She’s 16 and so am I and we’ve been dating on and off since November 28th.
A good example is when she became depressed in December. When we started dating she was so happy and nothing but joy, but after Christmas she suddenly went through a stage of depression even though nothing in her life changed to much. Don’t get me wrong, her life ain’t perfect but it happened abruptly. Her friends are kinda evil and they a manipulators so they exploit her changes in mood to do certain things.
I can’t even imagine what it’s like for her and I don’t want to be insensitive and insult her because I’ve been planning on confronting her about it and how I can help, she recently came out of this random depression with again no life changes.
My gf is too and doesn’t get the help she needs… give her space, support, and decide if you want to continue dealing with this or giving her support to better herself via medication/therapy
I feel as if therapy is to stressful on her schedule and might piss her off if I recommend it (depending on her mood). One plan I had was eventually converting her to my religion, Islam, so she could be at peace more with her mind. Although the conversion process will be rough and she’s prolly not gonna like the idea in the first place.
Definetly do not convert anyone to islam, look into atheism. Many people have fought in the name of god and died. If you cannot live with knowing you’ll be placed in the ground and not go to a man made heaven then I can educate you. God doesn’t exist, why? Look up neanderthalls, we evolved with science to become humans today. It doesn’t fit in line with islam. So your ignoring scientific facts over a religion. Wake up, religion is used to control the masses.
If she is 16, the. Honestly this wasn’t going to be your wife or anything. I say break up. At a point when you are older, you’ll realize you can’t solve a lot of people’s problems and you have to choose between dealing with them and their problems, or moving on. At 16 though, moving on is destined anyways
> My girlfriend is Bipolar and I don’t know how to manage situations with her. It’s sometimes very hard to understand what she’s truest feeling. Help?
It is really hard what you want to do.
[Can I become depressed or happy](https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/is-my-depression-contagious/) if I am near someone who is depressed or happy? The answer is "yes." Because of the fact that we mimic the behaviors of others, especially when they are people we know, we also begin to feel their emotions.
[Does this mean you should](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-be-yourself/201606/is-depression-contagious) spend less time with the depressed people in your life? Only you can answer that, but as you continue to engage with them, take the time to communicate that he or she is loved, that they are important to you, and deserving of feeling better. Encourage them to seek help, but know that it may take an incredible amount of bravery on their part to take that first step. But also remember: You can't rescue your loved one by yourself. You're up against a host of uncontrollable variables and there may come a point when you need to prioritize saving yourself. Depression can annihilate any glint of motivation, making it difficult to find the will to eat, shower, or, most important, seek help.
[Who's more susceptible](https://www.healthline.com/health/is-depression-contagious#risk-factors) to 'catching' depression?
Learn to recognize emotional blackmail:
* https://www.powerofpositivity.com/4-signs-of-emotional-blackmail
* https://www.neilsattin.com/blog/2016/09/55-defeating-emotional-blackmail-and-manipulation-with-susan-forward
Online guides *for you*:
* https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/caregiver-support
* https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/helping-loved-one-with-bipolar#1
If you are dealing with someone that doesn't want to be helped, yet you want to support them:
* [I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help! How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Accept Treatment.](https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Mental-Illness-Treatment-Anniversary/dp/0967718937) (4.7 stars, 550+ reviews)
A book specifically aimed at supporting people dealing with other people with bipolar:
* [Living With Someone Who's Living With Bipolar Disorder: A Practical Guide for Family, Friends, and Coworkers](https://www.amazon.com/Living-Someone-Whos-Bipolar-Disorder/dp/0470475668)
**Here is what you need to learn about and you should also give this information to your loved one(several of these you can do together):**
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
* https://www.healthline.com/health/could-it-be-bipolar-signs-to-look-for
Symptoms:
* [Signs of mania](https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/hypomania-mania-symptoms): increased activity; less need for sleep; overly euphoric or irritable mood; racing thoughts; forceful, rapid speech.
* [Signs of depression](https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/depression-symptoms): sad or anxious mood; excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness; loss of interest in pleasurable activities (like sex); difficulty concentrating; sleep disturbance.
**If you have healthcare insurance**, I'd recommend a CTB specialized psychologist (that's someone that tries to talk the problem away) as well as a psychiatrist (that's someone that will give you pills to solve the issue).
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatment is directed at managing symptoms.
About 80% of the risk is attributed to genetics, so if someone else in your family has mental health issues or has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it's increases the chance that you have it as well.
The most common age at which symptoms begin is 25.
