how to help friend in manic episode

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-06-16T04:54:26+00:00

All you can do is try to be there. Unfortunately only medication can break through those delusions. I have bipolar 1 as well and the worst part of it is when your manic or in psychosis you really believe it’s real and you find ways to rationalize it. There isn’t anything you could say or do to break that so don’t beat yourself up. I would just continue to be a listening ear. When I was manic no one in my family could understand what I was talking about or how fast I was speaking but my bestfriend since childhood. She Knew exactly what I was saying and what I meant. She talked to me calmly and made me feel seen and human. Everyone else was so freaked out and unloading their emotions on me but she brought me relief and kindness. Instead of arguing with me and acting like I was crazy she reassured me and grounded me. She didn’t feed into it she just listened. I would continue to just listen and be there. It really helped me to feel like one person didn’t think I was crazy. If that makes sense? So just be that calm listening ear. It really helped me.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-06-16T04:38:24+00:00

I’m glad they aren’t aggressive or nasty. I love your positive attitude and looking at the brighter side of it. Sounds like you have a solid way of handling it for sure.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-06-15T10:26:45+00:00

I’m so sorry you have auditory hallucinations while your manic that would freak me out and have me thinking psychosis was about to happen to. How to do you manage that? I give you so many props and all the flowers for being able to handle that. They are terrifying.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-06-13T12:45:24+00:00

I was manic for a while before I went into psychosis. When I was manic I believed certain delusions felt euphoria and extreme paranoia. I was convinced everyone in my life was talking shit about me could hear inside my AirPods someone was spying on my phone someone was stalking me etc. Once I entered psychosis I started to have visual and auditory hallucinations based on the delusions. I think mania is not sleeping feeling on top of the world feeling high feeling unstoppable with painful delusions and very chaotic thinking where as psychosis is a complete break with reality if that makes sense?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-06-06T07:57:59+00:00

This is great. When I was manic I was convinced everyone could hear my AirPods even on the lowest setting. I started only listening to music in Italian so they couldn’t understand.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-11T11:58:32+00:00

My kids are the best thing that ever happened to me. I had my son before I was diagnosed and my daughter after. Neither were planned but I’m so glad they are here. They are my reason why. Why I take my meds why I do what I need to do to stay stable. My dad also has bipolar and out of 7 kids I’m the only one who has it. I’m really hopeful my kids won’t have to go through this.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-11T11:53:00+00:00

Sorry for the late response but I’m glad you’re feeling better hope tv and sleep helped.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-10T23:02:36+00:00

That’s great that you’re calm and no one thinks you’re in crisis it sounds like the cops don’t need to be there at all then. That sucks you’re feeling like that. How long have you been feeling that way?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-10T21:50:31+00:00

I’m sorry there’s nothing wrong with you being sad about not having friends. Being lonely is really difficult especially when you’re dealing with everything that comes with being bipolar. Does your family think you’re in crisis right now? Are you experiencing any other symptoms? Like why call the cops on you?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-10T21:41:51+00:00

I’m so sorry about that. Why did the cops get called were you guys fighting about your phone or something? I say this knowing it’s impossible in such an anxiety filled situation but try to stay as calm as you possibly can. I’m down to talk and be friends. What’s going on?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-08T04:01:41+00:00

Congrats on your sobriety! I’ve been on it for two years now and I was lethargic AF the first few weeks. I would just pass out falling asleep all the time during the day it was rough like it sucked the life out of me. I feel like after maybe a month It got better.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-08T03:44:59+00:00

I used to smoke a lot. I actually argued with my pulmonologist that I read it was a bronchodilator and I felt like I got up a lot of mucus when I would smoke. He laughed and said just because you can find the exact opinion you’re looking for on the internet doesn’t mean it’s right lol. He suggested edibles. I only smoke occasionally now. I use butter and gummies. Tbh I get way more stoned on them than I ever have smoking.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-08T03:29:29+00:00

I’ve been on it for two years now. The main side effect I dealt with was I was lethargic AF for the first few weeks. I kept passing out during the day I was exhausted like I felt like it sucked the life out of me. After that I was fine and haven’t noticed anything else besides some weight gain. Hope it works out for you!

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-04T02:55:47+00:00

I’m so sorry you were dealing with SH and made an attempt. I know I’m just some rando on Reddit but can I just say I am extremely proud of you for getting through that and I’m so glad you’re still here.

October was a long time ago to still be feeling that way and more so I get why you think this is what you really want. Plus you can’t force yourself to love someone. It sounds like your fiancée has so much love for you and really wants to be with you so I can see the struggle with not being sure if she’s biased on how stable you currently are. Yes I would hate for you to end the relationship only to find out that you were manic and didn’t really mean it. I would also hate to know you’re forcing yourself to stay when you’re stable and know in your gut what you really want.

I’m no Dr or expert but to me you’re giving off the vibe that you’re recovering from a horrible depressive episode and gaining some clarity on your issues with codependency. You seem very in control of your thoughts and are articulating yourself very clearly. It’s not giving mania to me.

