My best friend is sectioned due to bipolar I

[AlwaysMeanWellOftenWrong]

Her partner called me Thursday evening. She has been in hospital a week now. She has been transferred to the counties best psyc unit because she is so ill. I am so sad for her.

She has severe mania. Last time, and her first episode about 5 years ago, she had delusions as well. I am not sure exactly of her state as no one is allowed to visit - not even her partner of 6 years.

I don't know if I can do anything at all to let her know I am here for her, that I am thinking of her and hope she recovers without causing detriment to her condition. I know I cannot visit, at least, not for over a month.

She is so wonderful, such a loving, caring person, the most amazing person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. We are very close, although we do not see each other that often; I have to be careful not to take up too much of her time as it would add to the pressures of her life, for which she has many.

Perhaps I could send a letter? I went to see her last time once she was allowed visitors, about 4 weeks after initial onset. She was still very delusional then, it broke my heart to see her like that, but at least she knew I was there for her.

Is there anything I can do at all? I have offered to drive partner to see her, she is far away and he can't drive and said he should ring me to chat any time, but I cannot think of anything practical to offer. I don't live close by.

I am just hoping and hoping that she gets better soon and has another long lasting period of normality. There is a fear that she will not go into remission this time though. No reason for it, just worst case senario.

Just wanted to tell you I do understand - my dear friend is currently under section for anorexia in London. She's so ill, and I love her dearly.

Thinking of you and her, I hope she makes a good and swift recovery.

Thanks for the support everyone. It is very much appreciated.

Hi there, just wondering how you are and whether your friend is beginning to get better. One of my closest (bipolar) friends is going into a crisis unit today but voluntarily which makes a huge difference I think. Anyway, it made me think of you.

I agree with previous post about little practical items

When I was admitted someone sent me a little M&S gift bag full of lovely shampoo and bubble bath plus some body lotion.

It was such a little thing, but in there it felt like a luxury and I felt so touched that someone cared for me like this.

Also energy snacks like chocolate milkshake cartons, cereal bars etc. really helped me through as the food in there was so awful.

Hope she gets well soon x

Yes, I spoke to her partner on Thursday - she is apparently much better and is on waiting list to be transferred back to her local hospital. Once she is there, and with staff/partners blessing I will visit her.

I think they are already talking about care for her on release which is really positive. She is taking her medication now and her partner says she sounds much like her usual self.

I am so relieved that she appears to be heading in the right direction so quickly. I am going to ring her partner again this Thursday to see how they are and what the situation is.

I would send a little parcel, stamps, writing paper and evvelopes, magazines, chocolate, nice bath stuff etc.. write a nice card and tell her how much she means to you.

You sound like a very caring person. A card would be fine. My mum has bi-polar and has had it on and off all through her life.
She always got very bad when she had babies (me and my brother) and so maybe its best for your friend if she does not have kids.
All my mum's friends have abandoned her and at least she still has our dad.
He has been through the mill over and over again but it is testiment to his deep love of her that he keeps caring for her.

When my friend was sectioned with paranoid schizophrenia he says he wishes I hadn't visited. In fact, we've sadly never managed to be as good friends since that time.

I was the only person he saw because we had no way to trace his family for a few weeks (long story).

Although he's better now, he told me that at the back of his mind he still has the feeling that I was behind his illness, co-ordinating everything.

So maybe not seeing people is better sometimes, and I can see why they'd do it.

Hope your friend is getting better.

My friend is now back home thank goodness. Once things settle down for her, we are going for a nice picnic. We are in text contact at the moment to keep things calm for her. I am so relieved she has gone into remission so quickly this time it is very positive.

great news re your friend - and lucky her having you in her life

just wanted to add that I think a nice long intimate letter explaining how you feel about her and what it means to you to have her in your life might be appropriate now she is out

my brother suffers from bi-p too and early on I wrote him just such a letter cos we would never say stuff like that in our family, and also cos I wanted him to have it written down. this was about 10 years ago and he still sometimes tells me he has that letter and he takes it out sometimes when he is starting to feel low, just to remind himself...little things like that can mean such a lot I think

good luck to all of you and I hope she feels better for a long time now

you sound like such a lovely person

When my BF is having an episode and is hospitalised we organise ourselves among a group of her friends to provide weekly cakes, we send her books, text and send her a meal in every night...

Not relevant for this situation, but we do also provide childcare and make sure we invite her DF out with us.

Hi AlwaysMeanWellOftenWrong - just been pointed over here as have just posted something very similar re one of my best friends. I'm glad to hear your friend is out and doing much better - I think that's what scares me most about my friend, that it will ruin her life, or that she'll never be the same again. I'm just praying that it can be treated and she can get some semblance of a normal life back.

Good tips on here re sending cards, toiletires and things, I'm going to do this now. I wrote a card this morning and DS1 (3) made one, so hopefully that will cheer her up a bit.

hello,i have written many times about my sister who is also bipolar.One of the things she has said to me whilst she was in a bad way was the fact that no matter what i was doing i was always available to listen to her.This could mean at any time of the day or night.happily she is now quite stable.Good luck to your friend ,hope she is soon on an even keel.Your a good friend to care about her ,some people cant deal with this terrible illness.