hi..

As a friend... I mean a friend of all different kinds of people IRL... I just try to "go with the flow"...

I have a question....

One of my friends is bi-polar.... he goes in "spurts"... where he is friendly.... "in contact".... and then "wham"... he leaves me an e-mail... says he is going into a mixed state... and then I lose contact with him for a week.... and before that he is... ahhh... very, very irratable...

I worry.. worry... worry...

and then... "wham".. he is back... and life goes on...

sooo,,,,, my only question... is should I stop worrrying so much... and just let him come back... into friendship when he is in a good place.....

I mean... just before he cuts off contact... he indcates he is going to hurt himself.. and stuff like that...

sooo.. am not sure what to do...

try to force contact... leave him alone... send cheery e-mails..

just looking for some clues... on what I should be doing to be a good friend...

Thanks....

[Bellax3]

Well, there's not really a one size fits all answer to that. What I mean is, the right answer to your question depends on what your friend is like, so the best advice, I would say is to talk to him. tell him how you feel, and tell him that you don't want to lose contact with him every time he goes into a bad place.
I hope this helps,
<33 Bella

[iamtwilight]

What Bella said is a good start. Also, remember that some things are beyond your control - you don't have to lose your sanity over him. :-) That means.. Do what you can and want to. But when things get tough for you, try to get him under professional care.

From Katie who tried to save a bipolar friend who was beyond her reach, and has drained her friends and family because of being bipolar herself.