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Is it helpful to give advice to someone that is dipolar?

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Other 11 Answers to Is it helpful to give advice to someone that is dipolar?


Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 12:30PM
Depends on the advice. Bipolar people need a lot of understanding and excellent therapy. But they´d be happy to know you are on their side.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 10:36AM
No.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 10:50AM
Of course it is! Bipolar people are still people, you know.
And your advice will be taken, or not....same as with anyone else.....
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 10:41AM
no
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 10:37AM
It's as helpful as it is to give advice to anyone.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 11:12AM
it can be difficault but reassurance can go a long way :)
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 11:03AM
yes, they're still people and they understand you, they just have a hard time with control.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 12:14PM
I have been diagnosed for 20 years, and the worst possible thing you can tell a bipolar person whether they are depressed or manic is to say "cheer up," or "snap out of it." What a bipolar person needs as far as advice goes, is to know that the person giving it is very sincere. The advice may not be something you like to hear, but bipolars absolutely need to know someone has their best interests at heart and not merely their own. It is sometimes a very scary and isolated place to be bipolar. I only listen to advice if it is given by someone who actually cares about me. Everyone needs to have some structure in life, but with bipolars it often goes out the window and the disease takes over. If advice is honest and gentle, it usually works.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:21PM
I routinely give advice to Bipolar Bears, but have nothing to offer the dipolar set.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:33PM
If they are in a manic episode, it's probably pointless....but, if their bipolar is stablized, certainly, you can give it to them....But, from my experience (married to a bipolar)....they are extremely sensitive to criticism, so do it gingerly....good luck.
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Posted Jun 26th, 2009 at 3:07PM
Are they asking for adivice? If your getting bad results from your advice is it because its unrequited? If they are asking for advice then the rules are the same for a bi polar person as for a mentally healthy one.

1. Don't ever expect (the operative word is expect) someone to actally do what you advise them to do. Many times folks as for advice to simply reaffirm what they already know or plan to do. If the advice doesn't then they simply ignore it. This is true of a bi polar person or a mentaly healthy one.
2. Temper your expectations. A diagnosis of Bi Polar isn't the same as being mentaly retarded. The vast majority of the bi polar population functions just like you and me on a daily basis. The key is to remember that they mind of a bi polar person isn't processing information like a normal persons. If they are in a manic state they will be hyper and might not hear/understand or be able to apply any external information in a meaningful manner. The same thing applies for the depressed stage. If you don't have huge expectations for your "advice", it's all going to be ok.
3. Be prepared to help when asked. Most people, even the mentally ill ask for help when they need it. Make yourself present to them, don't be afraid of them and make it clear that you can help if they want it. Make sure you have knowledge of resources when they ask for help. Simply sitting down at a table and giving advice isn't typically going to work. Bi polar illness is complex and should be treated by a compentant professional
Good luck.
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