What it's like to marry someone with bipolar?

The spouse might feel confused, not knowing how to deal with certain behaviors. The tricky part comes up when neither you nor your spouse knows bipolar disorder may be behind the tension and trouble between the two of you. Often the individual doesn't even know she has bipolar disorder.


What is it like to be married to someone with bipolar disorder?

“Living with a spouse diagnosed with bipolar disorder presents unique challenges. The disease involves frequent periods of unpredictable mood swings from being very depressed and withdrawn from family and friends—to periods of mania, anger, fights and risk-taking behaviors.

Can a bipolar person have a successful marriage?

Having a relationship when you live with bipolar disorder is difficult. But it's not impossible. It takes work on the part of both partners to make sure the marriage survives. The first step is to get diagnosed and treated for your condition.


How does bipolar affect marriage?

The partner with the condition may have feelings of guilt, shame, and fear because of the impact of a mood episode on the relationship. Meanwhile, the spouse's partner may experience a range of emotions, including anxiety, resentment, loneliness, or feeling stuck.

How do you stay married to someone with bipolar?

Other ways you can help your spouse, yourself, and your marriage
  1. Make a plan together. ...
  2. Talk about impulsive and reckless behaviors. ...
  3. Don't take mood changes personally. ...
  4. Ensure they have the resources they need. ...
  5. Remember to enjoy time with each other. ...
  6. Take care of yourself. ...
  7. Ask for help when you need it.


Married with Bipolar – Bipolar Disorder: In Our Own Words | WebMD



How long do bipolar marriages last?

In the United States and Canada, at least 40 percent of all marriages fail. But the statistics for marriages involving a person who has bipolar disorder are especially sobering—an estimated 90 percent of these end in divorce, according to the article “Managing Bipolar Disorder” in Psychology Today.

How do bipolar people treat their partners?

A person with bipolar disorder may disagree with their partner more easily during a manic episode. Risk taking behaviors, such as spending sprees or binge drinking, may happen during a manic episode. These behaviors may create tension within a relationship.

Do people with bipolar have intimacy issues?

Bipolar disorder can also affect your sexuality and sexual activity. During a manic episode, you may experience hypersexuality, or an increase in sexual activity. It may place you at an increased risk for actions that may have negative effects, such as contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).


Why are relationships hard for bipolar?

A bipolar person may avoid relationships because they don't feel good enough for other people. Sometimes these feelings come on quickly and cause those with mental health conditions to push away others in existing relationships. This can lead to social isolation.

Can bipolar people be faithful?

Of course, there are many reasons for infidelity within a marriage or committed relationship, and it's important to remember that having bipolar disorder does not mean you can't be faithful to a romantic partner.

What is it like being married to a bipolar man?

The spouse might feel confused, not knowing how to deal with certain behaviors. The tricky part comes up when neither you nor your spouse knows bipolar disorder may be behind the tension and trouble between the two of you. Often the individual doesn't even know she has bipolar disorder.


How do bipolar person act in a relationship?

Being in a Relationship with Someone Who Is Bipolar

Those with bipolar disorder may also engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex or extramarital affairs while manic. During episodes of depression, your partner may avoid sexual contact altogether.

Is bipolar manipulative?

Manipulation isn't a formal symptom of bipolar disorder, although some people with the condition may exhibit this behavior. In some cases, manipulative behavior is a result of living with another mental health condition, such as personality disorders, substance use disorders, or trauma.

Is a bipolar relationship toxic?

Bipolar disorder and marriage can be toxic to a relationship. That's when a relationship fails or is failing. It can trigger negative reactions that could lead to self-harm, self-loathing or worse. Relationship issues need to be watched and positively regulated from our youth onward.


How do you make a bipolar person happy?

Supporting someone who is manic
  1. Spend time with your loved one. ...
  2. Answer questions honestly. ...
  3. Don't take any comments personally. ...
  4. Prepare easy-to-eat meals and drinks. ...
  5. Avoid subjecting your loved one to a lot of activity and stimulation. ...
  6. Allow your loved one to sleep whenever possible.


What is it like dating a bipolar person?

Dating someone with bipolar disorder can be challenging, because you can't control when your partner experiences a mood shift. To help your relationship succeed, focus on communication, support your partner's treatment plan, and don't forget to take care of yourself.

How long does bipolar hypersexuality last?

Does bipolar hypersexuality last forever? Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. 9 However, that does not necessarily mean bipolar hypersexuality will last forever. People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of depression, mania, and even phases without depression or mania.


Does bipolar cause hypersexuality?

During manic episodes, people with bipolar disorder may experience a heightened sense of sexuality. It's only when this is paired with other symptoms of bipolar mania—including risk-taking, impulsivity, and poor judgment—that it can shift into problematic hypersexuality.

Is hypersexuality part of bipolar?

Hypersexuality is listed as one of the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder, so it's a common part of bipolar disorder. Understandably, if you're experiencing a manic episode and you succumb to your urges, you're putting your relationships at risk, as well as yourself.

Is it OK to date someone with bipolar disorder?

Ups and downs are normal in any healthy relationship, but a mental illness like bipolar disorder can incorporate unique challenges that can be difficult to manage. When you're dating someone with a mental illness, the relationship can feel like an emotional roller coaster.


What to do when bipolar partner pushes you away?

What to Do When Someone With Bipolar Pushes You Away
  1. Remind them that you're there for support any time they need you. ...
  2. Respect their boundaries. ...
  3. Encourage them to seek treatment or help. ...
  4. Practice active listening, and avoid giving too much advice. ...
  5. Practice empathy, but avoid empathy burnout.


Why do bipolar marriages end in divorce?

Your spouse's moods may vacillate between debilitating depression and frantic energy. Over time, the ongoing strain of this situation may be too much for the marriage to handle. Divorce is never easy and having to go through it with a bipolar partner, can make the process less predictable and more stressful.

How old does the average person with bipolar disorder live?

The authors found that the pooled life expectancy for patients with bipolar disorder, after removal of 1 outlier study, was 67.4 years (95% CI 65.2-69.7), with no evidence of publication bias. Life expectancy was significantly shorter in men (64.6) compared to women (70.5).


Are bipolar narcissistic?

Mental health experts have found that some key features of bipolar disorder and narcissism overlap. These include setting high, sometimes unattainable, goals and being very impulsive. As a result, people with bipolar disorder often also have narcissistic personality disorder.

What can trigger bipolar disorder?

A stressful circumstance or situation often triggers the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Examples of stressful triggers include: the breakdown of a relationship. physical, sexual or emotional abuse.