This person to my knowledge has never been diagnosed with any mental health problems, but then I don't think they have ever been to see a professional for it, either. They have always struck me as the sort of person who is very private and tries to be 'strong' by acting like they have no problems. So that is even more so why for them to be telling me this stuff makes me wonder if they are starting to really struggle. But I never know if it's right or wrong to try to push for someone to get help. I've always struggled with boundaries and knowing what is normal / not normal and feel unsure of myself in that regard. I don't want to be projecting or making them feel embarrassed or anything like that.

I remember a year when despite how intelligent they are, they started failing all of their college classes and lost their scholarship. I didn't pry for details because again this person tends to be rather private and I try to balance respecting that with caring about them. But it seemed like they went into a total depression. They expressed thinking they were doomed, wanting to give up on college completely, were convinced that their significant other was going to dump them for being a failure and like their life was over. I just tried to be supportive, bought us some beers to share and so we could hang out and just talk. But now I'm looking back and wondering if that was like a clinical depressive episode? And so are they describing hypomania now?

I'm just trying not to fly off the deep end or be melodramatic or invasive or pushy or anything like that. I am extremely protective of this person and don't want them to suffer. But I also want to respect their sovereignty and their right to make their own choices. I might be making a huge deal out of nothing. I don't know.