You can't force a Diagnosed BiPolar person to get help unless you put them in the hospital on a 5150 hold. And the only way that can be done is if they are a danger to themselves or others, and that will be determined at the ER.

BiPolars are somewhat like Addicts, they have to want to get help before they do. You can't hold they down and shove pills down their throats. They have to willingly go to the Pdoc, they have to willingly work with the Pdoc and they have to willingly take their meds each day. A BiPolar's med regimen often consists of multiple medications that have to be taken multiple times a day at exact times, it's a complicated routine. It doesn't work if the person is not willingly going to follow it. And it can be dangerous for a Suicidal person to have a cache of meds at their disposal when they aren't on the program of treating their BiPolar....you've just given them the weapon to complete their Suicide.

Treating BiPolar is something that has to be done by the Patient and it has to be done willingly.

If your that concerned for your Sister's health, take her to the ER and let the Professionals decide it she's a danger to herself and needs to be put Inpatient.

Take care,
Kat

Well I'm not talking about prying her mouth open and yes I leave that call to professional people. I'm looking for ways to encourage her to seek out that help, get by day by day. This is the advice I want

Hi your sister is lucky to have you. As far as getting her some help that is going to be a hard onebut luckily not impossible. First and which is huge she has to see a psychiatrist like kat said it has to be a multi approach. Counseling is a must but without having meds to help everything out it will be like fixing one tire when allfour tires are flat. It takes lots of different approaches. Does she have a psychiatrist it sounds like she should anyways. There is such a stigma about psychiatrist that you need to make sure she realizes if you break your leg and need therapy to get your balance back pdoc is the same it helps get your balance. The more everyone is open to psych meds and that road the less stigma she will feel. I specifically remember when my friends did an almost intervention and they all talked about how they have difficulty and take meds. BUT and this is a huge but it’s not the same as taking a depression med and you see the sun again like Kat said it has to be a multi approach but with all the love you have for her that is a good start. It is a long road to travel and we all ride in the ditch sometimes but hopefully by that time she will realize what it takes to stay on the road. I’m sure your sister hasn’t given you a hug but I will....hang in there and most importantly don’t give up hope. In the end it is going to take your sister to reach out for help but use just positive reinforcements will help. Hugs and I will send out prayers your way take care of all involved

You can support her everyday, be there for her, love her, care about and for her.

But...and it's a big BUT....we BiPolars tend to not think we need help until we've fallen down to the bottom of the well and just can't figure out how to get out without help. And that's usually when we've ruined our career/job, lost our friends, have no one left to cry to and are just ready to give up.

That's generally how the first step of getting help for this particular disease goes.

Often times being "over caring and helpful" on a day to day basis will just run her off.

I've been BiPolar for 29 years, I've mentored other BiPolars, I've worked in the Mental Health field.

This Particular Disease is not one that people run to get help for in the beginning, because then they have to accept that they have it....and that is the last thing they want to do. Because once you accept that your BiPolar, that's it...it's a lifetime Disease with no cure, only treatment and management.

All you can do it is support your sister, remind her that the resources and Dr.'s are there, the rest she has to do. But...if she is truly suicidal, putting her in the hospital on a 5150 may be the best thing for her, and it might just save her life for the long run.....some people need a jolt to get started on the journey.

Take care,
Kat

Kat is right. That is exactly how I was. It took me years after I was diagnosed Bipolar to even accept the diagnosis, let alone get help. Now I’m on my way and on medications and feeling way better and hopefully I will no longer ‘create scenes’ although that seems like a lot to ask for.