I need advice on how to explain my bipolar disorder to my best friend.?!

I need advice on how to explain my bipolar disorder to my best friend.?

I have recenlty been diagnosed as bipolar and am undergoing therapy and taking medications to help me. I am happy I have gotten the help I have needed for so many years. I am looking forward to leading a more normal and healthy life. My problem is my best friend doesn't even believe bipolar is a real illness. He says he has never even known anyone that suffered from any type of mental illness.He doesn't understand why I can't just "stop feeling sorry for myself, realize what a great life I have and be happy". How can I explain to him that it's very real? Are there any good websites or books I can share with him that give tips on understanding the illness? This is causing a real rift in our friendship. He means a lot to me and I need all the support I can get right now. Any advice or suggestions are great appreciated.

Hi I found this and thought it might be of help to you

How To Explain Bipolar
Disorder to Others
How do you explain your, or a loved one's, condition to the others?
Here are a few sentences to help you organize your thoughts. Choose
the most appropriate explanations and modify as needed.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: One hour estimated

Here's How:

Stripped down to basics, people with bipolar disorder have mood
swings, from elation to depression, that don't necessarily have
anything to do with what's going on in their lives.
Bipolar disorder is also called manic depression, and it appears to
be caused by electrochemical abnormalities in the brain.
TV shows like to show people with bipolar disorder as criminals, but
don't worry - only a small percentage are ever violent, and I'm not
one of them!
"Mania" and "manic" don't mean "crazy" - they refer to extra high
emotions, full of energy, fast-talking, not needing much sleep [add
appropriate symptoms].
I am a rapid cycler - that means I can be ultra-excited one day and
deeply depressed the next, for no obvious reason. [Modify this to fit
the person's cycle pattern.]
I get into what are called "mixed states" when I seem to have a lot
of energy but at the same time am really down, angry or panicky.
There are a lot of possible medications for bipolar disorder. My
doctor has started me out on _____, but if that doesn't work, we'll
just try something else.
When I'm manic, I have particular problems with [choose symptoms
like: spending too much money, talking too much, not making a lot of
sense].
Inappropriate anger can be a symptom of bipolar disorder. I might say
or have said hurtful things that I really don't mean - I'm sorry!
Finding the right medication should help control that behavior.
When I get depressed or into a mixed state, I sometimes feel
suicidal. That's my illness talking - but it's serious. You might
have to get me to a hospital if I seem really bad.
Bipolar disorder seems to be inherited but the exact cause is not
known yet.
Don't worry if I _________ [behavior you and your doctor agree is
symptomatic but not dangerous by itself].
If I start ________ [behavior you and your doctor agree is
dangerous], tell me to call my doctor, or take me to the hospital.
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Tips:

All of the above can be modified to be about someone else, not
yourself - e.g., "He is a rapid cycler" or "she gets into mixed
states."
Educate yourself as much as possible about your condition by reading
up on it, and urge close family members to do the same.
Give careful consideration to whom and to what extent you share these
very personal details about yourself. There are those who will simply
never understand. If you lose a friend, it is their loss!
RELATED LINKS AND INFO
Bipolar is a Serious Psychiatric Condition Types of Bipolar Disorder
Effects of Manic Depressive Illness Overview of Depression and
Bipolar Bipolar FAQs - Answers All Your Basic Questions How to
Explain Bipolar Disorder to Others
This information comes from the Healty Place web site at
http://www.healthyplace.com/index.asp...
the aboved mentioned links can be found at the web site indicated