The Destructiveness of Bipolar Mania in Relationships

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with BiPolar Disorder two years ago. I was very offended by this article. You make people that suffer with BP sound like maniacs who get in fist fights the second they get set off and who sleep around and feel no guilt about it. This is not true at all. Do we have episodes where we can get angry and sometimes violent? Yes. Do we have trouble holding down relationships sometimes? Yes. But to say that we have absolutely no guilt about some of the things that we do is portraying us in the wrong light. We are not sociopaths that do not have a conscious. In fact, most of the time when we come down, we get extremely depressed about the things we have done in the past and about the ruined friendships and relationships. We don't run around trying to hurt people and your article assumes this. One of the hardest things about having BP is having to cope with the things that you've done in the past and the emotions that you feel. It is a very difficult illness to deal with and I struggle everyday with it. To talk about people with a mental illness such as BiPolar Disorder the way that you do sets off the stigma that we so deperately try to avoid, that we're crazy. Well I'm not crazy. And I sure as hell have a conscious. Living with BP is a lonely, lonely world and one that can be fixed if people would just educate themselves and understand what it is. You are very ill-informed about this illness and I am appalled with this article.

I am a sufferer, and even in my worst moments I wasn't a malicious lier, I didn't steal, and didn't cheat. Hmmm.. a very strange article which in one sense defends people like me, and in another makes us out to be arch-villains

I believe that Iam bipolar, even though I have not yet been diagnosed. Everything that I read about bipolar is me to a t. It is a very difficult thing for me to accept. However, I am trying the best that I can.

What is amazing is that people will read this and think this is true, but obviously the author of this story is not the one that battles with this disorder. While manic episodes do exist, that does not automatically make a person a compulsive liar as described. I am no saint, I have lied, but guilt IS associated with this choice. Even people that don't have bipolar disorder lie. I don't steal, but I have cheated… again, not all bipolar sufferers do experience these issues though and they are not just something that was done to be malicious. There is guilt and even judgement that is passed on my own behalf of impulsive decisions that I have made. Wow, do some more research before you make society fear our type. Which by the way 5 million American men and women suffer from the illness, which is like 1 in every 45 adults. This is a substantial number and if you really feel this way… paranoia is your problem or should be, just saying….

How does this offend you? There are 5 different types of bipolar disorder, and you may be one of the lighter cases, plus, it's not necessarily saying all bipolar people have these symptoms, it's just a generalization of symptoms that have been seen.

I agree with Anonymous. For example 'with these people everything and anything can stimulate them'. It makes us seem like animals, like we're out to hurt people. This article paints a very bad, prejudice idea of bipolar.

I agree, I read this article and found it terribly one sided. These are in fact symptoms but only of the more extreme manic episodes, and does not provide enough information as to what to expect when the BPD is being well treated and I feel this article only helps to promote the stigma associated with BPD.

I agee with Mr Anonymous
I am not a liar in fact you will find most people who are bipola get into a lot of trouble for being to honest…the artical written seems to be by someone whom has been hurt by someone with this mental illness…if anyone wants to read real fact about bipola I would suggest Marcia Purse website.I would suggest that the person whom wrote this gets your facts right before you make comments like that…they are unkind and have no real purpose but to hurt those who are already hurting everyday living with this…it is not a choice but you have a choice of being stupid!!!!

I am apalled by this article.

I live with this 'disease' – as the author so callously remarks – and I spend every single moment of my life selflessly trying my best to aid those around me. I am devoted to those I love, and never cheat nor lie to them. I have many friends, and constantly put myself on the line to assist them when I can. I never get in fights, physical or verbal. I commit myself entirely to the benefit of others.

When I am on an up, I feel fantastic and I want to shout at the top of my voice how great life is. When I'm down, I become introverted and weep, but I am no less caring for those around me. I concern myself with the task of ensuring no one else experiences unhappiness like mine.

This article is not written by an expert; this is clear to anyone with any idea of the condition. I am sad that such a close-minded persons article will be regarded by some as a valuable source.

False-experts like this charlatan are the reason I must live with my suffering kept a secret, or be laid to the unjust stigma of a BPD sufferer. If it helps, the few people I have told were shocked, and couldnt believe that I could ever be down.

