My sister has been diagnosed with acute bi-polar

What does being acute bi-polar mean? I've always been diagnosed with depression so I'm not sure what acute bi-polar means for my sister. I think it means there are mood swings? Like one minute she's up and happy and very excitable and then she's extremely sad with no energy?
I'm worried about her, she's new to the whole mental health thing, 'cause like the rest of my family she's been in denial, people can be so mean to people with a diagnosis of a mental disorder. I hope she's going to be okay.
Is there anything I can do to make her feel better?

One most important thing, is let her know you are there for her. You can even offer to drive with her to her pdoc appts., so in between her session, she'll have the comfort someone is there, cause it can be scarey sometimes.
You can be there for her in a sense, to encourage her to stick with treatment and pdoc appts.,contact doc if any unusual side effects of meds start to occur.
Sometimes it's also a good idea to elect yourself or suggest to her that you become a laison,in case she should ever feel, or you feel she is fallen very deep into a possible tragic depression, this applies to the opposite too, if she starts to show signs of manic episodic behaviour, sometimes it can just be mild mania but it's best to safeguard against an oncoming,full blown episode.
You'll need to sort of custom design what is comfortable for both,some books,literature and support group meetings for those who care for someone with a mental disorder(s) can be of help with suggestions. If she allows you, her pdoc may also be able to offer some suggestions.
I know it can be confusing and overwhelming, I've been on both ends, my oldest brother is BP-I and I've been a huge support to him and his wife. I was DXed with BP-II(mild) and ADD(mild) so I have a good understanding of how both ends can be.
I hope this was of some help.
Please take care now,
DE

Acute (Medicine).

1) Having a rapid onset and following a short but severe course: acute disease.

2) Afflicted by a disease exhibiting a rapid onset followed by a short, severe course: acute patients.

Given the preceeding definition, I would think it means that your sister is in the midst of an episode, probably mania, as that's when pdocs tend to diagnose bipolar.

The best thing you can do for her is to be there when she needs you, and and to realize that she may do or things you perceive as harmful or hurtful that she wouldn't say or mean when she is "normal" (stable).

So, the best thing for now is to support her as best you can...I wish you well.

Thank you Darkeyes and DaveyJones. She lives in another state but I can call her to support her and to let her know that I am there for her. She doesn't like talking on the phone, though, so I guess I'll have to write to her then.

Just wanted to add that many of us bipolars tend to isolate...you may want to be gently and sensitively persistent in your communication, Jax. I know there were times when I was dying for human contact, but it wasn't there, but I didn't know how to go get it.

Just a thought.

DJ

Excellent point, Davy. We especially tend to isolate when we're in trouble.

Jan

excellent thought, Davey.............it is SO easy to isolate when we are depressed and ill.........

Davey,
I can relate to the isolation thing you mentioned, I even hate answering the phone, I just don't want to talk to anyone.