Earlier this year, I had dated someone for about 3 months who was also diagnosed with Bipolar I. He was pending a divorce and lived in a separate residence from his wife while we dated. The relationship was really strong the first two months, and on the third month- his wife found out we were dating through one of his neighbors.

She was devastated, and we agreed to cool off our dating. During this time- he had a number of anxiety attacks that led to him going to the ER. He also changed his Bipolar medication. He really wasn't acting like himself. I called his psychiatrist and left a detailed message with his nurse stating that I thought he needed to be hospitalized.

One of the topics that came up throughout our discussion was that his wife didn't believe in bipolar- she thought that he was faking and that psychiatrists are a crock. She told him- you're an addict to these pills, and if you would just stop drinking- you would be fine.

So- he told me that he was going to stop taking his bipolar meds & go to AA. I advised against it, told him he needed a 2nd opinion from a pdoc. He developed a tapering plan. He ended up losing his job. I told him that he wasn't taking care of himself- with everything going on in his life- we couldn't be in a relationship- and we basically came to a mutual agreement and remained friends. This was back in April.

He ended up overdosing in July, and I didn't find about it until early August. I am so devastated- he was successful from a professional standpoint, great father, and it is shame to see what happened. I was so upset when his obituary listed him as being married- but I understand why. I didn't attend the funeral out of respect for his wife- she asked me not to go.

Just wanted to share that the bipolar struggle is real & it is devastating when the bipolar wins.