In truth, I would rather keep my 'horrific' mental illness, than ever become as close-minded as a person who generalises and attributes false characteristics to an intricate disorder which I believe has been one of my most-defining elements of my personality.

Okay, I am not not bi-polar; however I do have family members who suffer from this. I also recently got out of a relationship with a bi-polar man. I do not think bi-polar people are awful human beings…..BUT I do think its a very hard to have any kind of a healthy relationship with these people. Because of my ex-boyfriends manic depression, he broke my heart. He hurt me worse than I have ever been hurt in my entire life. If another man in the future tells me he suffers from bi-polar/manic depression, I am going to run as fast as I can in the opposite direction!

Obviously everyone that is commenting here is Bipolar. This disorder is really dangerous to others and to themselves. They will lie about anything. Promiscuous behavior is a way of life for most. Blame everyone for their own behavior constantly making excuses. The caregiver is the most evil person in the world. What bipolar patients dont understand is that, no matter how you try to mask it. People will always say when the find out your disorder. You know what? I knew they were different for some reason. Or, I was wondering what was wrong with them. You can try to mask it, however, the traits of Bipolar will always show its ugly head.

I am a PhD clinical psychologist who has been working with bipolar individuals and their partners/families for the past 30 years. As I recently revealed in my book "When Someone You Love is Bipolar: Help and Support for You and Your Partner" (The Guilford Press, 2009), I have suffered from bipolar II disorder since adolescence. My book, however, is aimed at those who live with and/or love bipolar sufferers. It would be great to get the word out about the book as I have gotten literally hundreds of emails from all over the world since it first was published.

If you or anyone else is interested in knowing more about my professional backround they can go to my website http://www.drcynthialast.com.

Thank you for creating this forum and I hope my book may help some of your readers.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cynthia Last

I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder in January, 2010. I am a successful business women who is described by most as being "too nice". I don't lie, cheat or steal nor do I accept that from the people I choose to associate myself with. Being bi-polar does not define me, but is something that I have to live with. It is a struggle I will live with for my entire life. I do not use my disorder as an excuse for my behaviours, which can be described more as self destructive than someone who is cruel to others.

I wonder how many people the writer knows who lie, cheat and steal that are not bi-polar.

Let's also look at all the famous, creative and honest people who have to live with the disorder. Let's not categorize all people with bi-polar with ignorant sterotypes.

To those living with the disorder, may you work hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle through medication, structured lifestyle, love and support.

Peace to all!!

I agree with you one hundred percent I have lied and cheated but most of the time i do get into more trouble from being brutally honest.

As a daughter of a bi-polar mother i can tell you that he is right on track in my situation. My mother will say the most hurtful things that she can think of. She does use my emotions against me. She accuses me and my sisters of stealing from her. She thinks we sneak in while she's sleeping and take silly things like her bra or a cantelope. She tells anyone who will listen about how awful we are. Then the next week, we are wonderful. Right now she is insisting she has been healed of her bi-polar and not taking her meds like she should. It is a roller coaster that i would like to get off of.

Someone with bipolar manic disorder who refuses to go under treatment and denies, denies, denies that there is anything wrong with him/her IS someone to fear. At their worst moments many of these people are capable of anything. I am currently trying to get out of a relationship with a woman suffering from this problem. She refuses any kind of help, which I have gone out and seeked for her and she refuses to accept that there is anything wrong, despite the fact that our big screen tv sits broken behind our couches which have be torn with knives. I tried my best, even when she put a knife to my gut threatening to kill me or when she threaten to commit suicide if I left, to help her through this, but there are times when its just bigger than you. In her eyes I am the problem, but when I try to leave, her focus shifts on trying to destroy me, and she can! Please, if you are diagnosed or think you may suffer from this disease get help! you may not even realize the number of people that your disease is affecting.

