I usually try not to get into really serious things but I have had bipolar reach its hand out and touch my life.
My best friend of 17 years has bipolar, she jokes and says she is literally crazy with that and her other issues but is a great person with a big heart. She recently got off S.S. and took advantage of the state free program to be a cna, graduated first in her class and has just opened up her wings. I have been so proud of her. Whatever the reasoning for why all that mattered was she did it. She became self sufficient, a great mom and an even better friend. I guess she was too happy. She all of a sudden went manic and ended up in houlton maine which is like an hour and half drive?? She made it out and home in 20 days which is a record I guess, she says years ago, 6 maybe? Or 8? Idk but she usually takes months to get back to her normal thing. Tragedy wasn’t done with us yet about 2 weeks, if that after she came home her four year old’s father passed away completely unexpectedly in his sleep. The doctor’s have taken all this into account with adjusting her medications and have totally failed. She is no longer my bubbly energized friend. She is so lethargic and quite, no more out throwing the balls around with her boys, no going to the gym at 4 am everyday, she’s having a hard time at work even. I miss her so much. I am trying to of course be as supportive as I can be in hopes they will keep messing with her medications so we can get her back. It blows my mind how all this happened to her because she was too happy, her life was going to good. Her medications stopped working is what the drs say but it was like piping a switch.
I have never experienced this before, I had moved away for a few years last time but those two times are the only times it has happened to her and last time it was things were to bad so it’s a different and I don’t see it but she says she’s glad I wasn’t here last time.
Tracey in Maine 
When we wish to be a good friend, we just need to listen, also behind the words and offer our support to the one in need, maybe to take care of the kids sometimes, so they get a little time for themselves too.
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Oh her kids are just like my own, they come in and out of my house all the time. I am not going to give up on her, I just miss her. She helped me so much with her bubbly and always excitable attitude. The sun used to follow her and now they are clouds.
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Good to hear, that you take over with her kids Tracey. One day the sun will shine again for your friend, all takes time.
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Hi Tracey. Like your friend, I was diagnosed, and it has been tumultuous. I spent a quarter of the last 3 years in hospital, bouncing between major episodes which became life threatening. Your friend is lucky to have someone like you in her corner. I lost my sister and my oldest friend of over 20yrs, because they couldn’t cope with the illness. Bless you for your support and not giving up on her. The pain of losing close people when you are truly unwell is aweful. Hang in there, it means more than you can know.
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She is very lucky to have you as a friend. Welcome to the world of Bipolar. This is what Bipolar is and does. You see someone that seems so happy and full of life and they are at the time and they feel like they can conquer the world and then it can reach a point of explosion of mania and after mania hits then usually well almost always follows the BIG crash and that is what it sounds like happened. Her world crashed and the floor fell out from below her. I have so many highs and have felt like I can too conquer the world and I no longer need my SSDI however I have learned the nature of this illness and know that one day when I least expect it my brain chemistry will get messed up and change…..so I have to stay on my SSDI so I still can have it. It is a horrible illness but after time we can adjust and find a new us… a new identity that will make us happy to be who we are. Just listen to your friend let her know you care like it sounds like you are. Be her life support. She needs you and her brain chemistry will eventually turn around and adjust and switch for the better. This is Bipolar. It is hell. It really is but we can still live a good life…. just have to find the new normal and accept what is and who we are. She needs to celebrate herself and realize how strong she is as she is a bipolar survivor. Celebrate her!!! Thank you for being such a good friend and being there for her during this very horrific difficult time. She can make it through this though. Prayers for you and her! Hugs too!!! BTW read as much as you can about Bipolar and that will help and they have support groups for you as well. Just listen to her… no matter what her worlds are….
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