provider may give out a card with emergency contacts listed on them. If possible, call the psychiatrist or health-care provider the bipolar person is seeing and schedule an emergency appointment.
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Drive the bipolar person to the hospital emergency room if everything else fails and the bipolar person is ready to go and aware of the severity of his condition. Oftentimes, when mentally ill people lapse into manias or dangerous conditions, a mental health hotline or professional will advise friends and family of the individual to take him to the E.R. The E.R. can evaluate the mentally ill person and usually has contacts with psychiatrists, mental hospitals and psychiatric wards that could provide temporary treatment until the bipolar person stabilizes.
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Tips & Warnings
Be supportive of the bipolar individual.
Talk calmly and remain calm with the bipolar person.
Remember that E.R. or professional help may be expensive.
Do not be combative.
Do not fuel bipolar mania by being negative
Do not be an enabler during manias by giving the bipolar person cash or help in possibly illegal situations.