I have been trying to get along with my girlfriend for 4 years now. I have moved away sadly leaving my 2 little boy with her which I regret and want to remedy. There are may varieties but a big one is they will all deny it. It is hard for her to deal with because denial plays a huge role. Her behavior is everyone elses fault and she plays no role in her actions. It is hard on her but it is just as hard being the center of all her moods. I see her happy and smiling and i instantly get scared for me and my son. What goes up must come down! I have taken her to the emergency room 3 times for evaluation and she swore to tell them the truth. I wasnt allowed to sit in but when she came out she admitted she lied through it all. She is on a downward spiral and I wish it wasnt happening but I want to grab my son and try to save him before its too late.

I have been dating a bipolar man for the past year.. I fell in love with this man.. He was to GOOD to believe in the beginning!! But now I feel like my whole life is all about HIM! NOTHING I DO IS RIGHT OR GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM!! According to him, I can't cook, I talk too much, I'm a bitch, I'm stupid, I'm a liar, I can't drive, I'm fat (I'm a size & I can't be trusted. He is very VERBALLY ABUSIVE & MENTALLY ABUSIVE
He doesn't take his med's as he should..I have been checking his pills.. I can deal when he does taken.. but it's a living hell when he doesn't.
My life with him is ALL about him & what I should and can do for him…He cuts me off or blandly just tells me he doesn't want to hear it & its not his problem. (my problem, my issues or if I'm complaining about anything)
To me I feel as if he has NO GUILT!! He feels no GUILT!!
I'm with Brit, I'm going to run like hell in the opposite direction…

I have a question if anyone can answer: In general terms, does the aging process affect the bipolar individual and in what ways? As a person enters late middle age, say from about age 55 and up, is there any tendency for the disorder to get worse or to improve in terms of symptoms or behaviors. Also, if a person is in that age range and has remained on medications for most of her adult life, is the consistently maintained regimen of BPD medication going to ameliorate the patient's mental state or well-being, or can they just go off on a manic phase despite taking medication regularly for many many years?
DB in Florida

I am currently dating someone who is bipolar and I can tell you that some of the things stated are true. They do have very high libidos and he does lie and steal often. He has a klepto problem because of it. It runs a very big toll on our relationship. Do not get me wrong, I love him to death, and I will for the rest of my days no matter what happens. But, it is very hard to deal with. In a angry state he can even black out and do stuff do himself he doesn't remember. It's scary, but it's the real world. It's life. If you love someone, it doesn't matter. Also, he didn't get like that until after he took himself off of his medications because of their severe side effects, so if someone took their meds correctly those episodes and symptoms would decrease. It is something they have to struggle with every day for the rest of their life! This article makes them seem like a giant ball of destruciton.

I think it is sad that you all are offended. I don't think the writer was saying that all people that have bipolar are like this. I lived with a woman who was exactly like this. She refuse to deal with her illness. She lied, stole, cheated and hurt anyone who got close to her, she attacked people verbally and physically. I went through hell with her. I wanted so much to believe in her because she was very talented and was a help to me earlier in the friendship. She is a very hateful and dangerous woman. I don't know if it who she really is or because of being bipolar. I don't run from people who are bipolar because I have other friends who are and act nothing like this woman

The writer of this article had his or her feelings hurt when their manic spouse cheated on them at a strip club. I have the MOST SEVERE kind of mania. I see angels and talk to god and such. Sure I spend money like water, but I spend it on the homeless and paying people's rent for them. Your manic boyfriend might just be an asshole…

I am 25, just dated a bi polar girl. Everything in this article is TRUE. She cheated ALL THE TIME, lied every day, flirted with evry guy she saw, was known at all the local bars as the town slut..I lived an hourr away, and when i wasnt around, she would go out and screw other guys. Bi polar people just take, could care less about the great guy who was always true and there for her. Bi polar people here aare getting too defensive..Its true. Bi polar people lie, cheat, etc. I treated the girl like GOLD, her family LOVED me, and she was just cheating away behind my back, all the whilew telling me she loved me with all her heart and wanted to marry me. LOL..Yep, just saying what I wanted to hear.

The article described me as a whole! Not disagreeing with any comments made against the article, I am only expressing my state of mind. I have had bipolar for years and I have lied, cheated and stolen, all of which I deeply regret. Bipolar is a mental illness that anyone who is diagnosed, needs to be treated with medication. I take my medication regularly however when I wasn't on it, I was a complete wreck. I encourage anyone with the illness to get help.

