Helping someone with bipolar or depression can feel daunting. Everyone who has a mood disorder or suspected mood disorder will need something different. Some form of professional treatment is necessary. But, a family/ friend/ teacher support group is also very important. For example, especially if the person is younger and may need help advocating, there are resources for school accommodations. An IEP or 504 plan can play a crucial role in improving one's quality of life. Do your best to talk to your family member or friend about not even necessarily what they are going through, but more so what their "love language" is (as long as it is not an emergency). If you're trying to help them in a way that makes you feel better, it may not be well received. For example, if you know that said person likes quality time and physical touch the most you could always try to ask if they would like to spend time together even if it is in a bed or lying in the living room listening to music. Remember to never force or push too hard to do something with a person even if you know its something they like or used to like!! Healing is a process and with something like a mood disorder, the person may never return to who you once knew. This is not necessarily a bad thing though because big life events like having a mood disorder can shape them into the person that they are.
