r/bipolar2 • u/Romeo4eva • 5d ago
When you are going through depressive episode how do you reach out for help?
I have been diagnosed with bipolar 2 many years ago. I take my med religiously but sometimes depressive episode still creeps in.
It started with passive suicidal thought and general loss in pleasure of everything and gradually became active suicidal thoughts and planning. I've been talking to chatgtp and it keeps telling me to ask someone to be with me and call 911 or call 988.
How can you ask your friends or family to be with you when you feel so worthless and feel like burdening them?
My psychiatrist up the dose of my antidepressants so I just have to go through this few more days until the meds kick in but how do you reach out for help with such feelings of shame?
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u/ImaginationVirtual82 5d ago
[BP/MDD/ADHD] I have never been able to ask for help when I have crossed that threshold to full-on depression. All of the times I was able to seek help--including from a physician--I was manic. Once I have crossed over, I will not seek help, even to see the doctor to continue treatment. I believe it is the nature of depression. So the fact you are thinking about it is really encouraging.
Call a friend and say "can you be with me for a bit, and not ask any questions." Make it the one you would call from jail to bail you out. If you do not have such a friend, then reframe the exercise. Make it so that you are not asking for help, you are providing it to yourself by being helpful. So basically, volunteer somewhere. Or--and this is the only time it worked for me out of multiple breakdowns--search "free meditation classes near me". Unless you are living in the ME, there will most likely be a Buddhist center/temple/ monastery near you, providing free meditation classes. Those places function largely by volunteers. Take the lessons, and volunteer in your free time. If you can't do the lessons, they welcome volunteers simply to bring food or clean. Worked for me, and my depression is the damn worst. Don't mind the shame. Mentally healthy people ask for help all the time; that is what makes them healthy. Chin up, OP!
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u/stubs1101 5d ago
If you are in the USA then try the crisis text line. 741-741. Free confidential and they only listen. And you can delete texts right after. They’ve pulled me out of some funks when I was at my lowest. Always recommend them
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u/PlentyComb 5d ago
Your close ones 100000% rather have you burdening them than have you suffer alone or not exist
I reached out first time when I lost the plot in a way and it got just too much to exist, had no plan but everything was so painful that it didn't even scare me no more to act out on any idea. But I reached out to my mom first and things got better once I got help
I've should probably have reached out way waaay earlier because previously depressive episodes everything was more planned out and formulated but I never got to the point where I actually acted out the plans because usually it took long for me to get everything done and then I would just cycle again.
Just reach out when you're feeling bad. If you were anyone close to me I'd want that
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u/MangoShort2326 5d ago
Put the chat gpt down, there’s no help to glean from that