To manipulate or not to manipulate? That is the question.

It's been a crazy two weeks.

And I really mean crazy. Crazy as in dysfunctional, abnormal, psychotic, bi-polar week.

My cousin came down early this year to start a new "life" in Sydney. You see, she's been diagnosed as bi-polar and has Hashimoto's Disorder. She's been fighting this for three years now. She's had to quit school in Singapore (where she caused a fair amount of havoc) and concentrate on getting better - with therapy and intense medication.

She was alright in the beginning, for some reason she took a liking to me. Confiding in me and basically growing really attached to me. I was okay with it but you know how I am. I like my space.
But anyway, a month ago, she tentatively confided one of her biggest secrets. She's a lesbian. But she lied to me though, she told me that her mom knew about it. And she started developing serious feelings for this exchange student from Korea.
One minute things were okay, and the next we find out that she's stopped taking her medications for a month and that she's stalking everyone in the hostel. Having intense "episodes" and paranoid delusions.

I experienced it first-hand myself. She started calling me every 15 minutes (no I'm not kidding) and talking incoherently. Of course, we all panicked and my aunt had to come f lying down to handle everything. It's sad that she had to find out from the people at her hostel that my cousin is a lesbian.
Anyway, my aunt stopped her uni education immediately and booked flights back home in the same week. And boy getting her to take her medications again was a chore. And who did it fall to? You guessed it. My mom. Heh. I have to admit - watching my mom take charge and fall into the "nurse" role was quite interesting. She somehow managed to coax her into taking it. If only she wasn't so "head-on" with Sabbie. She might actually get some things done. I suppose it's just the mother in her.
Anyway!
I feel guilty. Like maybe, if I had kept more in touch with her, maybe I could have prevented it. Maybe I could have forseen it. I was too wrapped up in my own life to take much notice of her. My mom thinks I could have done more for her (no surprise there).

So anyway, the thing that's really bugging me now is that I'm one of the few people she respects and trusts. And my mom and my aunt are relying on me to tell her that being a lesbian is abnormal, and that there is no future in it. In other words, they want me to manipulate her. To correct her "confusion".

I don't know what to do.

One of my best friends is one and I do not love her any less. But this is ground I'm too scared to walk on.
Do I think it's abnormal? I know I probably wouldn't be one myself (though I can honestly say there are times I wish I was - Men! Hmph) or choose this path. But to manipulate someone and discourage them from actually going down that path? I don't know if it is in my right.

And so here I am, torn. Confused. Unable to move. Both sides are relying on me. Which path do I take?

And as if this is not enough, my aunt thinks that she's growing "attached" to me and seeing me "in a different light". Oh jeez.. that's just too weird. I know that my aunt's not over-reacting because there are tell-tale signs.
Oh jeez.
She's my cousin! She's family. I can't just back away and tell everyone that it's not my problem.
She's had a relapse and I should try to help a little.

It's really freaky dealing with someone like this. I know now that I could never be a psychologist or psychiatrist. And my hat is off for those people who actually are or aspiring to become one.

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P.S. And I thought I had issues!!