What many of you are neglecting to remember is that there are various types of bipolar. The author of this post only mentions 2 of them and they are both the extreme polar ends of the disorder. I've been living with my bipolar girlfriend for over a year now and I can tell you from experience that she can be very impulsive during her highs. I haven't seen her hit mania yet but in her highs she is capable of being very implusive and neglect to think things through properly. What you all need to remember before discounting this post is that the author only talks about the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He mentions nothing about anything in between. Based on my experience with my girlfriend I can easily see someone in the mania stage to be so impulsive they would cheat without thinking of their spouses feelings at all and would want to cover it up as much as possible or lie to get away with anything they wanted to impulsively do when they finally come down and take a second to think about how their spouse would feel if they found out.

This article is well written and consistent with the type of mania that my beloved wife has at it's worst. This is not her baseline behavior buit rather a Jykle and Hyde type of mood swing that she experiences. I know a lot of bipolar people and this type of behavior is very common but it does not describe all bipolar people. I do not think that the author's intent was to describe 100 percent of bipolar people but rather some very common traits of bipolar mania.

good luck running its really hard when he will be in your head youll always come back for more

This is an article by boyfriend sent me when he couldn't come to terms with my illness. I want to start by saying bipolar doesn't make people cheat on who they love. People with or without this illness cheat. I want to say we know how to say the worst possible thing and not mean it. We are impulsive, but it doesn't take us long to realize our anger got the best of us. We flip out suddenly and leave people in fear of when we will flip again. We react instead of thinking. We do hurt the people we love and we know. We just want people to accept us and love us, but not look down on us. I have been a victim of developing this order in my childhood. My father was unmedicated and locked himself in a room for years, this made my mom have to work 3 jobs to take care of us. Nobody was there to cook for us or give us structure. I grew up unable to understand why my dad was like that. I remember him taking me apple picking, camping, hiking…he meant well and I know that. I became bipolar because I learned struggle. The struggle of figuring out life alone. Not having anyone give me attention or worry if I did my homework. I was alone so I developed a fear of intamacy. I ultimately became the fixer. I wanted to fix everyone and I tried. This led me vulnerable to being used, very bad. I play victim a lot too, not intentionally but sometimes I just want to be appreciated. We do not intentionally hurt people. We need help. We just can't do it without support. Its part of the illness. I didn't admit I was bipolar until a year into the relationship. Not because I was lying. But because I lied to myself to the point I believed it. When I realized how bad I hurt him, I came to the realization I was sick and he didn't deserve it. This has destroyed my life. He felt betrayed and began to see me differently. This made me very sick and ultimately hospitalized. I am so disgusted that you who wrote this are so one sided with your argument. We feel guilt and love. We never mean our episodes and would do anything to change it. Part of our illness is denial and inability to accept we are sick. It justifies why everyone has eventually left. Love us by not believing this twisted inhumane article.

Bipolar in my case, was genetic but was triggered by my experience. I took care of my needs since I was 6, this is neglect. I do not blame anyone, my mom did was she thought she had to do and my dad was too sick to help himself. Denial by family is quite possibly the biggest injustice. To this day, my mom still says I'm not sick and I'm just dramatic. This is the biggest struggle of all. Bipolar is the most ignored disease the hardest to treat. We can change if we begin with the enviromental causes. It breaking habits and sticking to treatment. Never ever ever think you call call them sick and hve power over your loved one. Bipolar is not permission to treat us cold andthink you are better. We are very intelligent and know what we feel. Sometimes we just don't react correctly. With time and acceptance, it gets much much better. The worst thing to do is leave. Don't tollerate abuse, but don't disown them…they feel guilt and want nothing more than help. Trust me, I'm one of them.

I don't understand why people have a disagreement with this article. It describes me to a tee.

