I will try to keep this brief. A very good friend of mine, who I've known for years, is clearly mentally unwell at present. I have seen him go through cycles of the same behaviour before but this is the worst time.
His reactions to negative life events before have sent him into a massive depression, during which he has been unable to leave the house, work, or do anything. At other times he reacts to stress or negative events by becoming totally hyper - doesn't sleep, eat, is literally "bouncing off the walls", full of grandiose plans for the future, etc.
He has used recreational drugs on and off since his teens and drinks a lot.
He is currently in a manic phase (has been for weeks) and it seems to be reaching some sort of zenith. I am so worried about him that I can't sleep and last night it came to me: this is classic bi polar disorder behaviour.
He has taken anti depressants in the past but I do not think he has ever been diagnosed with bi polar disorder.
The state he's in at the moment, he will not hear anything he doesn't like and is busy pushing friends away who express concern.
How can I help him? How can I get him to see that his behaviour is not normal and that he needs help?
I can't bear it. I remember the state he was in after the last time this cycle of behaviour happened and it is like watching a car crash in slow motion.
Any advice would be much appreciated.