Dating someone with a mental illness

[SydneyK]

This is probably going to sound completely insensitive, but since you asked...

When I was in college, I dated a guy who was bi-polar. It was an extremely difficult relationship (if you could call it a relationship). We went out for only a couple of months before I realized that I simply would not be able to cope with his situation. He was on meds (some kind of lithium-type drug I believe) and, while they helped, he still had mood swings that I just couldn't handle.

I imagine there are varying degrees of this illness, and some might be more affected than others. I have no idea where he would've been on that "affected range"... it really didn't matter much. I learned that I simply am not cut out to be with someone who has to take drugs to be normal.

If you're considering dating someone who is bi-polar, you'll need to be prepared to be on the receiving end of whatever mood swings he goes through. Some days will be great; some days will be unbearable. It all just depends on how well you can handle the roller coaster.

[carnation]

My brother married a woman who was bipolar. When she was up she was great! But when she was down, she wouldn't take her meds and one day he came home from the base at 6 and she was still asleep and their toddlers had gotten into the freezer and were desperately trying to get some food. It went downhill after that and she returned to Korea.

Now my brother-in-law is engaged to a bipolar woman. I hope it works out better for him but apparently, some sufferers never get a hold on their disease.

[PM_Mama00]

Well that's the thing. We were together for almost 2 months. I was with him and then found out that he had lied about everything in our relationship, except for the fact that he liked me alot. The last week before he got diagnosed was unbearable. He was snap at me, go off on me, and just started treating me not so great. Then one night he drank and took some generic xanax and..... well he got diagnosed finally and is on his meds. Seems to be doing well. Obviously we decided that things weren't gona work out but I'm wondering if it's even worth it to still be friends with him.

[Kevin]

I dated a bipolar girl for a few months. Eventually, she hooked up with one of my friends, no big deal, I just sort of stopped calling. I run into her at some restaurant where she's hostessing a few months later. Apparently between the time we dated, and then, she had attempted suicide four times, been diagnosed bipolar/manic depresseive, but she was better now and wanted me to call her sometime.

I didn't call.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by ktsnake

Apparently between the time we dated, and then, she had attempted suicide four times, been diagnosed bipolar/manic depresseive, but she was better now and wanted me to call her sometime.

Whoa!

[Munchkin03]

It depends on if they're receiving treatment, whether it's medication or therapy.

Honestly, with so many people who are being treated for unipolar depression/bipolar disorder/anxiety disorders/schizophrenia, it might be more and more difficult to find someone who doesn't have one of these disorders or a history of them.

[PM_Mama00]

He's receiving treatment now, but it's only been a week or so. It's hard because I care about him so much and still want to be there as a friend, but I don't know if I should be worried about my personal safety with him or not.