Advice on missing friend

audiodef

I was wondering has any advice. An old college buddy came to stay at my house last week. She was laid off, moved to NY for a while, then came back to my area to get divorced from her estranged husband. She was staying with various friends before staying with me and my girlfriend.

When we picked her up from the subway station, she was exhausted, incoherent and reeked of booze. She admitted to having lived on the street between our picking her up and her leaving the house of the last friend she stayed with. She admitted to being bipolar and having been diagnosed as such before she lost her job. She has medication for this condition, which she was not consistently taking. She engaged in odd behaviour consistent with not only bipolar disorder, but schizophrenia. For all that, she was consistent in notifying us whenever her plans changed, and punctual when she needed us to pick her up from the subway.

She went out Tuesday morning and we have not seen her since. She was supposed to have met with her therapist in a joint session with her husband. We've been unable to reach her since Tuesday afternoon. Another friend said she tried to reach her without success also. What few personal items she was traveling with, including clothing, phone charger and medication, were left at my house.

Yesterday we filed a missing person report with the local police. At some point, I might start calling area hospitals and putting missing person ads in area newspapers. I've also found and contacted her brother, but he hasn't responded to what I've told him (he also has a psychological disorder and apparently her entire family has various conditions. I don't know how much they will actually do toward finding her). I'm very worried and the longer I don't hear from my friend, the more I fear the worst.

Other than what I've mentioned, is there anything else I can do?

robsol · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:35 am Post subject:

I don't know what else to do, except pray if you are so inclined, and hope for the best.

It is quite usual that people with bipolar don't like to take their medication, for various reasons. They have no problem drinking alcohol or taking all sorts of other recreational drugs though, which more than often make their contidion worse.

I hope that all works out well for you and you friend.

audiodef · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:18 am Post subject:

Things are looking up, somewhat. I just heard from my friend's brother, who said my friend is in a hospital. He said he'd like to call soon, so hopefully I will know more shortly.

mosc · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:37 am Post subject:

Sounds like the hospital is the best place for her, for now. She is fortunate to have you as friend.

audiodef · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject:

I think it is. She wanted to check herself in in the first place, and that's always a good sign.

She's a good person and I'm looking forward to hanging out when she's out.

pyrosonic · Joined: Jul 12, 2008 Posts: 383 Location: Kent,Oh. USA

Yeah,what Howard said.Good luck and bless you for being the kind of friend you are.

audiodef · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks, guys. I just want my friends to be well. It hurts me to see them suffer.