Update. The young man is safe, got some medication to sleep, and initial diagnosis is Bipolar Manic Acute Episode.

The good news is that he does not have a drug problem, and it does not appear to be schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has a slow cognitive mental decline associated with it and this young man is such a bright shining young star that it is good to not worry so much about watching him dim.

I know many bipolar folks who motor on just fine, as long as they take their medication. This is a good thing.

Mike@NorthBend, thanks for the NAMI reminder! Good Stuff!

I talked with a very cool psychiatrist friend at Swedish, Dr. Arpan Waghray, who reminded me that just accepting, being present, and "de stigmatizing" the whole process is a HUGE part of the outcome. Great advice.

I think this has torn me up so much both because it is a very close friend/family member, and because I am a doctor and am supposed to help, and I can do nothing.


If there are two things I would offer out to my colleagues here on PP the first would e a most sincere "Thank You" for taking a moment to send kind thoughts to my young friend and to me,and my friends and family, and the other would be to keep in mind that those who suffer from mental illness did not choose it , and when we can offer a smile or a nice comment it will not go un noticed.

And Thanks, especially, to Fog Ducker for just listening.

Triple Best,