I think my sister is bipolar. She says that she is not.

Question

She stays angry all the time and has most all the symptoms of this problem. She does not see any problems with her behavior. I don't know how to help her.

Answer 1

The best thing you can do for your sister is to be there for her.  Be ready to listen without judgmental response and preconceived ideas.  Showing you love for her and expressing your concern may be responded to because she loves you also.  People can only address their problems when they come to realize themselves that there is a problem.  Sometimes "nagging" just makes them more resistive to any ideas.

Once your sister comes to realize that she is need of help, she should go to a good mental health professional to get properly diagnosed.  You may be right in your observations and show  your concern for her by asking others.  However, don't rely on anecdotal comments for a final solution.  This should really be done by a professional.  

Be attentive to her physically safety.  If she has indications  about hurting herself, even if she just talks about it or says she is thinking about suicide, take it serious.  You may have to call authorities to get her into protective custody.  This may sound extreme but so is hurting oneself.  

Once in protective custody, she will undergo evaluation.  This will lead to a proper identification of what is really the basis for her feelings and actions.  Good professionals can then create a plan to assist her in her own recovery and coping.

I am bipolar.  I know about this from my own experience.  I, too, denied the seriousness of my problem.  Oh, there were outward signs of my disorder but I either didn't fully recognize them or I refused to let myself think about them.  I used to have fits of rage and would hurt the ones I loved.

It finally came to a head for me when I attempted suicide.  My pastor at the time knew what I was up to when I called to thank him  for everything that he had done for my.  He called the authorites and came over right away.  I was placed in a mental health treatment center.  I was diagnosed with bipolar, placed on medication, and given counseling. A plan was established and I followed it.  This time I stuck with it.  In the past I didn't and things just keep getting worse each time I experienced what I now know to be a manic episode.

I am in my fifties.  Like I said, I didn't take my condition seriously.  I lost out on a lot of happiness in my life.  I assume that  your sister is young.  I hope and pray that she gets help now.  She has a wonderful life ahead of her.

One last thing, and, for me, this is the most important thing to do.  Pray.  It is amazing what just a little prayer can do.  I am a Christian and have been all my life.  But my faith was on a rollercoaster.  The episode that led me to try to take my life was an eye opener.  Now my counselor, who respects my faith and convictions, uses them as part of my cognitive therapy.  She believes that there is a spiritual component to the mental  problems that a person may have.  She supports me in taking medication under the supervision of a good psychiatrist because a unbalance in brain chemistry is a component of being bipolar.  But it is through counseling that I am able to undo any "wacky" thinking that I may have.

You may not be religiouis.  I understand it if you may be hesitant to doing anything like prayer.  All I am saying that it has worked for me and others.  And He is always ready to "talk".

God bless.  I will keep you both in my prayers.  Go with the grace of God.  

Answer 2

i am bipolar ther is no way to tell for sure even the doctors guess and guess with meds to seee if it works.  if she is a gemini they're known to have two sides.  otherwise if she's bothered at all she should seek medical care.  if not leave her alone not your business.  angr is not really a symptom but it can look like she is.  SEVER mood swings are a better indication.  can't handle money.  doesn't sleep. or sleeps all time

Answer 3

before u diagnose her, allow the dr., to diagnose her

Answer 4

Angry all of the time is not bipolar.  Bipolar is all about mood swings beyond what most ppl experience.  They typically last for a week or longer with periods of normalcy in between.  (That is the clinical requirement for the diagnosis.)  The illness is defined by periods of severe depression and also periods of mania.  Mania can take the form of anger, but it is limited to the time when the person is symptomatic.  That is, it is not always.  If your sister always is angry, she most likely has other things going on.  Regardless, she needs to be the one to recognize a problem and seek help whether it be starting with her doctor, a therapist, self-help methods, or changing her life circumstances.  It could also just be that the two of you are dealing with sibling rivalry and ordinary sister anamosity.  Anyway, bipolar is a difficult diagnosis to make for the experts.  Tossing the label around isn't apt to help your sister any.

Answer 5

She is probably just angry with you all the time - that is what sisters do and probably a justified reaction to your behaviour and attitude especially if you delight in telling her she has a personality disorder.

If you genuinely think youyr sister needs help you should discuss it with your parents who can make a doctors appointment if appropriate.

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_dis...

Answer 7

no thats just sisters me and my siter always had grudges and she was only mean to me so sweet to your friends its like an ongoing compitions shes jelous of you she gets mad at you beacuase secretly shes jeslous trust me i know  

Answer 8

What does her other half - have to say

Answer 9

Same here! My sister is in denial too. She could hold a grudge for a year or two. It's crazy. Just avoid her in those crazy times!!