Highest rated books on Amazon:
* https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Disorder-Survival-Guide-Third/dp/1462534988 (4.5 star, 400+ ratings)
* https://www.amazon.com/Take-Charge-Bipolar-Disorder-Stability/dp/0446697613 (4.5 star, 200+ ratings
For all of the below advice, use technology to your advantage. Take your phone and set repeating alarm clock reminders, with labels of what to do. Train yourself to either snooze or reschedule the reminders if you can't take action right away, but never to ignore them. The intention is [to condition yourself](https://www.cleverism.com/classical-conditioning/), to build habits, so you will start healing yourself without having to think about it.
* **Sleep**: [There is a complex relationship](https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-sleep-disorder#1) between [sleep and depression](https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/depression-and-sleep). When you have days where you don't have to do anything, don't oversleep, set an alarm clock. You really don't need more than 7 hours at most per night (a [little more](https://health.onehowto.com/article/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-needed-per-night-by-age-8233.html) if you are under 18). If you can't fall sleep, try taking melatonin one hour before going to bed. It's [cheap](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JJ9TQA/), OTC and [is scientifically proven](https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-940/melatonin) to help regulate your sleep pattern. [Also, rule](https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/news/20120330/sleep-apnea-linked-depression#1) out [sleep apnea](https://www.healthcentral.com/article/sleep-apnea-treatment-resistant-depression). Up to 6% of people have this, [but not everyone knows](https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/features/sleep-apnea-clues#1). If you find yourself often awake at night, start counting. Don't grab your phone, don't look at the clock, don't do anything interesting. We're trying to *bore* you to sleep, not keep you entertained - sometimes it might *feel* like you've done it for hours and hours, but often it's really not all that long. Anytime your mind wanders away from the numbers and starts thinking, start over at 1. count at the speed of either your heartbeat or your breathing, whatever you prefer. Then both Alexa and Google Home can also play a range of sleep sounds if you ask them (rain or other white noise) and there are also free apps for both Android and Apple devices.
* **Go outside**: [You might just need some sunlight](https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight). 15 minutes two to three times a week is enough. This will fix serotonin levels as well as vitamin D deficiencies.
* **Meditate**: [Depressions can be significantly reduced by meditating](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-researchers-study-how-mindfulness-may-change-the-brain-in-depressed-patients/). The best types Of [Meditations For Depression Relief](https://www.thedailymeditation.com/meditation-depression). Your attention is like a muscle. The more you train it, the better the control you have over it. [Mindfulness training](https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/) will help you gain better control over your mind. It doesn't take much effort, just 15 to 20 minutes a day of doing nothing but focus your attention is enough and is scientifically proven to work. As you become better at focusing your attention, it will become easier to force yourself to stop having negative thoughts, which will break the negative reinforcement cycle. Go here if you have specific questions: /r/Meditation
* **Exercise**: [The effect of exercise on depressions](https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression) If you have access to a gym, then start lifting weights. If you don't have access to a gym (or you don't like lifting), start running. If you can't run, then start walking. Just start small. 10 minutes three times a week is fine. You don't have to run fast, just run and then slowly build it up over time. Exercising does several things: It releases endorphins, it takes your mind of your negative thoughts and it will improve your overall health.
* Consider getting a [weighted blanket](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=weighted+blanket), which will provide a [positive effect at night](https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/do-weighted-blankets-work#benefits).
* **Music**: [The right music can improve your mood](https://time.com/5254381/listening-to-music-health-benefits/). The genre is not important as long as it is: *"Upbeat, rhytmic and energetic"*. What this means differs from person to person, depending on their music taste. I have a special playlist for this. One way to measure the effectiveness, of the songs is your ability to listen to it over and over (if you can listen to it hundreds of times it likely has the highest positive effect on your mood). The effect can be amplified by using headphones and playing it LOUD and it can further be enhanced by closing your eyes (based on doi:10.1177/0305735617734627, doi:10.1093/jmt/50.3.198 and doi:10.1177/0305735617751050).
* **Practice gratitude**: Take 5 minutes every day [to practice gratitude.](https://www.pasadenavilla.com/resources/blog/gratitude-and-depression)
[When you are in a mania](https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/mania#coping-with-mania):
* **Alcohol, drugs**: And mood-altering prescription drugs can all contribute to a manic episode and affect your ability to recover. Avoiding these substances can help you maintain your emotional balance. It may also help make recovery easier.
* **Watch your finances**: Going on spending sprees can be one of the major symptoms of mania. You can cope with this by limiting how easily you can access your finances.
