Originally Posted by Brain patch

about bipolar

I was wondering if you guys could give me some advise regarding bi- polar?
I have a friend (actually she is my second cousin) who has bi-polar. She is also a really bad alcoholic. She is in jail right now for getting three DUI's. I know that she drinks and takes drugs to try to deal with the symptoms of her bi-polar. At least this is what I think. What kind of medication helps somebody like this? What kind of a doctor would I take her to? Her family has kicked her out of the house and makes her feel like **** about herself. They think this is her own fault. I think she has a medical problem that if dealt with correctly she could overcome the drinking and drugging. What do you guys think? Any advise on how to help her or handle the situation would be much appreciated. Is tough love the best thing to do? I just don't think so when the person has an underlying condition. How can she make good choices if she is never thinking correctly? What else can she do besides self medicate if this condition feels so bad. I think anyone would. Please any advise would be most welcome. I would really like to help her. I have reached out to her before and offered to help her get on disability. I saw a lot of people who were granted disability due to bi-polar. I told her you do not have to work for someone who you have to have sex with to have a job. She thinks she has to do this type of behavior so they will overlook her episodes.
I appreciate the advise.
Thank you guys,
Brain
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Brain patch.

Had MVA in 2006 resulting in post concussive syndrome manifested by cognitive impairment, chronic pain/ fatigue. Chronic pain of head, neck, back, left leg.
Other problems include REM sleep behavior disorder, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, chronic migraines associated with nausea/vertigo, episodes of passing out, hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction (had accidental overdose of acetaminophen in 2009) had liver and kidney failure, hernia, degenerative disc disease with compression of nerve root, PTSD, and other problems associated with functioning problems from traumatic brain injury (light, sound sensitive, easily overloaded, easily distracted, cannot focus, anxiety problems etc.)