I think my friend is having a manic episode and I'm worried
A bit of background: I (40F) met a friend (40M) through group therapy and we really bonded. We checked in with each other literally every day for over a year, but eventually had a falling out. We left it with no hard feelings, but he made it clear that he wasn't interested in talking to me any more. That was last summer.
Two weeks ago: he emails me out of the blue two weeks ago to let me know he's running for president. Of the United States. In all seriousness. The email is now deleted, but the main points were:
- The first thing he said was "No, I'm not in crisis or a diminished mental state".
- He's been thinking about everything going on "non-stop".
- He's going to do everything he can to win or die trying.
- He didn't really know why he was reaching out to tell me, he just needed "to tell someone who knows WHO he is".
I wrote back and was supportive, but also let him know I was there if he needed to talk. No response. A week goes by, I check online and see he started a website and had been active on reddit the same day he emailed me, but no activity since then. I start to worry and email him again. No response. Finally, I text him and THAT prompts a brief email from him saying everything is fine, he's "just busy capturing the platform".
So that's where I left it. I haven't tried to contact him and I want to believe him that this is just a stroke of divine inspiration. However, my sense and my gut say otherwise. I'm especially worried because I have no idea where he is now, I don't think he has anyone he's in contact with, and because of what he's struggled with in the past.
I also don't know how to feel about the fact that he reached out to me and then went radio silent again. I want to give him grace, but I also can't help but feel a little pissed off and confused. I honestly have no idea what I should do and this has been bothering me for days. Thanks for listening. ❤️