We need more to go off of like examples, ages, time you've been dating etc.
She’s 16 and so am I and we’ve been dating on and off since November 28th. A good example is when she became depressed in December. When we started dating she was so happy and nothing but joy, but after Christmas she suddenly went through a stage of depression even though nothing in her life changed to much. Don’t get me wrong, her life ain’t perfect but it happened abruptly. Her friends are kinda evil and they a manipulators so they exploit her changes in mood to do certain things. I can’t even imagine what it’s like for her and I don’t want to be insensitive and insult her because I’ve been planning on confronting her about it and how I can help, she recently came out of this random depression with again no life changes.
My gf is too and doesn’t get the help she needs… give her space, support, and decide if you want to continue dealing with this or giving her support to better herself via medication/therapy
I feel as if therapy is to stressful on her schedule and might piss her off if I recommend it (depending on her mood). One plan I had was eventually converting her to my religion, Islam, so she could be at peace more with her mind. Although the conversion process will be rough and she’s prolly not gonna like the idea in the first place.
Definetly do not convert anyone to islam, look into atheism. Many people have fought in the name of god and died. If you cannot live with knowing you’ll be placed in the ground and not go to a man made heaven then I can educate you. God doesn’t exist, why? Look up neanderthalls, we evolved with science to become humans today. It doesn’t fit in line with islam. So your ignoring scientific facts over a religion. Wake up, religion is used to control the masses.
If she is 16, the. Honestly this wasn’t going to be your wife or anything. I say break up. At a point when you are older, you’ll realize you can’t solve a lot of people’s problems and you have to choose between dealing with them and their problems, or moving on. At 16 though, moving on is destined anyways
> My girlfriend is Bipolar and I don’t know how to manage situations with her. It’s sometimes very hard to understand what she’s truest feeling. Help? It is really hard what you want to do. [Can I become depressed or happy](https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/is-my-depression-contagious/) if I am near someone who is depressed or happy? The answer is "yes." Because of the fact that we mimic the behaviors of others, especially when they are people we know, we also begin to feel their emotions. [Does this mean you should](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/how-be-yourself/201606/is-depression-contagious) spend less time with the depressed people in your life? Only you can answer that, but as you continue to engage with them, take the time to communicate that he or she is loved, that they are important to you, and deserving of feeling better. Encourage them to seek help, but know that it may take an incredible amount of bravery on their part to take that first step. But also remember: You can't rescue your loved one by yourself. You're up against a host of uncontrollable variables and there may come a point when you need to prioritize saving yourself. Depression can annihilate any glint of motivation, making it difficult to find the will to eat, shower, or, most important, seek help. [Who's more susceptible](https://www.healthline.com/health/is-depression-contagious#risk-factors) to 'catching' depression? Learn to recognize emotional blackmail: * https://www.powerofpositivity.com/4-signs-of-emotional-blackmail * https://www.neilsattin.com/blog/2016/09/55-defeating-emotional-blackmail-and-manipulation-with-susan-forward Online guides *for you*: * https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/caregiver-support * https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/helping-loved-one-with-bipolar#1 If you are dealing with someone that doesn't want to be helped, yet you want to support them: * [I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help! How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Accept Treatment.](https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Mental-Illness-Treatment-Anniversary/dp/0967718937) (4.7 stars, 550+ reviews) A book specifically aimed at supporting people dealing with other people with bipolar: * [Living With Someone Who's Living With Bipolar Disorder: A Practical Guide for Family, Friends, and Coworkers](https://www.amazon.com/Living-Someone-Whos-Bipolar-Disorder/dp/0470475668) **Here is what you need to learn about and you should also give this information to your loved one(several of these you can do together):** * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder * https://www.healthline.com/health/could-it-be-bipolar-signs-to-look-for Symptoms: * [Signs of mania](https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/hypomania-mania-symptoms): increased activity; less need for sleep; overly euphoric or irritable mood; racing thoughts; forceful, rapid speech. * [Signs of depression](https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/depression-symptoms): sad or anxious mood; excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness; loss of interest in pleasurable activities (like sex); difficulty concentrating; sleep disturbance. **If you have healthcare insurance**, I'd recommend a CTB specialized psychologist (that's someone that tries to talk the problem away) as well as a psychiatrist (that's someone that will give you pills to solve the issue). Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatment is directed at managing symptoms. About 80% of the risk is attributed to genetics, so if someone else in your family has mental health issues or has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it's increases the chance that you have it as well. The most common age at which symptoms begin is 25. Highest rated books on Amazon: * https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Disorder-Survival-Guide-Third/dp/1462534988 (4.5 star, 400+ ratings) * https://www.amazon.com/Take-Charge-Bipolar-Disorder-Stability/dp/0446697613 (4.5 star, 200+ ratings For all of the below advice, use technology to your advantage. Take your phone and set repeating alarm clock reminders, with labels of what to do. Train yourself to either snooze or reschedule the reminders if you can't take action right away, but never to ignore them. The intention is [to condition yourself](https://www.cleverism.com/classical-conditioning/), to build habits, so you will start healing yourself without having to think about it. * **Sleep**: [There is a complex relationship](https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-sleep-disorder#1) between [sleep and depression](https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/depression-and-sleep). When you have days where you don't have to do anything, don't oversleep, set an alarm clock. You really don't need more than 7 hours at most per night (a [little more](https://health.onehowto.com/article/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-needed-per-night-by-age-8233.html) if you are under 18). If you can't fall sleep, try taking melatonin one hour before going to bed. It's [cheap](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JJ9TQA/), OTC and [is scientifically proven](https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-940/melatonin) to help regulate your sleep pattern. [Also, rule](https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/news/20120330/sleep-apnea-linked-depression#1) out [sleep apnea](https://www.healthcentral.com/article/sleep-apnea-treatment-resistant-depression). Up to 6% of people have this, [but not everyone knows](https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/features/sleep-apnea-clues#1). If you find yourself often awake at night, start counting. Don't grab your phone, don't look at the clock, don't do anything interesting. We're trying to *bore* you to sleep, not keep you entertained - sometimes it might *feel* like you've done it for hours and hours, but often it's really not all that long. Anytime your mind wanders away from the numbers and starts thinking, start over at 1. count at the speed of either your heartbeat or your breathing, whatever you prefer. Then both Alexa and Google Home can also play a range of sleep sounds if you ask them (rain or other white noise) and there are also free apps for both Android and Apple devices. * **Go outside**: [You might just need some sunlight](https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/benefits-sunlight). 15 minutes two to three times a week is enough. This will fix serotonin levels as well as vitamin D deficiencies. * **Meditate**: [Depressions can be significantly reduced by meditating](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-researchers-study-how-mindfulness-may-change-the-brain-in-depressed-patients/). The best types Of [Meditations For Depression Relief](https://www.thedailymeditation.com/meditation-depression). Your attention is like a muscle. The more you train it, the better the control you have over it. [Mindfulness training](https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/) will help you gain better control over your mind. It doesn't take much effort, just 15 to 20 minutes a day of doing nothing but focus your attention is enough and is scientifically proven to work. As you become better at focusing your attention, it will become easier to force yourself to stop having negative thoughts, which will break the negative reinforcement cycle. Go here if you have specific questions: /r/Meditation * **Exercise**: [The effect of exercise on depressions](https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression) If you have access to a gym, then start lifting weights. If you don't have access to a gym (or you don't like lifting), start running. If you can't run, then start walking. Just start small. 10 minutes three times a week is fine. You don't have to run fast, just run and then slowly build it up over time. Exercising does several things: It releases endorphins, it takes your mind of your negative thoughts and it will improve your overall health. * Consider getting a [weighted blanket](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=weighted+blanket), which will provide a [positive effect at night](https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/do-weighted-blankets-work#benefits). * **Music**: [The right music can improve your mood](https://time.com/5254381/listening-to-music-health-benefits/). The genre is not important as long as it is: *"Upbeat, rhytmic and energetic"*. What this means differs from person to person, depending on their music taste. I have a special playlist for this. One way to measure the effectiveness, of the songs is your ability to listen to it over and over (if you can listen to it hundreds of times it likely has the highest positive effect on your mood). The effect can be amplified by using headphones and playing it LOUD and it can further be enhanced by closing your eyes (based on doi:10.1177/0305735617734627, doi:10.1093/jmt/50.3.198 and doi:10.1177/0305735617751050). * **Practice gratitude**: Take 5 minutes every day [to practice gratitude.](https://www.pasadenavilla.com/resources/blog/gratitude-and-depression) [When you are in a mania](https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/mania#coping-with-mania): * **Alcohol, drugs**: And mood-altering prescription drugs can all contribute to a manic episode and affect your ability to recover. Avoiding these substances can help you maintain your emotional balance. It may also help make recovery easier. * **Watch your finances**: Going on spending sprees can be one of the major symptoms of mania. You can cope with this by limiting how easily you can access your finances.