-in-law diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma..she is bipolar...often depressed...won't take meds... how do i keep her in a positive mental state

Hi tifeni,

Welcome to EmpowHER.  Many people with bipolar disorder need medication to remain stable and healthy, but they're sometimes resistant to the idea of taking medication. One common concern is that medication will take the "edge" off of your personality; people with bipolar disorder are often creative and eccentric and fear that being medicated will change that. People who are taking medication may stop taking it once they begin to feel better, mistakenly believing they no longer need it. Whatever the reason for resistance, with encouragement you can help.

• Be positive. Talk about the things she's accomplished and how good she feels when she's taking her medication.
• If she's concerned that taking medication will change her personality, remind her of the fun you have when she's taking it, and that she's still the same person.
• Offer to accompany her to the doctors so you can help her remember to ask about things like side effects and how long the medication will take to work. Later, if she has concerns, you can address them based on what you learned. 

Bipolar Disorder

Best,

Daisy