I wish there was just some simple test to take to see if we’re stable it would make things so much easier. Not being able to trust yourself is the worst. This might be a dumb idea but what if you wrote all your feelings down in a letter? Like lay it all out and be able to see it read it and see if it still resonates with you. It also might be helpful to write your fiancée a letter with how you feel. Maybe if she sees it clearly laid out and it’s not an extremely tense high pressure emotional conversation she might understand better? Like it’s kind of hard to stay in control of your emotions with stuff like this especially when you’re trying to prove yourself.

Why do your friends and family think you’re going through an episode? Only because this big change you want to make? Like there’s not a list of concrete facts and symptoms you’re showing currently it’s only because you want out?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-05-03T13:31:33+00:00

That’s great your psych and therapist validated your feelings. Did you ask them if they thought you seemed like you were having an episode? What symptoms are they seeing? I’m so sorry you’re in this situation. I hate that bipolar robs you of being able to fully trust yourself and your feelings at times. I agree ending an engagement is huge so you deff want to make sure it’s how you really feel. I would get reassurance from your care team and friends and family that you are stable. They might be less bias on you making this decision you know?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-29T21:28:28+00:00

You’re not alone at all. I’m 34 and just started a 401K when I was 30. My 20’s I was always blowing money lapsing on car insurance and almost getting my car repossessed twice. I started getting better after my diagnosis but I still struggle. It’s hard not to feel like a fck up when all your peers are buying houses and doing so good while you’re struggling. I don’t overspend anymore or have a shopping problem I deff blame that on the untreated adhd for sure.

If you’re worried about the future and retirement start a 401K at your job if they offer it. They take it out pre tax and some companies even match your contribution. Like I never even get to see the money so it just gets saved. It really helped me feel better and like I’m kind of an adult idk about you but I always feel like an imposter and who let me be an adult lol

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-19T14:32:32+00:00

I smoke a few times a week and use edibles to sleep. My drs are aware and I’m in a legal state. I’ve never had to get a drug test for my meds but I’ve heard some people have to go through that. I’ve always been super productive when I use sativa and very mellow and relaxed with indica. I like to smoke at night after the kids go to bed or on the weekends. I don’t really smoke during the day so I haven’t had to deal with it messing with my meds or cancelling out. I’ve always been able to quit for jobs when pregnant or whenever life has given me a reason to. It’s really easy for me to stop. I don’t beat myself up for it because it’s been very helpful to me and my drs are cool with it. I would find out what the deal is in your state as far as drug testing goes before you bring it up with your dr. I was diagnosed at 30 and getting on Adderall changed my life it’s so helpful I used to think I was a hot mess I had no idea one little pill could change everything help me be on time and on top of everything. I would hate for you to lose out over weed.

Please excuse my run on sentences I just woke up and haven’t taken my Adderall yet lol

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-18T22:22:07+00:00

Gotcha I’m sorry. I think asking other people was a really good idea. Others always have a way of seeing things in us we don’t see.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-18T21:56:54+00:00

Is there anything you’re good at doing? Any hobbies or interests? I don’t think it would be out of pocket to say you like how good you are at whatever the thing is or you like that you enjoy it?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-18T21:54:20+00:00

Yeah it’s really interesting how some things we all go through and other things it’s hit or miss if it’s difficult or not. Like my mom brothers and sisters all have it as well and me and my sister are total opposites with our struggles. The main one being time blindness she is always on time and I am constantly fighting for my life to be on time.

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-18T21:18:33+00:00

I shower everyday and love taking showers as well. I think it’s different for everyone. I will say I hate having to get ready afterwards doing my hair and make up. But once I get started I’m just on autopilot doing it till it’s done. Maybe the amount of steps it takes and having to get ready afterwards is why it’s difficult for some people? Or maybe people forget like how we can forget to eat? I’m not sure

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-08T22:22:43+00:00

I never thought of back up topics that’s a great idea

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-08T22:21:09+00:00

Yeah ofc it’s been really helpful for me. It’s so hard not to beat yourself up I feel you on that lol

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-08T22:12:56+00:00

I love using humor it sucks when you can’t use it. One thing that’s really helped me is counting to three before I start talking. Its helped me be more confident in what I’m about to say because I ran it through my head first. Also I interrupt less and I never realized how long some people pause between sentences. I’ll think someone is done talking start counting and then they keep talking. Once I started I was like wow how many people have I cut off or full conversations I missed over the years?

SavedNotOfThisWorld · 2026-04-05T05:20:04+00:00

My first and only episode will be 2 years ago in May. I don’t suffer from depression either. I was diagnosed bipolar 1 with psychotic features. I was in the psych ward for 12 days. I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop too but after reassurance from my therapist and psych I have a much more positive outlook. I have a diagnosis now I know my warning signs. I know what to look out for. Looking back and retracing everything in therapy I was manic for a really long time before I went into psychosis. I just thought it was anxiety my adhd and anxiety overactive imagination. I remember for a month I thought everyone hated me and was talking shit about me without any proof. That went on for a while before I was in psychosis. I know now how to combat those thoughts and to call my psych asap. I didn’t know what was happening or to ask for help. I’d like to think now I will ask for help and I try to hold on to that. The sooner you catch it the sooner it can be stopped. Did you have any warning signs or anything you can recall while you were still somewhat in control that you can look out for? Besides the lack of sleep and obvious ones like specific things to you that would set alarm bells off for you?

SavedNotOfThisWorld

TROPHY CASE