u/Easy_Health_3822

My cousin has bipolar disorder and has been off medication and psychiatric treatment for about 1–2 years.

We recently convinced him to see a doctor, who felt he was having a mild episode and prescribed medication. The doctor also recommended follow-up with a psychiatrist.

The problem is that my cousin doesn’t believe he is sick or needs treatment.

After picking up the medication, he read the warning label and became convinced it might kill him. We had him speak with both the doctor and pharmacist, but he is still afraid to take it.

Some things we’ve noticed:

Sleeps very little at times
Sends very long emails and text messages
Talks for long periods and gets stuck on certain topics
Has trouble following through with appointments and treatment
Doesn’t seem to recognize how much this is affecting his life

His marriage has fallen apart and his wife has left. His parents, sister, and extended family are exhausted and worried. There have also been past mental health crises where law enforcement became involved because the family didn’t know what else to do.

One thing I’ve noticed is that when he’s highly energized, talking nonstop, and fixated on ideas, it’s almost impossible to discuss treatment. However, when he’s more rested and calm, he seems much more open to listening.

We’re currently trying to get him connected with a psychiatrist.

For those who have gone through this themselves or helped a loved one:

What helped them accept treatment?
What conversations worked?
What mistakes should we avoid?
Is there a better time to discuss treatment?
Has anyone dealt with someone refusing medication because they were afraid of the side effects?

We’re not trying to force him. We just want to help him get better before things get worse.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My cousin has bipolar disorder and has been off medication and psychiatric treatment for about 1–2 years.
We recently convinced him to see a doctor. The doctor felt he was having a mild episode, prescribed medication, and recommended follow-up with a psychiatrist.
The problem is that my cousin doesn't believe he is sick or needs treatment.
After picking up the medication, he read the warning label and became convinced it might kill him. We had him speak with both the doctor and pharmacist, but he is still very hesitant and doesn't want to take it.
Some things we've noticed over the last couple of years:
Sleeps very little at times

Sends very long emails and text messages

Talks for long periods and gets stuck on certain topics

Has trouble following through with appointments and treatment

Doesn't seem to recognize how much this is affecting his life

His marriage has fallen apart and his wife has left. His parents, sister, and extended family are exhausted and worried. We've also had previous mental health crises where law enforcement became involved because the family didn't know what else to do.
One thing I've personally noticed is that conversations seem to go very differently depending on his mental state. When he's highly energized, talking nonstop, fixated on ideas, or arguing every point, it's almost impossible to have a productive conversation about treatment. He tends to reject concerns and find reasons why he doesn't need help.
However, when he's more rested, calmer, and emotionally grounded, he seems much more open to listening and having reasonable conversations. It almost feels like I need to wait for the right moment to talk about treatment.
Has anyone else experienced this?
We're currently trying to get him connected with a psychiatrist and keep him engaged with treatment.
For people who have been through something similar:
What helped your loved one accept treatment?

What conversations worked?

What mistakes should we avoid?

How do you help someone who genuinely doesn't think they are sick?

Is there a better time or approach to discuss treatment?

We're not trying to force him. We just want to help him get better before things get worse.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.