What You Need to Know About a Bipolar Teen

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People with bipolar disorder can feel strong mood swings. If your friend is feeling awful or making bad decisions, you may exist worried and confused about how to help. Here are some strategies for helping a friend with bipolar disorder.

1. one

   Understand the nuts of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a condition that affects mood and behavior. Sometimes, the person will seem to have a "normal" mood. Other times, your friend may feel extremely pitiful, or extremely hyper. They tin't control their mood swings, and managing their own beliefs might be hard for them. Information technology's important to understand that bipolar disorder is a mental illness, non a choice, and they're doing the all-time they tin.

   • Some moodiness is normal for teenage years. But mentally healthy teens typically don't put themselves in danger, hurt themselves, seriously consider suicide, break laws, get into fights, or destroy relationships. Teens with bipolar disorder can engage in "farthermost behaviors," often multiple times.^[1] This doesn't mean that the teen is a bad person. Information technology means they need aid.^[2]
   • Medication tin help with bipolar disorder. Some people are basically "cured" every bit long equally they stay on medication. Others will all the same experience symptoms, but maybe not every bit strongly.

2. 2

   Know the signs of mania. During a manic or hypomanic episode, your friend might seem very hyperactive. They might talk and move fast, which can be a little bewildering. You lot might notice some or all of these:^[3]

   • Talking very fast
   • Interrupting y'all often
   • Being impulsive
   • Feeling invincible, or very confident
   • Using poor judgment (like spending besides much money or doing something dangerous)
   • Not sleeping much
   • Beingness unusually optimistic
   • Getting lots of practice

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3. 3

   Know the signs of a depressive episode. During a depressive episode, your friend may feel very sad and tired. Hither are some things you might notice:^[iv]

   • Existence unusually pessimistic
   • Exhaustion
   • Moving slowly
   • Feeling bad most themselves
   • Feeling hopelessness or despair
   • Wanting to hurt themselves

4. four

   Redirect them if they want to engage in risky behavior. During a manic or hypomanic episode, your friend might want to do things that seem actually dangerous or unwise. You might feel worried about how to proceed your friend safety. Remind them of the consequences, and so propose an activity that'due south much safer. Try to focus them on the safe activity, and how much fun it could be, instead.

   • "I'yard not comfortable letting you go up onto the roof of my house. I know it sounds like a good idea now, only I'm worried that you lot could get hurt if you fell. I'll feel much amend if nosotros hang out here instead."
   • "No, I don't think running across the busy street is a good thought. There'due south a lot of traffic, and you could get hurt. How nearly nosotros run around in the field instead? I'll race you."
   • "Yous've never tried drugs before. Yous could get hurt. Remember how you said you wanted to endeavor painting? Let's do that!"
   • "I don't retrieve now is a good time to go shopping in expensive stores. I'm trying to relieve money. Let's go to the gym instead! I know you lot like working out. Maybe you could teach me some techniques."

5. 5

   Gear up limits equally needed. During an episode, your friend may have impaired judgment, and they may not realize how their deportment might affect you or themselves. They also may be unable to take a hint. Be believing with them. Set gentle, firm limits.

   • "I can't talk after 9 pm considering I demand to sleep."
   • "Please don't ship me graphic pictures. I don't handle those well, and I could pass out."
   • "I tin can talk to you lot sometimes, just I also have to do homework and take care of chores and family stuff. I want to encourage you to reach out to other friends also."
   • "I have to written report this evening and I can't talk. Maybe your mom, your blood brother, or one of your online friends is available."
   • "I'm worn out right now, and I need some alone fourth dimension. Nosotros can talk tomorrow."

6. half-dozen

   Be understanding about unusual behavior. Your friend may act differently when they're having a manic or depressive episode. Avoid taking this personally. It'due south unremarkably not most you. It may just exist the result of their mood or impaired judgment.

   • If they really do injure your feelings, endeavour bringing it up during a calm time. Assume that they might not have known whatever better. Make "I" statements like "I feel hurt and uncomfortable when you joke almost my nose. Please don't do information technology again."

7. 7

   Be cautious about treating them differently. Your friend is withal a teenager, with feelings and goals and talents of their own. They deserve kindness and respect, merely like anyone else.

