I am convinced my mums friend has bipolar (i have previously posted symptoms asking for advice), out of the last 2 weeks shes been in bed 12 days and hasn't eaten a thing, everyday she says she'll go to doctors then says they can't help her, says shes up and better and going to work, then you phone and shes not there and this has been happening more on than off for the last 2 years.

I know this is asking a lot, but i just wondered if anyone, as many as possible, please could post their experiences of before, and after receiving treatment, how low and bad they felt and how they feel now,(my way of trying to help her see that things could be better if she just gets help!).

I thought if i could show her that its not her and other people have dealt with this I could maybe get her to see someone, the 'light at the end of the tunnel' theory, i guess!

I want to thank anyone who responds to this and am grateful for any help given. I have read many posts on here looking for help and i think your all inspiring, its a very informative site.
thanks again!

Aw hun, I hope you find the information you need to help your friend.
As for me, about 16 years ago, my husband and I decided to split up.
I had just had a baby and we had 3 other children.
I am also a survivor a child abuse.
To cut a long story short, I locked myself in my room for 6 months, my older children looked after the younger ones, I knew this, but still there was nothing I could do about it.
I cried all the time, I wouldn’t go anywhere and people had to bring food into me or I wouldn’t eat either.
I didn’t know what was wrong, someone took me to counseling for child abuse and also to a doctor who told me I had chronic depression and told me I would have to take medication for it for the rest of my life.
Apparently, I had always had it but this event set me off...
No one gave me anymore information on it, not even the doctor would talk to me about it, it was like, just believe me and take these pills and by the way, go on a diet…

There is a light at the end of tunnel, for your friend and you.
But your friend needs to see for herself that she has a psychological problem and that she wants to be helped; otherwise, you could be making matters worse.

Take care :D