[lovesummer]

My daughter's new boyfriend who is 19 is exhibiting textbook classic symptoms of a Manic episode. She had no idea he was Bipolar. (or even if he is diagnosed) In the wake of the past 48 hours he has lost his athletic scholarship and dropped out of college. His conversations with her are so grandiose, fragmented with racing wild thoughts. She does not know how to respond to what he is saying to her. Knowing what he is saying is clearly out of touch with reality and due to the episode, does she agree with him? Does she try and change the subject? Does she try and tell him what he is saying can't possibly happen or be true? Is she in personal danger at all? Please I need some advise, she nor I have personally ever dealt with anyone with this disorder before and I am frightened for my daughter's safety.

[searching4732]

Any chance she could convince him to go to the hospital for an evaluation? (Probably not, if he's manic, but it's worth a shot.) Not sure where you live, but in most places there's some kind of a mental health act that allows a hospital to admit someone voluntarily if they meet certain criteria (danger to self or others, suffering from a mental disorder, unlikely or unwilling to stay in the facility involuntarily.)
If he's doing anything really dangerous you could get the police involved, they can usually take a person to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation-- but again, he would have to be exhibiting dangerous behaviour (to himself or others.)

[Wild Coyote]

Your daughter needs to take good care of herself first.

Not knowing him well ("new boyfriend"), she might do well to decide to see him only in safe, public places. Who really knows what's going on with him -- could be drugs, bipolar, other?

He may benefit from his friends clearly telling him he needs help, asking him to go to the ER.

If there's a way to alert his family, doing so may be helpful. They may have some background info. which may be helpful and/or they may be able to appeal to him.

Thank you for your concern for your daughter. I am sure his behavior is confusing to her. I'm sure she'd like to respond in a helpful manner. Yet, who knows what's truly going on with this young man? He really needs an urgent medical/psych assessment.

My heart goes out to all parties involved.


Wild Coyote