1. How many of you who are bipolar unspecified are happily married?
I am successfully married.

2. Can you manage your stress?
I try to manage it with exercise, getting enough sleep, taking meds, brainstorming how to reduce it.

3. Does your mate understand you as well as possible?
I think he tries, but biochemically our brains are different, so he can never truly understand what it is like to be BP. He does know how I act when I am not well, and will point out-that's your illness talking.

4. Have there ever been times your mate wishes they weren't married to you?
Yes. It's a lot for a spouse to handle, I think due to the unpredictability of the disorder.

5. Have you been in the hospital since you've been married, due to stressors of being part of the household to make money, spend it wisely, and deal with marital issues?
Yes I was hospitalized for a week, it was hard for him to see me like that. But I got better.

I think the main thing that has contributed to our success has been that I am responsible for my own mental health. He can't fix it, and I don't expect him to. I will let him know I am struggling, and he provides support, but we know he will never be able to solve this for me.