Emotion: sadness
Problem: problems with friends
Situation: A very close friend is suffering from bi-polar disorder and is having difficulty with everyday life.

assistant: Hello, how may i help you today?

user: Hello: Thanks for offering to help. My friend Mark is suffering from bi-polar disorder, and despite being on medication, is spiraling out of control. His mood swings are affecting his ability to stay employed and keep friends and family from wanting to interact with him.

assistant: I am so sorry about your friend mark. I will try my best to help you today. Is your friend mark behavior affecting you?

user: I suspect he's not taking his medication as prescribed. He's become a sociopath, which I understand is common with people suffering from this disorder. He's unable to be empathic or sympathetic to anyone else's life.

assistant: To confirm your friend mark, you suspect he is not taking his medicine and that is why he is acting the way he is?

user: Yes, it is affecting me. In sum, I'm the only one left in his corner, but I feel like he's slipping away and becoming completely dysfunctional. It's tough with privacy laws for me to even talk to his doctor to see what's going on. I did send his doctor a long email, however, so hopefully he'll make whatever adjustments need to be made. That's my suspicion, because things seem to be getting worse, quite honestly.

assistant: Have you talked to mark about his behavior and how it is affecting everyone around him? I can understand how you feeling and that you are trying to help your friend. you are a very good friend for doing that.

user: I have talked to him repeatedly. Each time, he assures me that he understands my concerns and that he's going to get things together. Literally, within a day or two, I hear from a mutual friend or family member that he's reverted back to doing things that are sociopathic.

assistant: Have you asked him about him taking his medication?

user: I have. He tells me that he's taking it regularly (or most of the time). I challenged him on it and told him it can't be "most of the time." That's why I sent his doctor a long email, explaining things to him, to see if he can't intervene and try to straighten him out.

assistant: ok. dealing with someone with bi-polar disorder can be really tough and challenging but it is not there fault that they are acting the way they are. They just honestly can not help it. I know you are doing everything you can to help him and to stop him from acting that way.

user: You're right. Mental illness, in all of its forms, is especially challenging. Physical illness is more easy to understand, of course.

assistant: you are right. So do not think he is doing it on purpose. Do not let it bring you down or hurt your feelings in anyway. When did this exactly start happening?

user: Thank you. I think you understand the sadness and anxiety in feeling powerless in this situation (or mostly powerless). I have no real expertise in this area, but by contacting his doctor, maybe he can reevaluate whether the medicine and dosage needs to be changed. Funny you ask. He's a grown man - 35-years old. I've never known him to have this issue, which seems so strange to me.

assistant: I understand a lot.

user: It started about 14 months ago - at least that's when people started alerting me to strange behavior. I thought people who were bi-polar contracted the illness earlier in their life.

assistant: How long have you known about his bi polar diorder?

user: Around 10 months ago is when I first found out. Since then, I've received about 5 phone calls from people expressing concern. I've visited him 3 times. Thanks for being so engaged and sympathetic. It does make me feel better just to unload anonymously on here. Thanks for carrying my burden and offering your support.

assistant: i got you. having a mental illness is challenging and i can provide you some suggestions.

user: Before we end the conversation, I'd love hearing a few of those suggestions, if you don't mind.

assistant: ok. just be there for him no matter what because you know he can not help it. Be understanding of his mental illness. i would be active in his treatment and make sure he knows to take medicine.

user: Thank you. You've been great. Have a nice holiday and new year! Those are two things I've tried to keep in mind and you've reinforced my instincts. Thanks again.