Please list traits of a great live-in life partner for bipolar person

What is a great live-in life partner for a bipolar person? from your life or imagining this. List the traits: 1,2,3 and give specific examples for each.
Maybe it would be your sister or your BFF. Not just couples.
Things are going to put less stress on relationships post covid. We need to be creative and strong now in our relationships. But your input here would really help me. Hugs, everyone.

And how will we be graded on this assignment?
When is it due?
And what percentage of our end of term grade will this be worth?

-- I was a teacher for 15 years. You outed me on that one, LOL
I broke things down really specifically because I thought I would get more information that way, people's thoughts, people's experiences, people's ideas. (also trying to take my mind off of the worries of politics which sure seems like pressure cooker right now here, especially in a battleground state).

I'm not exactly sure of what you mean.


My first thought is "someone who has a solid knowledge of what BD is."

patience
empathy
good listener
good cook and cleaner because I won't want to do these things when I'm depressed

It's cool. I'm glad you recognised some friendly ribbing.

Well. Everything my partner is NOT when I’m manic. I don’t do well when I’m angry with an elevated mood to have someone come straight back at me with an angry elevated mood

I NEED CALM.

IMO Love is all that matters.

Patience
Understanding
Love

A unique fit for what makes me unique
Willingness to learn about mental illness
Compassion
A sense of humor
Hope
Willingness to be a mirror

I expect all of these same things from myself.

Great question and replies

I think I show these things myself. And so does Papa bear (although we are very different)

I agree with sarahsweets about love, or if just a friend at least liking and respect.

It's good for the partner to understand the disorder so as to support adequately and encourage. Tolerance and imperturbability help. Devotion.

However, a person with bipolar disorder is a person and not just an illness. A partner should have the same core expectations of a partner with bipolar disorder as they would someone without the disorder. Core expectations vary. For example, if money-making or baby making was a core expectation of my husband, there would have been a problem. For some people they are mandatory.

Understanding
Patient
Supportive

I agree about love, or if a friend, liking and respect.

Papa bear has never perceived me as an illness, or as an illness being the biggest/most significant ''part'' of me.

About core expectations varying. If money making was a core expectation of my husband, there could have been a problem.

Baby making was something Papa bear did not want. I was unsure when we were first married (also I did not know how much he did not want cubs.. in the wedding ceremony we ''promised to accept children lovingly from God'' I was unsure about these words and not completely comfortable with them. He persuaded me to go along with them, we disagreed on what the words meant. tmi probably and not on topic. That issue came up again the other day (again we did not agree on the meaning of the words, or our interpretation of them)

Tolerance and devotion are essential in a partner, imo.

Completely agree!!

Another thing-
In a partner, they have to be independent enough to entertain themselves when I’m at my lowest lows

Jeeves.
....

All of these

(I don't want to cook or clean when I'm depressed)

-- Yes, yes Beth, I guess my first requirement would be someone who can successfully deal with the bipolar; understands the challenges I face, knows how hard I try, appreciates me for what I am, appreciates my strengths.
I used to say my first requirement was a sense of humor, a great conversationalist. My ex and my son are convinced they know everything about bipolar because they have witnessed it in me, not willing to learn anything about it. I have learned so much more about it myself since being retired and being on the forums that it makes their smugness shocking. They have some wonderful qualities, but "getting it" is not one of them. So thanks for being there, those of you who do understand.

I find some people irl to have a very shocking smugness too, people who do not ''get'' me and do not even try. It is not at all cool. I'm also grateful to everyone for being here, and for being understanding. (I also had wanted a great conversationalist. Papa bear is not really, I have changed my ''expectations'' since .... some time ago. He is very intelligent though and tries to understand me. He also appreciates my sense of humour (except in the evenings, and that is not his fault)

Tolerance
Tolerance
Tolerance

After 28 years, I have learned that it's not about Love, or togetherness, or 'opposites attract' or any of that nonsense.

First and foremost, it's about what you can tolerate. What seemed cute when you were dating becomes not so cute after a while when you're married and the 'new' wears off.
Secondly, you have to be friends. No exceptions.
Finally, if he's not interested in learning about your illness and supporting you, don't bother. He will just make your issues worse that will send you into a tailspin.

Tolerance x 100

not ''just'' telling things ''how they are''.. Honesty without compassion is brutality. Papa bear doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Also, feelings are not always facts, he is intelligent enough to have an intellectual conversation with me and doesn't simply spit out bs for example ''calling a spade a spade''

I agree, if the person is not interested in learning about our illness, and being supportive, then forget it. They are not relationship material (or friend material either)