Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 9/9/2004

Question
Hi,
  I am a church pastor, been at this church for 3 years.  We have a 60 year old woman with BiPolar.  She is fantastically smart and energetic but has had periods of hospitalization.  Before my eyes I watched her go from manic to depressive.  She left her husband and her daughter has cut off contact.  She is acting very crazy days and the next day she seems normal.  It is driving the whole church crazy because we don't know how to deal with her.  I asked her if she stopped taking her meds and she said "Yes, the doctor said I was perfectly normal."  I told her she needs to go back to the doctor and that made me her enemy.  She quit the church and said she wasn't coming back.  But she is still coming and disrupting everything.  She had a lot of money but says it's all gone because she gave it away.  She only eats McDonalds cheese burgers and diet cola and says if I give her food she will give it away.  
  My question is "How can I help her not go off the edge and hurt herself or others."  She had been taking rough abused teen boys off the street to her apartment and they have been taking advantage of her.  I have been trying to have her husband do something but he is in middle of divorce and says lawyer doesn't want him to contact her.  Her daughter is a basket case.  What can the church do for her?

Answer
Dear Don,

I can understand how difficult it is for you to help. But your help is nevertheless appreciated. I am always in great admiration of Christians how they are always ready to help other people. Bipolar disorder is definitely a disorder that can be treated by medication such as lithium carbonate.

I also know from experience working with Bipolar people, that going on a hypoglycemic diet will reduce many of the symptoms of bipolar disorder. She really should be under the supervision of a doctor who is also familiar with nutritional therapy.

We have an article called “Nutritional Aspects of Schizophrenia” and much of that information also applies to Bipolar Disorder. You can find it at our web site using the search engine, you will eventually get there.

The problem is of course that you need the cooperation of the person involved. Apparently she lacks the insight that she needs help and that would make it extremely difficult to help her. If she does not want to be helped then we have to leave it to the hard knocks of life to teach her, that ultimately we all have to be responsible for our behaviour. If she is a danger to other people or to herself, then something can be done legally. It is then that people can put her on proper medication and put her on the hypoglycemic diet.

It is called ‘tough love', and may be you should discuss this with her family members. She certainly should not be allowed to disturb your church meetings.

This is the best advice I can give you.

Jurriaan Plesman
Free web site
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au