I was diagnosed bipolar 4 months ago. I never really had symptoms until i had my first child. Post partum depression followed. I started to get very mean when people made me mad. I said things that i wouldnt say in a million years if i was in a normal state. I would scream and yell the worse things ever, and it got physical with a friend and now i got a PO officer, but besides that, after i was done yelling and screaming at who ever it was, i would lock myself in my room or bathroom and just cry for hours. I had absolutely no self control over my anger. Im on seroquel now which makes me a zombie but i can control myself. Its not something i wanted to mess with being a new mother. Everyone reacts differently to this disease.

I am crazy in love with a women who has this illness, we dated for 3 years and now we are just friends ( I wish we could be more, but the constant termoil has taken it toll)

I try to come to grips with some things that are symptoms of bipolar, but I feel like I am always trying to sort out what is "her" and what is "bipolar". If she lies is she being a liar or is this bipolar symptoms? If she cheats does she love me? If she says horrible things, is that really what she thinks? If she tells me to leave, is that what she really wants? When I feel like she is using me and manipulating me is this the kind of person she is, or is this something that she can't help? When I let her get her irrational ways am I enabling her to act this way? If I don't give into what she wants, will she still want me?
…the first year it was like nothing was wrong almost, all I noticed was anxiety here and there and some depression, basically what I thought a typical person would go through, and than one day it was like this switch was flipped and everything was chaos. She would tell me how she was so in love one day and than tell me she needed me to leave the next. I would leave and she would get mad and do scary things. She goes on meds and than stops taking them. She will destroy everything to get her way about something, no matter how irrational and than regret it weeks later. She lies, steal, cheats, feel terrible about it, and than pushes me away. She wants one thing one minuet and the moment she has it, she wants something completely different…..
She is so much more than all of this, smart, funny, beautiful, we have the most amazing conversations, and all I can think is if her being bipolar makes me feel as bad as I do sometimes I can only imagine how she must feel. I want to have a relationship with her, I love her, but its hard to tell if she loves me sometimes, and its hard to have a relationship and constantly question whats real about it, and whats the illness manifesting.

The article maybe accurate for some, but I think either way it places things in a poor light, it only offers one side to something that seems to be way more complex. I have been trying to read a lot about bipolar and relationships, being that I want things to work between myself and this person. Still nothing that I have come across article wise points to anything positive about the ability of relationships to actually work. Maybe non of them do, but to be honest the most helpful thing is to hear people with this illness, defend themselves from something written so one sided. To hear someone say yes I may act this way at times, but its not cause I want to hurt someone. Maybe that speaks to me, cause in my mind that is what is important. I care about where someones intentions are. We can all cheat, lie, steal…and many people who do are not bipolar do…..so these actions don't make you bipolar……Why it happens, or what causes it to happen might be what makes you bipolar though.

I have been married almost 8 years and my husband kept on getting worster. pictures of women in pocket and in car, internet with women. He has had angry issues. violent, lies, he is running with a man who I think he is seeing now. It is crazy, I cant get him help he refuses to go. I tryed every thing nothing works. I feel helpless and scared for him. cause the guy he is seeing also has angry issues and I know they are going to fight and someone going to get hurt. He destroyed our marriage. I still love him with all my heart. But he is not the person I thought I married he is someone different. If you have someone like this in your life please get away from them and stay as far away as you can . no matter how hard it is emotional. I am scared for life cause of what he has put me threw and I feel as if I am crazy to love a person who can cheat on me and lie me and act as if he has done nothing wrong. It is a awful situation. If person wont get help and medicine then please go on with your life and try to find peace and get over the heart pain over time. I still am having a hard time dealing with all of this. My husband might me gay and seeing other people and he lies me and hurts me and called me names and put me down like I was nothing and I was only one who was there for him and really loved him and now I half to live with the pain our marriage is gone and I am the one suffering day after day. its not like death . you suffer and it gets better over time. my pain is I love a person who is not there self and they are out of control and there is nothing I can do about it. I tryed every thing no one would help him intil something bad happens to him. It might be to late for him. if he kills his self or someone else. it really is crazy and there is nothing I can do but pray for him…. let go stay away so he doesnt hurt me .. its very hard to live with……please pray for my husband…… for him to want help and get help and to realize he needs help before its to late. he has already destroyed our marriage and broke my heart in to………

@Brit:
I have to agree with Brit, I was in a relationship with a man who I believe has Manic Bipolar. he recently broke my heart and hurt me in the worst way too and didn't care about my feelings only but his own. every month he wanted to break up because he was confused about his life, everything was about him and how he felt, he was never was concened about my feelings. it got the point where I didn't want to deal with this anymore. I hope I'll never meet anyone like him agani.

