This PsychCentral online bipolar support group forum is the main one I visit nowadays. The other one (on a different website) has become very slow, and seems to often attract more girlfriends or boyfriends of a person with bipolar disorder than people with bipolar disorder themselves. They love to ask people with bipolar disorder why their bipolar bf/gf breaks up with them all of the time. I'll admit that over the last 8 years, I have probably seen hundreds of basically the same post with that topic. Generally, the members with bipolar disorder (including me) often tell them to just "move on", especially if it's a recurring issue. After all, if someone kept breaking up with me (a person with bipolar disorder), should I just move on? Why is it that since their loved one has bipolar disorder that they should just hang on and hang on being hurt again and again?

In this group, we mostly all have bipolar disorder. I have some questions I'd love to hear people answer:

1. Do you have a history of frequently breaking up with non-bipolar gfs/bfs or spouses again and again? If so, why do you go back to the person? If not, why do you think you're different than those who do chronically break up?

2. If you do frequently breakup with a SO (of some sort), are you happy they waited for you (if they did)? Or if you were in their shoes, would you move on from you?

3. If you do frequently breakup with a SO, what are the usual reasons? Do you tend to want to move on from that person to make a "fresh start"?

4. Do you think your past/current tendencies to breakup a lot (or stick with relationships long-term) is more bipolar-related or personality or individual case-related?

Any other interesting thoughts on this topic would be welcome. I'll answer the questions myself in a bit.