We meet a lot of cultures, where there is this nasty stigma that is stuck to the phrase “mental illness, bipolar victim or Im a Psycho.” If people hear you have a “mental illness” or tell them “Hi! I’m bipolar!” their first reaction can be shown in their eyes and then their body. Without thinking their body language will be slightly tense and tend to back away. In some cases even people who you consider to be friends tell you that they cannot handle it and leave after the disclosure. But there are others who will stick by your side through the nightmares that occasionally rear its ugly head. Adolescent bipolar victims need to stick with these friends who will stay in there for the good times and when bipolar symptoms are showing its worst effects.

Living the Symptoms

Bipolar children tell us the wave of emotions they have been experiencing in the last several years or months. They have great friends, a wonderful family, a place to call their own, have their wonderful rooms, pets and a wonderful boyfriend who loves them yet; they find little joy in all of these. At times they will find themselves not really wanting to deal with anything because it takes too much energy. Even the smiles, the eating, picking up the phone is taking too much out of them. When this happens, it is a sure sign they are slowly sliding downward toward the murky and dark depths of depression.

Other Signs

Because there are hardly any good friends to talk to or even lend a listening ear, many bipolar children prefer to keep to themselves in their home or in a classroom environment. Most of the time they would prefer to go into their own little world and forget everyone and everything around them. In school they would not play, eat and interact with the other children. Paying attention to what the teacher is saying and trying to learn in the classroom can be very difficult because their brain is not in focus. Its like trying to fly a kite eastward but the kite is going westward because the wind is taking it that way. It is beyond their power to control the situation.

True Test of Friendship

Until they go through the same experience none of your friends knows what its like to be a young adolescent with bipolar symptoms. Not a nice thing for both the sufferer and the people who care about them is the experience of depression, hospitalization, suicidal contemplation, loss of energy, staying in the room for days only leaving to use the toilet or to go to school. A true friend is one who seeks help either in a mental hospital or seek diagnoses. They are also there to find out more about bipolar medication and what is happening. Stick by them because you will always have somebody to turn to if you have one or two good friends.

A Really Good Friend

A good friend indeed who will eventually save your life is a person who stays by your side through thick and thin even when your family cannot handle your symptoms.