@Erica: I totally agree with you Erica. I am bipolar myself and this article is a disgrace. I have heard that the condition makes some people promiscuous, it has never affected me that way…nor 2 other people I know that have the illness. I have never stolen anything off of anyone either, or spent my time compulsively lying

i think a lot of people at this post are confusing character with bipolar trait. i am a bipolar, have taken medication in the past, and am too honest. i have never been in a romantic relationship and have never touched a woman although a few have touched me. i am an introverted loner. i don't lie or cheat or steal. i don't drive a car because i consider that violent behaviour. i want to suggest that that some of these rotten bipolars have other personality problems/disorders.

@Chris:
Chris the man you describe is probably a narcissist. Please check for yourself. Many people with disorders are misdiagnosed, particularly younger people.

To sum it up. This article is shit.

i really don't know anything about the high of bipolar 1, because i am not that wise. Bur people who are capable of real depression are more than capable of empathy and compassion and remorse. i believe that applies to bipolar 1 as well.

The article above mostly describes my life, a huge roller coaster ride with very few stops on normal. I am fast cycling, mother of 1, newly married, with huge anger issues. I have never been an ass to my current husband but my 1st husband I was awful too, name calling, throwing objects at himof often my son saw the worst, which of course I feel guilt about. He no longer lives in my care and I have not been able to work outside the home. There is always something going on in my life some kind of drama or another. Even though I have tried to eliminate certain people from my life, it is mostly my family who are none believers of my diagnosis now which is very sad as now is when I need them the most. Life since being diagnosed has been slowly getting better, thru meds, therapy and my wonderful husband I think I may actually come out on the other side a little lighter in the friends dept. but richer with my man in my Life. I wish all bipolar sufferers to find someone to love you no matter what! The stability it created for me is paramount to my recovery now I just have to get my ass back to work…here is hoping this is my year to shine

I disagree 100% with what you said regarding the article. I made the mistake of marrying someone who has bipolar disorder and she has systematically taken me apart piece by piece over the last three years doing nearly everything that the author of this article warns about. Now, to give you and everyone else the benefit of the doubt, I do agree that most or all people with this disorder probably do feel guilt or sadness about things they have done in the past. The difference is, in my experience anyways, that my wife will do everything that did again and again even after she knows how much she has hurt me and those around them. I have tried everything I can think of to help her and nothing has made a difference and I mean nothing!!! I pay for her college, bought her a car, and gave her a great place to live on top of being a good and loving husband (which she has never argued). Still, even with all of that, it makes no difference. She cannot control herself. I feel very bad for you and anyone else who is diagnosed with this illness because at this point, we are just no far enough along with our medical knowledge to help everyone with this issue and that is truly heartbreaking- not only for the person with the problem, but also for their loved ones. The fact is though, now that I have been down this path, if anyone were to ask me if they should marry someone with this problem, I would definitely tell them not to. Now, not only has she destroyed her life, but she has destroyed mine as well. Like I said though, I really wish this illness did not exist because it is almost a death sentence for the many people who the medication doesn't help and after living with someone who suffers from this, i wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. @Erica:

@louis:

all i can say to everyone here is… You can't paint everyone with the same brush! the illness affects people differently it seems…. i love you all!!

I was diagnosed in october 2011. I was immediately put on Lithium, which I'm now not taking because the side effects were too bad (I was forgetting basic stuff, like how to get dressed…). I'm now waiting for the psychiatrist to decide what meds to put me on.
I know that I have an illness that needs to be treated, but swear sometimes it seems like some of these health care places drag their feet unless you're having a full blown manic episode.
And I've lied without feeling guilty about it while manic, stole just for the adrenaline high (no guilt) and blown up in peoples faces a number of times. I've spent days at a time in the bedroom, not wanting to go anywhere, just lying there and wanting to die.
Or be so manic as to be hyperactive. Mum loves that one, because I'll come by and clean

I so agree with you. I have also just been dumped by a bipolar man who hurt me worse than anything in my life befor. I will NEVER have anything to do with another bipolar man again and like you say RUn…as far and as fast as you can!!! They are poison and will destroy your life.

