I think my friend may be Bipolar

[Winchester89]

Posting here for traffic
My friend was given anti depressants approx 5 weeks ago by her GP and is currently signed off work.
She was very low for a couple of weeks and seemed to be coming through it the last week ish.
However today, I feel like she's having a manic episode and so I did a bit of googling and apparently anti depressants can trigger this in someone with bipolar.

She has sent messages today to our girls group chat (very close group of friends) and I'm really worried about her.
She mentioned how she's not scared to take drugs now, she thinks she may be bisexual (out of nowhere), she is feeling amazing today, she suddenly loves her life etc. Mentioned how amazing sex was this morning and how she's set up a new Instagram account and wants this to be her job now (it's about mental health the Instagram page)

It's just completely out of nowhere, and I'm really worried and not really sure what, if anything, I can do!

She starts therapy this week- do you think they would pick up on this?

Be very aware of Dr Google, dont go there

Do not Google and diagnose. It's critical that if you are concerned you talk to her, and get her to see her GP. I have bipolar (yes, diagnosed by a psychiatrist) and mismanagement and misdiagnosis is really quite dangerous. She may benefit from a referral from her GP to a qualified professional.

Keep in touch with her, be there for her, support her and even offer to attend appointments if she would find that helpful but please don't diagnose her or let her diagnose herself.

Therapy may or may not pick up on it - depends what it is and who it's with.

It's lovely that you are concerned, by the way.

@MissusGeneHunt
Thanks for your reply!
I suppose she's taken the first step by seeing the gp originally. She is having CBT, turns out it's today so maybe they will pick up on something.
I think just with the drugs mentioned I'm just worried for her. We have always been very honest and share everything anyway- so obviously today she was sharing how amazing she feels. So yeah I guess I'll just be here for her as best I can.

This is definitely a thing - antidepressants made my husband's at the time undiagnosed bipolar worse as they caused him to rapid cycle.

The good news is that this was picked up on by the therapist when he went for CBT and from there he was referred on to a psychiatrist who could diagnose him properly. So hopefully if you're right it will be addressed. The big step is getting referred into the system which it sounds like has already happened, then it's just a matter of waiting for months for appointments to come through.

CBT is really good for bipolar in many cases, OP, so there's a huge possibility that the therapist may pick up on it. Rapid cycling is massively scary so it's good she's going.

She's lucky to have concerned friends like you - good on ya.

@MissusGeneHunt
@borlottibeans
Thanks for replying. Another friend met up with her today as she's off work- she said she was VERY hyper, really excited about different things and kept talking about sex.
She had her CBT yesterday and told us it went well. She still just seems very euphoric at the moment.
I'm struggling at the moment and feeling really helpless

She may have bipolar or may not. But encourage her to see her Dr again.

People can have mania without being bipolar. But she should see her GP.

As @abacucatsaid, mania can present without bipolar for other reasons. A GP visit sounds like 'a must', OP. See if you can have a chat. I'm not saying it isn't bipolar, or that it is, as I'm not a Healthcare professional, hence the urge to see a doctor.

Hope it goes OK.

I would definitely talk to her and urge her to seek medical advice/support. Antidepressant medication can be very dangerous for people with bipolar (e.g. I know of someone who in retrospect, likely had bipolar, who suicided after being put on antidepressant medication) so I'd be voicing my concerns ASAP. e.g., "You seem very unusually euphoric, I care a lot about you, sometimes people thought to have depression can have more going on for them and going on antidepressants can clarify this as it can trigger different issues for them, please can you go back to the doctor to let them know about how euphoric you're feeling?"

I have bipolar.

A very similar thing happened to me when I upped my dose of antidepressants because they weren't working when they previously had. I experienced rapid cycling unfortunately culminating in an attempt on my life as everything spiralled out of control for me. As PPs have said antidepressants can be dangerous for those with hypomanic tendencies. Let's hope the CBT therapist picked up on it today.

Does she live with anyone, or alone? Is there anyone else she is close to/lives with that you could get in touch with expressing your concern? Could you or another friend get to see her over the next few days?

For me, one of the scariest things about mania is the lack of control. I act impulsively and with no fear, yet feel very in control. The worst part art is the 'comedown' where I realise the consequences of my actions and start to feel that things are irretrievable. You sound like a great friend already - being a non-judgemental, considerate listening ear is very helpful.

I have bipolar and have 6 grand of debt due to a long period of mania.
I was painting my house at 3 am and going out shopping by 7.
I wish I had been diagnosed earlier before I annoyed my friends and family and screwed up my life.
After being manic and drinking myself to sleep every night I had a breakdown and three months of horror depression.
Tbh this could be your friend.
I know I used to have so many thoughts in my head that I speed talked and never shut up

Just an update.
Her husband has taken her to hospital today and she has been sectioned.
I spoke to her husband today after a particularly bad night last night and he had stayed off work as didn't want to leave her alone. Anyway, me and another friend met her today along with her husband and convinced her to seek medical attention.
Her husband took her in this afternoon and has just updated she's been sectioned but he's allowed to stay with her.
I'm not sure if sectioned means voluntarily or not or could be either? I don't know any more information.
I am absolutely heartbroken for her, however I know she's in the best place