Im glad you will be talking to a Therapist.. You need help to manage such a huge change in your life. You will also need to learn how to forgive yourself for all of it. Of course you won't forget but you can't keep beating yourself to death over, That will take time and kindness to yourself....

What now? You need to focus on finding stability and learning every coping skill you can..

Talking to loved ones about your Bipolar? I think the surface stuff is okay.. Like Oh I am feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sleeping well. I'm feeling down.. But family and friends honestly wont have much advice as they don't understand how living with Bipolar is. It can often burn people out. Actually I don't really talk to my husband about how I am Bipolar wise. If I am really not doing well I give him a heads up.

That is why having a Therapist is very important for YOU. My Bipolar takes up very little space in my marriage. I have my T and close friends that have Bipolar that I can talk to and they " Get it"

As for down the road and if you were to start dating someone? I do not feel the Bipolar card needs tossed out from the start. You might be on date 4 and realize he just isn't anyone you would want to go on date # 5 with.. You are not just " Bipolar" If your seeing someone for a while and its going well then of course that needs to be brought into the relationship. A Therapist can help you with how to tell another person about your particular Bipolar. We might all have the diagnosis of Bipolar but everyone's is different.

I hope that you will give yourself the love and kindness you need to heal and go on with your life even if its not how you had pictured it to be..

Take care