Erica, have to say it as one of the true "victims" of BiPolar (the others being my kids)..

1) Do not get married. This is not a right. 90% of marriages to someone like you fail. The cost to the other person is immense.

2) Have your tubes tied & never have children. BP IS genetic, genes in chromosome pair 15. Reproduction is NOT a right. Check the damage you people do by perpetuating the cycle through generations.

After 27 years (17 married) & dozens of people victimized by a bipolar ex-wife & the associated mother in law.. They used to do it right in the "good old days". Lock you up, stone you, or burn you at the stake.

You are monsters. We don't care why, you need to do the world a favor & live alone, hoard some cats. To CLARIFY, the associated Cluster-B personality disorders you ALWAYS have are too much for anyone to put up with, we don't have to.

Simply said "just get the right diagnose, and then get on track and follow the correct and precise prescription.
Good luck, and be as well as you can be!

Holycrap Robert, stop, breath, think and have a valium!!!!
I hope your kids never read what you wrote here.
They will be disgraced, ashamed and so disapointed in you, NOT what we want our kids to think of us!!!

Thanks Louis I had forgot to mention a few things about the man I was involved with a few months ago' he would experience episodes of mood swings and would be confused about his life, now he is experiencing memory lapes which tells me his bipolar disorder is getting worst. I did research narcissit and I don't think this does applied to him. yeah he can be selfish and self-centerd at times but I think this is from bipolar disorder.

Hi Louis I also forgot to mention I had been through a emotional roller coaster with this man, I love him very much and I had done quite of bit of research on bipolar disorder so I can understand him better.

Hi Louis, after much research about narcissist, I had realized you were so right about the man I had a relationship with a while back. he had many of the narcisstic traits that I was not aware of. now he has been seeing another women and he is using her for her money but at the same she is a control freak as well who throws her large sum of money to control himmy ex-boyfriend and I still talk and he is always complainting about her to me saying she always wants to comtrol him and they have many fights. I'm thinking maybe she is aware of his narcissitic behavior and wants to take control of it. I know I should count my blessing and let them, they probably deserved to make each other miserable. thank you louis for opening my eyes and see him for what he really is!

Wow, the above comment is parallel to my life at the moment. I have had a six month relationship with a bi polar man who met me and ended a 6 year relationship. He swept me off my feet, wanted to marry me, told me he loved me within a couple of weeks. It was all like a dream. By three months, I was made to feel paraniod as he became shifty. His ex had been in contact a few times. He would not volunteer this info, I had to ask and God help me if I continued the conversation. It would be shut down. He claimed his ex was a liar, psychotic, abusive, had hit him many times etc. I became suspicious, but with no solid proof I couldn't bring it up. This ate me up inside and made me paraniod which I am not in normal circumstances. He came to mine one night, sat talking about his anxiety problems, draining my energy, as I counselled him again. He rang later that night and said he still had feelings for his ex. The conversation lasted 10 minutes and I had no other option than to end it, as I was forced into a corner. I have had no contact with him since and although he has broken my heart, part of me is relieved as I should have never been made to feel the way I did. Needless to say, I will not be entering another bi polar relationship EVER again.

Hi Victoria, I am so sorry to hear your ex-boyfriend had broken your heart. I know the feeling and it hurts. count your blessing he will no longer break your heart anymore and let him be miserable for the rest of his life. I realized the man I had a relationship with 18 months was a Narcissist and had use as his source supply to stroke his ego and mentally abuse me. if it wasn't for Louis who had mention to me that this man (Dave) was probably a Narcissist. I knew there was something wrong with the relationship I had with Dave. the first year together he sweep me off my feet, he made me feel so wonderful, he would tell me he loved me and wanted to marry me and we were so right for each. than things started to change, all of sudden without any warning he would ingored my calls and give me the silent treatment. I was so cufused what was going on and I would tried my best to make him happy. after a few months of this abuse I had ran out of tears and didn't want to tried anymore. thank god Louis was the one who had mention that might be Narcissist and not bipolar which he was so right. after doing some research Dave is without a doubt a Narcissist. he had all the traits of one. I had also found a very useful website with Lisa E Scott she shared her experience of being a victim of an Narcissist and eveything she had talked about is so much to parpalled what I was had went through with Dave. I am now on my way to recovering from Dave's narcissist abuse.

