[Vowel Lady]

Our relative...who is in her mid twenties has been going through a rough patch.

She has been dx'd BP 1. (Bipolar) She had one evaluation in her early teens and the result was mild Aspergers, however, both her regular psychologist and her reg. psychiatrist who had/have been seeing her for many years disagreed with this. No doubt about the BP, but I wonder about the Aspergers sometimes. Doesn't entirely meet criteria, but I can say her social skills are very weak and she often is anxious around people. She doesn't see her former psychologist or any psychologist anymore. She never remembers to show up for her appointments.

She continues to associate with others who are just unkind people. She herself, is usually very nice. She can be moody, but has a kind heart. She was often grouchy with my husband and I in the past, but I made it clear to her that if she wanted our help, she would need to curtail this, and fortunately she did. She is rarely grouchy with us today and this is much appreciated and noteworthy.

She befriended a young woman, who also has BP Disorder, but who has anything but a kind heart. They had a disagreement and while in public, this young woman, beat our relative about the head after calling her a rather vile word (just think of the worst thing you can think of ). The police were called, etc. legal stuff pending..,so I can't speak too much about this.

Questions...
We have spoken to her repeatedly about associating with others who are unkind, but she continues to do this. When you were in your 20s, did you tend to make this mistake?
We might move out of the area in a few years, but now are afraid to leave her alone.
Any advice at all? I'm forlorn and now worried for her safety.
She is also over eating very badly. Diabetes runs in her biological family. I wish she would just switch from regular coke to water and an occasional diet coke. No such luck. I guess I can't control everything...but I see the writing on the wall.

If nothing else...thanks for letting me get this stuff off my chest.