   • Don't patronize them.
   • Avoid pity. There's a difference betwixt being kind and pitying someone, and pitying them may simply make them feel worse.^[5]
   • Don't treat them like a child. They're nonetheless a teenager, even when they're having an episode.
   • Avert judging them.
   • Don't tell them how to feel. Comments like "cheer upward" or "calm downwards" just tend to make people experience more isolated.^{[half dozen]} Try to validate their feelings, instead of dismissing them.

8. 8

   Be gently encouraging about any efforts to become assistance. If your friend isn't getting all the support they demand, and then whatever steps they have towards getting help are a skillful thing. Be encouraging, without pushing too difficult or talking over them. (Y'all don't want to brand them experience smothered.^[seven] ) Here are some examples of things you could say:

   • "Would you feel comfy writing an e-mail to your doctor to tell her about what you're going through right at present? Perhaps she could help."
   • "I'm glad to hear you asked to try medication. That was brave of you to speak up for yourself, peculiarly since I know your dad hasn't been taking your concerns seriously. I really hope the new meds help you."
   • "Sometimes, when yous're in a state similar this, I don't know how to help you. I don't desire yous to injure yourself. Practise you think that calling a hotline could help? I could sit with you while you call."
   • "That was brave of you to tell your psychologist. That'south one step taken towards helping things get ameliorate."

9. nine

   Get assist if you're worried that your friend is in danger. If your friend wants to hurt themselves, use drugs, or attempt suicide, this is a serious problem. Keeping them safe takes priority over keeping a secret. If your friend tells you that they want to harm themselves, try saying:

   • "I care well-nigh yous, and I can't proceed this a secret. Do you want to tell someone, do you desire me to help you lot tell someone, or would you like me to tell someone for you?"

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1. 1

   Offering specific assistance. Sometimes, the best fashion to help is just to be at that place for them. Effort making a plan to assistance them get through this. Be specific, so you tin stick to information technology.^[eight]

   • "I know you lot're scared to tell the doctor about what you lot're going through. Would you like me to come along for moral back up, or would you adopt to go alone?"
   • "Yous mentioned that keeping your room make clean is hard for you. I could come up over for an 60 minutes and help y'all clean. We could play some music, and maybe get become ice foam after."
   • "I tin can talk to y'all on the phone for an hour or so every Saturday night."
   • "I know things are difficult with your parents. I talked to my mom and she said you could slumber over every other Friday night."

2. ii

   Validate their feelings . Y'all tin listen and be there for them, even if you don't concord with or understand everything they say. Let them know that it's okay for them to feel the way they feel. This can help them process their emotions and start feeling a picayune calmer. Here are some examples of things to say:

   • "I'thousand sorry to hear that y'all're going through such a rough fourth dimension."
   • "Yous look excited! Want to tell me what'south going on?"
   • "Yes, that does sound frustrating."
   • "It must be hard, feeling so alienated and unsupported by your family."

3. 3

   Suggest activities that yous think might be fun or adept for your friend.

   • The arts can be a practiced mode for people to limited themselves. Inquiry suggests that people with bipolar disorder tin be quite artistic,^[ix] so your friend might be good at it as well.
   • Building friendships is important. Gently encourage your friend to hang out with people, and build a strong support network.

4. 4

   Remember your own limits. You can help your friend, but y'all aren't responsible for their moods or their condom. People are the bosses of themselves, and no one else. Y'all can't rescue your friend from their disorder. Yous can only help.

   • You can't cascade from an empty cup. If you lot're physically or emotionally exhausted, and then yous can't help your friend very well. Take a suspension. Practice something to recharge.

5. v

   Go on being a adept friend. You're a friend, not a therapist or babysitter or annihilation else. Do fun things with your friend, help each other through tough times, and make good memories. That's what friendship is about.

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• Brand them feel comfy. Give them hugs and be supportive.

• Exist patient, kind, and understanding. Larn to speedily adjust to changing moods.

• If yous're worried that your friend might exist suicidal, it's okay to ask. Asking won't make them want to do information technology.^[x]

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• Although bipolar disorder usually comes with depression and suicidal tendencies, threats of suicide, drug abuse, self mutilation/harming, etc are not to be ignored. Tell a trusted adult. This is not betraying their trust. This is helping them as a caring friend.

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