My best friend has been diagnosed with depression, but lately has been showing signs of bipolar. The last few days she's been really hyper, talking quickly, staying up late, feeling irritable or really happy, having racing thoughts, etc. She was having thoughts of harming herself during this elevated period. This alternates (within the same day) with numb, depressed moods. To me and from my experience it sounds like she is rapid cycling... She does not want to see a doctor because when they diagnosed her depression, they ruled out bipolar. They put her on antidepressants, which I've heard can cause rapid cycling in bipolar people. She thinks the doctors will think she's faking it or hospitalize her again.

What do you guys think? This sounds like bipolar, right? Is there anything I can do to help her? I'm really concerned about her, especially since she had thoughts of hurting herself when she was ''up".