I have a very close friend who has bipolar I. She does not have a computer, and has been asking my support and advice. She lives in a "senior and disabled" apartment building. For 15 years she was friend with a woman I'll call Betty. They live in the same apartment building. I'll call my friend Amanda. Betty also has bipolar. Amanda works very hard to manager her disability. She goes to a psychiatrist and therapist regularly, as she has done for years and years. Betty does nothing of the sort.

A couple of years ago, Betty turned against Amanda. Betty started screaming at Amanda, calling her terrible names, blocking her bath in the elevator so Amanda could not escape from Betty and leave the elevator. At one time, Betty ran over Amanda's foot with her electric wheel chair cart. Unfortunately, Amanda ALWAYS reacts in kind. One time, Betty hit Amanda (not for the first time) and Amanda hit Betty in the face and broke her glasses. That resulted in each of them filing for a restraining order against the other one. Amanda was not granted the restraining order by the judge but Betty got her restraining order against Amanda. Both of them were given 6 months notice to move out unless they stopped harassing each other.

My dear friend Amanda swears she never starts the fights.

Yesterday she called and was again very upset. Betty had again blocked Amanda's way out of the elevator. Betty screamed ugly insults. Amanda screamed back that Betty was a "fat, ugly, crippled *****." Amanda says Betty is basically trying to find Amanda in the building and harass her.

I urged Amanda to go to her therpapist. I know they've been working on Amanda's anger issues for years anyway. And I encouraged her, again, that Amanda do the "No Contact Rule," and never to even look at Betty. I gave her other "good advice," too, that I have learned over the years.

BUT WHO AM I TO GIVE HER ADVICE??? You all know what a terrible time I have with rage about electronics!!!

Both of us plan to ask our doctors for med changes.

What can my friend to to get this horrible woman off her back?

Remember -- they live in the same 5 story building. Plus, a small group of them have meals at a long table in the building. They sit at opposite ends of the table.