[Deanna Morgan]

my bi polar disorder ruined my marriage i am divorced now cuz my husband couldnt handle it any other women or men out there have bi polar ruin their relationships?

[blueoctober]

Hi Deanna I haven't had a serious relationship since I was diagnosed, but prior to being diagnosed the BP was definitely a factor for issues in the relationship. Now that I am managing the bipolar well I'm hoping that a long lasting relationship will be possible. I also look at it from the perspective that every relationship has issues. The BP may cause different issues, but I don't think it ruins a relationship.

Yup. The irony was that after 25 years together (5 living together, 20 married) and me being a completely unbearable person...undiagnosed, unmedicated and turning everything upside down on a regular basis, he finally said, "I just can't deal with your mood swings anymore!" after I was diagnosed, medicated and finally stable(!) (Need to note here to anyone... this is a very unusual and bizarre. Do NOT let it in ANY way deter you from seeking help. There is more to the story.... which is the far more relevant part...)

And here that is: I had emotionally left the marriage about 10 years before this happened. Credit where credit is hugely due, honestly, the things that man put up with(!) It was my idea to finally call it quits, and very likely he was just lashing out. I was a very challenging person to live with, especially for someone who was my complete opposite and very very stable! I had to consider, and consider hard, if my rather sudden decision of physical departure was just me being hypomanic again, because it can be hard to recognize, especially when one is pretty new to the diagnosis and not well-versed in recognizing the signs yet. Finally concluded that no, it wasn't. It was just long overdue and it was my massive depressions that delayed me being mentally equipped to act on it. It really was the bipolar though. Because besides the challenges of living with me... In one of my biggest (ok, the biggest!) rash and completely irrational ideas, I landed us in a place where we were both miserable. Um, guess about how many years ago When I realized (and regretted, yet again) what I'd done (why do I keep doing these kinds of things?!), it was major depression time again which kicked off a very unstable decade, filled with massive depressions. So yeah, it was the bipolar alright.

Also important to note: I feel much more confident to handle relationships better now that I know I've got BP and am working on being stable. So it doesn't have to ruin relationships by any means. Knowledge and awareness go a long long way to making them better. Unmedicated and unaware, it definitely makes relationships challenging in its own special ways..., especially for the other person, imo.

[sad nana]

I was diagnosed bipolar in Sept of 09- manic & went in the hospital. Then in Jan 2010 went into a depression so deep that I'm still in. I was hospitalized in Feb. for suicidal thoughts. My husband has been with me and pays for all the bills that my depression has brought on. But I isolated myself from him and everyone since Feb. I moved to a different bedroom to sleep better, but I thnk it was more than that too. I finally moved back into our bedroom about a week ago, and today I told him that I want our intimacy back in our lives, and that I loved him and appreciated him and all that he's been through with me and done for me. We had a really big hug and he tightly squeezed me. We kissed. There still is hope for us. Even though I still have anhedonia, I want to make love again. Maybe it will fire up some dopamine in my brain and it will slowly bring us back together. Please pray that we will make it and that these new meds I'm on will help me out of my darkness.

[Lexaproman]

There is no question that living with someone with our problem is a challenge. But it is a part of who you are.

My first marriage ended as a result but I did not know my problem then so therefore she did not either. And obviously I wasn't dealing with it.

I am married now and it is totally different because 1- I am taking it head on and 2 - this woman has known me for many years and 3- I do not make excuse or let my illness become the family problem as much as I possibly can

[sugahorse1]

It sure is difficult, but I am trying to educate my partner and also do my best to keep myself in check. I need to be honest with him, mostly about how I'm really feeling, and what I need from him to feel better. If I'm feeling down, I need to make the effort to pick myself up, and also not drag him down.
It is hard, but through talking and education, a lot of progress can be made.