Can people with Bipolar Disorder be in a successful long term relationship ?

Yes. Absolutely! Mental illness, like ANY illness, simply means that a person has to take extra steps in order to live a happy and healthy life/lifestyle. Lets say he was diabetic, rather than bi-polar, if properly diagnosed and treated, the two wouldn't be any different, in terms of how it would effect ur relationship.

I know that you have questions about this, and wonder what it means, etc. But in front of him, its very important that you are accepting and supportive. It was very brave of him to come out with this, when he knew full well, it coulda freaked you out. Recognize his courage, and learn the details as hes ready to share. If he has this under control, he wont mind discussing it with you. The best way to discover how this has affected HIM, is to simply ask. Its a sensitive topic, so when you approach it, do so with great tact and grace. Show interest, not skepticism. You can ask him anything you want to know, so long as you do so in a respectful way. Example, "So, how did you learn you are bi-polar?", he answers, you say, "wow that must have been a challenging time in your life, I bet you were relieved to finally have some answers and to get on the path to experiencing "normalcy" once again!".

Let me add just one last thing to this....bc you didn't really mention it, but I feel like I hafta put it out there. Did he come out with this info because....something major just happened, something directed at you, or something you witnessed? As in, did he offer up his diagnosis as an "excuse" for some sort of recent "bad behavior"? If SO....then I caution you. If he does NOT have a handle on it, for whatever reason (lack of resources, support, refusing medical help/therapymedication - or other things that may help him), then I highly recommend you bail NOW. If it were your brother, or your bf of 5 years, and these symptoms were newly emerging, then Id say you need to stand by him and support him at this difficult time. BUT...if this is a new, dating sorta relationship, and ur seeing red flags already, run. Undiagnosed/untreated bi-polar disorder can not only dismantle the person who is suffering with the disease itself, it will take down those close to him/her, as well. Its no different than what an "addicts" loved ones go through. Its not easy.

You didn't say that's why it came up, and I pray to God its not. I hope you've been enjoying each others company and this came out, simply in the name of full-disclosure. I hope hes really taken a liking to you, thus he felt safe to really let you know and see him for what/who he is; all of him, good or bad.

That's my advice, and I do have experience in the area, so Im speaking to you straight from my heart. If it went down the first way we discussed, then Id treat him/this relationship the exact same way you were before you heard anything of it. If it was exposed, thru action, prior to articulation....then, my dear, get out now. I woudl tell my best friend and/or my daughter the same thing. YOU are in for a world of hurt if HE doesn't have this under control. Figure out whihc it is, then go from there.

Dont mean to ramble on and on, just wanted to close on a happy note. Again, I do pray that he is well and that you two have a long and fun journey ahead. You already said you like him, and Im thinking he must feel the same, plus he trusts you a great deal, if he was willing to share such deeply personal insight into his character. I cant stress it enough, this certainly does not hafta be a deal-breaker. There are tons of highly functional individuals who are bi-polar. If they've given in to a treatment plan, one that works for them, its an undetectable, "non-issue". In this instance, you can allow yourself to just treat him, and this relationship, as you would anyone else. If it works, fantastic, if not, then it probably wasn't meant to be. The illness is not a factor whatsoever, so long as hes dedicated to a maintenance plan.

Good Luck to you two!!! And remember, it was very brave what he did. Never hold back a compliment that may mean the world to someone. If you are honored that he trusted you enuf to share that with you, if you think hes doing an amazing job dealing with this, and if you want him to know that you really like him, and you plan on standing by his side for the "long haul" - then tell him that! Hell love to hear it. Who wouldn't, right :O)

Good Luck Hun. You two enjoy your holidays together, k!!

Yes, it is possible for people that have Bipolar Disorder to be successful in all areas of life, including relationships if the person with Bipolar Disorder is stable on medication and going to therapy, if therapy is needed.

It is possible, but very difficult. I have dated people bipolar and it wasn't really a pleasant experience. The one guy I was with was unmedicated and stopped going to therapy and it ended up being an abusive relationship. Now, I'm NOT saying that medication is the only option to have healthy relationships is someone is bipolar, people are different.

Another guy I briefly dated was bipolar and medicated, and he was fine.

Any relationship is a conflict. I base this on my mothers and fathers 40 six 365 days, very effectual marriage. they're continually compromising with one yet another, doing something they do no longer possibly decide directly to to make the different chuffed and going out of their thank you to coach they love the different. it works nevertheless. I on the different hand grew to become into depressing formerly i grew to become into on medicine for bipolar disease. Now, after 7 years of attempting, my medical doctors have ultimately chanced on an extremely solid combination of medicine for me and that i think "customary" returned. i think of i might truthfully no longer be with my daughter's mom returned via fact we in simple terms are no longer nicely suited, yet my first spouse, had I been on medicine on the time, i think we'd nonetheless be married. So i think of if a individual is on medicine and is getting therapy for their bipolar disease, then the relationship is not greater difficult than it relatively is for any 2 different human beings. In my help team, I listed a link to it under, there are couples the place one has bipolar disease and the different does not that have been jointly, 20 and 40 years, and have infants and a effectual marriage and look rather chuffed jointly. i might advise going to the wellbeing practitioner with the guy you decide directly to spend your existence with, asking the wellbeing practitioner any questions you have, going to his help team with him, and many times get your self knowledgeable on bipolar disease.

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