The Bipolar disorder does not excuse her behavior, but it does help to explain it.

If she had killed someone instead of cheating, she would be in jail because she still knew right from wrong. But the disordered thinking impaired her judgement.

By the way gordian...your story broke my heart enough to break off a nearly 6 month affair. I am not proud of what I did, and I still need a lot of help, but seeing just how painful it could be for my husband and child was enough to make me finally stop and get help.

And I do have a Bipolar I diagnosis now. Not just depression. A big relief to know what's really going on with me now.