Friend related WWYD?

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

If you had a friend whom you like but don't speak with often, and her FB status messages were screaming symptoms of a particular mental illness with which you're quite familiar, would you say anything?

I'm not at all attempting to diagnose anything, but the way she's been posting over the last few months just reeks of something that can be dangerous, and she's at the classic age for first episodes. I don't want to be paternalistic, but I would hate to see her and her family (she's in her early 20s, married with a 2 year old) suffer because nobody says anything until she winds up in the hospital...

What would you do?

mrs.a.butler

i would find a way to gently bring up your concerns.  anything that can become dangerous warrants action, I think. 

I went years and years dealing with major depression and dealing with trying to commit suicide, etc, and people never said anything to me (until after I got help...I found out my sister was concerned but never said anything!).  But I wish someone would have said something long before and I would have gotten help sooner.

littleanomaly

Are you close to a sibling/parent of her? This happened to a friend of mine and her brother called me to see what I knew and we spent a week playing phone tag with their mom and sister too. 

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

littleanomaly:

Are you close to a sibling/parent of her? This happened to a friend of mine and her brother called me to see what I knew and we spent a week playing phone tag with their mom and sister too. 

She's estranged from her family, and I don't know her husband well at all (I was already away at college when they met and started dating).

Joes_love

i hate situations like this :-(  i would try to message her and let her know you're concerned and willing to talk if she'd like.  or even just message her to see if she wants to get together and catch up and then mention something when you guys meet up if she's still worrying you.

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

Good call on the phone date, women! Thank you!

Hippinski

Joes_love:

i hate situations like this :-(  i would try to message her and let her know you're concerned and willing to talk if she'd like.  or even just message her to see if she wants to get together and catch up and then mention something when you guys meet up if she's still worrying you.

I would do this as well.  I'd have to do something...I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least try.