[Dreamer11]

My best friend's dad is Bipolar...at least everyone assumes he is. He's not officially diagnosed because he refuses to go see a mental health professional. He doesn't believe anything is wrong with him and that there must be something wrong with everyone else. However, he basically has no friends and gets really irritable at a moment's notice for no apparent reason. He's been this way for at least 20 years and his mother was officially diagnosed with it.

Does it sound like Bipolar or maybe something else? Is there any way in particular I could offer encouragement or support to my best friend? She lives on her own and often worries that one of his mood swings could result in violent behavior. There have been a couple small incidents but nothing really huge.

[BlueInanna]

It could be anything or nothing. Some people are just rather cranky. It is scary to think about how people could snap and get violent, happens with and without mental illness involved. Studies I've read point mostly to drug/alcohol abuse being a big factor in bp violence, because bp people are not traditionally inherently violent.

To help your friend, she would be at some risk of bp since her grandma had the dx. I think it's nice to be there to talk, encourage exercise, good nutrition. Hope that might be of some help.

[Victoria'smom]

None of us can diagnose. My parents are BP. My best advice is always have a car to just leave when need be.