My H is empathic other than with my MI and my ability to do things around the house. H thinks I use my MI to do so little. I try to explain to him it's not that way, and he says he can't differentiate between MI and laziness. I can't get him to understand that I already have to push to do what I do manage to get done.

It took him 12, 13 years before he even accepted there is MI between MI needing constant institutionalization, the in between, and no-MI. At least he does accept most of my MI diagnoses though not so much the ED or the ADHD. I question the ADHD myself. Who's to say it's not manic behavior and/or behavior caused by meds?

But even if it's used off-label for me, the Adderall lets me concentrate enough to read books again and watch TV shows, doesn't up my panic or mess with my sleep. The only thing it may be doing is increasing my sex drive but not to the point of hypersexuality, so more of a good thing than bad.

And it is tough. People with bipolar are all different: some of us are able to work a normal job, live a pretty normal life, maybe take meds or go to therapy and others have to fight to get anything done, even getting up & getting showered & dressed. I think H's problem lies in that he can't understand how bipolar can be a single diagnosis with so many differences between people.

It is not an easy thing to explain or to get people without MI to understand. And then on top of that, the anxiety & panic disorder with long-lasting panic attacks and such super-high anxiety I can't do a thing, and H having a rough time himself right now with finances and job searches.

It's hard.