[Theresa1991]

How do you guys deal with relationships? Do they help or do they make everything worse and trigger episodes? I kind of feel I should stay out of relationships for a while but then I start to feel so lonely or rather I kind of have a talent to stumble over an ABSOLUTELY fascinating person right in the moment when I least need it and slid into my next relationship and feel completely amazing for a few weeks until things start to change and I feel far away and unrelated and draw back further and further. My last relationship was just a rollercoaster and I loved and hated it at the same time.

[gayleggg]

Relationships are not easy. I've been married for 19 years but it's been up and down. I even wound up having affairs. Now things are fairly smooth and I was forgiven for my transgressions, so things have been pretty peaceful since then. When I was younger I was like you, going from one relationship to another, never being happy for long. But relationships can work, It's just not easy.

[Wander]

I am single and wonder how i will find a guy i love who will be able to love me and put up with my bad times. it would have to be some very special kinda guy. been thinking about online dating but am scared as i expect they will run once they find out what they're dealing with. the rejection would be tough.

[Coconutzo]

Relationships turn out to be really stabilizing for me, at least solid ones. I still have gnarly up and downs, but I fight harder to work through them without burning down my life. They give me some kind of hope.

However, short term relationships and "dating" are like napalm for my bipolar. I get triggered in both directions over and over relentlessly. I usually end up totally out of control.

My advice is to take things slow and be VERY VERY discerning about who you let in. And see a therapist regularly. Spare no detail. Have someone in place to keep you in check while you brave new connections.
But by all means, do it.
All we need is love.

[Theresa1991]

I had a long term relationship (six years) and he was really depressed and at some point I could't deal with it anymore because he was not willing to fight it at all (in my opinion). He just took it out on me all the time, being nasty and aggressive and I fought really hard to stay with him but in the end I left him. Since then it's been a total mess and I just go from falling in love to falling apart, haha.

[moremi]

I met someone a couple months back. We clicked immediately. Ive never met anyone like him in my life. I absolutley adore him. I fell head over heals in love right away. I am not a person who ever ever does this. I just spent a year with a guy that loved me deeply and i just couldnt love him i tried so hard and i know that wasnt fair but back to my new relationship, he makes me laugh like i have never laughed in my life my cheeks litterally hurt every night. I can feel my heart pound when he grabs me. I have never felt this way and i was with my ex husband for 22 years so i find this astonishing! How is this? Ive known him sinse sept 18th... i did find out that he too is prob bipolar. I think he has a diagnosis but doesnt take meds. I just worry that it will be bad for us that we both are bipolar. He is short tempered but only gets mad for a sec and is right back to himself. Im used to that hes just like my brother is. My brother is bipolar and refuses meds as well. I just love him so much already and he is so intriguing. Hes a very intersting person and i love to laugh and there is no shortage of that around him. I guess im just wondering if anyones ever dated another bipolar person?

[purplesmilingpanda]

I avoid relationships completely. I have been alone for the last 3 years after destroying everything with my ex-fiance. We split a month before our wedding. It was super messy. I was unmedicated and untreated at the time. We briefly tried to fix things this year but there`s too much pain on both sides for it to work out.. other than that, I don`t do dates or dating sites or anything.. if somehow I meet someone in the real world while not looking, I will consider it.. but I am not looking for it. Too much stress and heart ache.

[Unrigged64072835]

I didn't think I would be in a good relationship, or even deserved one, until I met my husband in my late 40s. He has been wonderful. He cares about my ups and downs, and has taken me to the hospital on countless occasions. I'm truly blessed.