How can i best help/support a friend who has bipolar?!

How can i best help/support a friend who has bipolar?

I have a close friend who has bipolar and i was wondering how i can best help her or support her.. i wish i could take it away because she has suffered so much from it and she's only 17.. i try to be there for her and have patience... i just don't know what to do or say because i can't honestly tell her everything is going to be okay and i can't say i understand so i just feel stupid and helpless... do any of you suffer from bipolar and can give me advice because i don't really know what she needs to hear or needs me to do....

3 weeks ago
she's been on 18 out of 22 medications for bipolar and so far they've all had horrible side effects and have stopped working. she's getting help.. i just want to be the best friend i can and sometimes i'm not sure how...

My mom not only has bi-polar but also is a manic depressant and she didn't go on meds until i was 14 or so..... it was a crazy life to live and very confusing to me. When she went on the meds she was like a zombie until they regulated her. She is obviously better than she was before the medicine so i would suggest that your friend go on meds for sure, but know that even with the meds she wont be "normal". Its a strange thing bi-polar but with medication she can live less of a crazy lifestyle and the people that love her will also be more calm. I cant tell you anything that will help you when you are trying to help her when she has her episodes, i spose all you can do is be there when she needs you and try to be understand but also very firm..... you cant cater to her when she is a funk cuz its not gonna help her get out of it, nor does she need you yellin at her. Good luck and i wish your friend very many years of "normalcy", we sure do take that for granted, dont we?