I'm back to post about the same topic that I seem to write endlessly about, never arriving at a solution. I understand it's a complicated situation and I'm posting this not only to get outside perspective but also in the hopes of providing perspective to others.

I have been in my long term relationship with my fiance for about five years and we have continually had the same issues. Yesterday I was reading an article on the Huffington Post called Ten Signs Your Relationship is All Wrong For You (article here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/10-signs-your-relationship-is-all-wrong-for-you_55fb2a22e4b08820d917fa51?3tedn29

The article was so eye-opening and sparked a rather dire conversation between my partner and I. It talked about how there are three different facets to every relationship - intellectual, emotional, and sexual (I'm sure you could add many more) and that if there was a disconnect in one or more of these areas that that would be grounds for a breakup. This hit me hard. A huge theme in our relationship has been me constantly feeling like my needs are not being met intellectually as well as sexually (they are sort of one in the same for me if you get me). My fiance has been doing all kinds of things to try to better himself and to fulfill my needs but it's just not happening. Since I am bipolar, it has been easy to brush this issue under the rug and tell myself that my needs in these areas are far larger than they should be and that if I feel myself wanting more it means an episode is coming on or I need a med adjustment. Whether or not this is true, I am me, and I think I will always have these needs. I love my partner very much but my needs aren't being met. Do my needs count even though I am bipolar? Every day I have this nagging feeling inside me and I know that's it's my unmet needs just eating away at me. Should I stay in a safe and supportive relationship that is lacking in other areas?

So what I'm wondering is...

Do you honor your needs for intellectual and sexual stimulation despite being bipolar? Why or why not?

If you're in a relationship, has the relationship been able to meet your needs and if not, what have you done to get your needs met? In the past I have cheated to get my needs met and I worry it will happen again.

Life is just constantly kicking my *** across the board.