U are amazing. Thank you. @Mr Anonymous:

I dated a bi-polar man for a year and a half. We got pregnant and I lost the baby around 3 months, during this miscarriage he left me and said I was better off. No apologies just told me he was doing this for me. That he was selfless – he never felt an ounce of guilt. He always made it about himself and what he was going through. Never empathisized for me whatsoever. He use to cry a lot which i thought was because he was going through a tough time. After months he tried to win me back – wooing me every which way he could, all the right words and all the right presents. Once I came back figuring he was sorry and realized what he lost he then told me the relationship was just not right for him 24 hours later. That was the last straw for me. He changed his mind each way the wind blew. I knew he was depressed but hadn't known at the time he was truly bi-polar. After reading everything on this mental illness I know its not truly his fault but I choose to walk away and live in a healthy relationship that does not make me feel bad day in and day out.

@Erica: I respect Erica's comments and the truth in them. The article, I believe is more of a support for partners of an individual that is afflicted with bi-polar disorder. As a spouse of a wife with bi-polar I needed to read this, you see I'm suffering a GREAT deal from the disorder my spouse has. There appears to be little support out there for partners and life can be incredibly painful without having the disorder ones self. Please allow those that suffer an opportunity to have unbiased support, you are not the only one suffering.

I'm bipolar and can't wait for the day I kill myself Thanks to my disorder and thanks to wall the normals that have kicked the hell out of me my entire screwed up life

From the beginning of this poorly thought out and written article, I automatically realized the author was uneducated and ignorant to the facts and truth to Bipolar Disorder, so I reminded myself to not get offended by the garbage I continued to read. I couldn't stick to that reminder- and I am not Bipolar.

What it seems like to me, is you have little to no understanding or experience with the disorder. Your unprofessional aspect on the whole, points to the suggestion that you are not a doctor, therapist, psychologist, etc. but someone who needs help as well. I mean, throwing together a random website to inadequately heed others of the "dangers" of Bipolar doesn't seem to peachy to me….

If you think there is nothing mentally wrong in your brain, that the small shriveled up walnut inside your head is 100.00% perfect, you are wrong, once again.

You kn- nope. I'm done writing, because I just realized you are probably pro-life and support the death penalty, too, right?

Anyway, the church, your government, the media you love and the bank your life is stored away in are brainwashing you at such a rapid pace, you focus on the propaganda fed to you religiously and will never be able to open your eyes and see the truth. Don't let your dying day be the day you realize everything you know is a lie. Get informed

xoxo

I recently broke up with my boyfriend who I believe is bipolar. His mother is diagnosed as having the disorder, and she is also a recovering alcoholic. He is a chronic weed smoker and stays high 24 hours a day. For the year that we were together, he managed to hold in some of his angry outburst until around the third month, although there were signs from the very beginning. I knew something was wrong because he would go into these blind rages where he would become a totally different person and verbally attack me and insult me about any thing and every thing. Honestly, it was so strange and misdirected that I couldn't even get angry at him for it because I knew there was something very WRONG. Over the course of a year he would periodically have these angry episodes, until finally, one day I just could not take the emotional abuse any longer. He had a lack of empathy that I could not believe as well as his anger.

Since our break up 8 weeks ago we have been in contact and I was considering going back to him if he sought out some sort of help. But then last week while he was visiting his parents out of town he called me and was very sweet and kind and wanted me to join him and his family in a few weeks at a resort of some sort, that they were very eager to meet me. A few days after he returned from out of town we were talking and I brought up the resort trip, he then said to me that "we were both single and that I should date date other people and that he didn't see us working out our disagreements any time soon."

Case closed. I AM RUNNING FOR THE HILLS!!!!!