My friend is not all there. I don’t mean that in a rude or disrespectful way, but she does have a mental illness. It’s not always easy to deal with, but I’ve learned a lot from our friendship. I want to share some of what I’ve learned with you.
How We Met
We met in college. We were both taking the same class and ended up sitting next to each other on the first day. We hit it off right away and became fast friends. It wasn’t until a few months later that she told me about her mental illness.
What Her Mental Illness Is
She has bipolar disorder. This means that she experiences extreme highs and lows in her moods. When she’s in a manic phase, she has tons of energy and can’t sleep. When she’s in a depressive phase, she can’t get out of bed and feels hopeless.
How It Affects Her Life
Her mental illness affects every aspect of her life. She has trouble keeping a job because of her mood swings. She has trouble maintaining relationships because people don’t always understand what she’s going through. It’s a constant battle for her.
How I’ve Helped
I’ve tried to be as supportive as possible. I listen when she needs to talk and try to offer advice when I can. I’ve also learned to recognize when she’s in a manic or depressive phase and adjust my expectations of her accordingly.
What I’ve Learned
Through our friendship, I’ve learned a lot about mental illness. I’ve learned that it’s not something to be ashamed of and that people with mental illness are just as deserving of love and respect as anyone else. I’ve also learned that it’s important to be patient and understanding with those who are struggling.
How You Can Help
If you have a friend who is struggling with a mental illness, there are things you can do to help. First and foremost, be there for them. Listen when they need to talk and offer support when you can. You can also educate yourself about their illness so that you can better understand what they’re going through.
Conclusion
Having a friend with a mental illness has taught me a lot about compassion, patience, and understanding. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it to have such a wonderful person in my life. If you have a friend with a mental illness, I encourage you to be there for them and offer your support.