A Friend In Need

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I have this friend of mine who i think may be suffering from depression but i'm not sure. BTW i am talking about a friend just in case people think i'm talking about myself.

Here's the story, this guy is 22 and over the last couple of years he's goes through these bouts every 4 or 5 months of what i think is depression. these bouts last for maybe 2 or 3 weeks at a time and during that time he can be really down, very moody, he feels like the whole world is against him, he feels guilt, loneliness. He doesn't really have any people he can confide in except for myself.. i know on a few times he's felt suicidal but i know he's too scared to do it. He keeps to himself and is not very sociable during this time. but the weird thing is that after a while he snaps out of it and is very bubbly and energetic, he's positive and always planning stuff. I've heard that people who suffer from it can jump thru conversations quickly which is another thing.

anyway i keep telling him when he's going thru these phases to see someone who can help him like a doctor, but he's one of these guys who won't do things for himself but only if he's dragged along.. if you know what i mean. He's always bottling stuff inside and keeping his emotions together so i dont always know what he's feeling though i think i'm the one he trusts the most

Can anyone help, does this sound familiar. if anyone can help please do so. you can pm me or even email - its in my profile, please be patient with my response.

It sounds like your friend could actually have a bi-polar disorder, or even cyclothymia. He definitely should try to get some help. He could actually find himself free of symptoms if he did. You mentioned talking to him and trying to convince him to get help when he is in a depression cycle. Have you tried talking to him when he is not in one? When he is "positive and planning stuff"? He might be more receptive and willing to act then. I don't know how appropriate this would be for you guys, but you might even offer to go to his initial visit with him, if that helps. Of course you would want to check with the therapist about that.You sound like a great friend. I'm glad you're there for him.

I agree with damien, this does sound like bipolar - he's cycling between depression and mild mania (when he is "bubbly", full of plans and talks fast).People with bipolar often respond brilliantly to lithium, but they have to be dragged to the doctor, because when they are depressed it's too much trouble to go themselves and they don't feel it's worth it, and when they are manic they don't feel any need.

I've tried talking to him during both stages - when he's down there's no getting through to him. when he's better and more 'positive' he tries to make out he's fine and there's nothing wrong with him.i could try that idea of going along with him. he's kind of one of those people that'll do something if there's someone along with him.

Yeah, that's kind of a typical reaction from someone with a bipolar disorder. IT's like a hole in the roof. When it's raining, you can't fix it. When it's not raining, you don't need to.Maybe if you could catch him in one of those rational times, when he's not having a depressive or a manic episode, and talk to him then, it might help.