First of all, I'm poly and married which I feel is important background. I also have bipolar as well as PTSD and anxiety as my main diagnoses.

Two years ago I dated a guy who said he had bipolar and used it to manipulate me because it reality he was a sociopathic piece of ****. After it ended with him I told my husband I wouldn't date somebody bipolar again because I felt their mania/depression would trigger my own. However, I have since realized that might not be true and that it could have just been the manipulation and had nothing to do with the bipolar aspect which he may or may not have actually had.

Recently I've developed a crush on a friend who has very very similar bipolar symptoms as I do, and I love spending time with her because she understands and whatnot. However, my husband is afraid of me even potentially seeing someone with bipolar because he is worried it will trigger me and spiral me down.

I typically rely on him and others to help me figure out reality because it is something I do have issues determining. However, I don't know whether his concerns are valid or if they have to do with the trauma we went through with the past abusive "bipolar" boyfriend.

Thoughts on how I should proceed? Have you ever dated someone bipolar? Etc?