Respecting Boundaries
For the friend - please try and bear with us if we're having a hard time with boundaries - bipolar is almost like having all your inhibitions taken away very quickly, and we may not have the logic to process that what we are doing is not socially acceptable or appropriate. In turn, please also respect our boundaries - try and recognition the difference between a genuine good mood and the onset of mania or hypomania, as we may not like being monitored constantly.
Intervention in Times of Crisis
For the bipolar individual - at the certain points during a period of illness, we may not recognize that we are unwell at all. However this is due to the distortion that a mood disturbance or psychotic symptoms could create, and it is likely that those around you are more likely to recognize when you are heading for a potential crisis. Try and listen to their concerns, and respect that they will be prepared to intervene if they think it is necessary.
For the friend - during an episode we may feel as though we are being babied, and are not allowed to 'do anything fun'. We may also feel as though there is no hope for us, we are a burden, and that the world would be better off without us in it. If you become extremely worried about the bipolar individual, then do not hesitate to intervene. An example of a time where you may need to intervene is if you believe your friend has discontinued medication without their clinician or other mental health worker knowing. Try to obtain the details of the relevant mental health team, or even take them to the nearest hospital. It is always better to err on the side of caution, so have faith in your decision.
The most important factor in a bipolar friendship is understanding, something at the core of all relationships. The bipolar person must try to understand the friend's right to intervention if they feel help is needed, and must try to understand how their behaviour might impact those around them negatively for example. The friend would help by trying to understand as much as they can about the disorder, especially the way in which it would show in their friend, and being understanding of how slowly we might be able to repair the damage post episode.
