Bipolars' relationship?

Question

Can we be bipolars and still have a good relationship with each and everyone we know?

Or is this a difficult issue?

Answer 1

I think we (us with bipolar) can have good relationships. If you're talking bf/gf or husband and wife relationships, then I definetelly think so. We can still love people and people can still love us. Although it probably takes quite a strong person to live with the ups and downs of a bipolar person.

If you are meaning friendships then I am not so sure. For me, since I am bipolar, I have little patience for people. Some days I'm just fine, other days, my friends attitudes or personality gets on my nerves. Most people cannot understand a bipolar person and that gets me angry because everyone just refers to me as a B*****!

Answer 2

Hi there...
This is a difficult issue because, well, we Bi-Polars are, or tend to be "Difficult" to "Understand". We can have a good relationship with each and everyone we know, I think, provided that, the people KNOW & UNDERSTAND our disease, the definition of Bi-Polar & the moods that go along with it.
("Ups/Downs", "Dr. Jeykle/Mr; Hyde", "Manic/
Depression", Etc...)
However, if you know someone or just meet someone that does NOT understand...sadly, I cannot say that the outcome will be a...positive one.
I have included a Linkie~Dink for you to read to your hearts' content, cause there really IS a whole lotta reading in there. Very helpful & informative information. Many links within the site. ;)

To better try to answer your question at hand, please read below, but still, follow the Linkie~Dink...for a better understanding. :)

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

Bipolar Disorder:
Talking to Your Friends and Family About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can put an enormous strain on relationships with your family and friends. When you're depressed, you may isolate yourself from the people who care about you. When you're manic or hypomanic, you might frighten or alienate them.

But your relationships with your friends and family are crucial to staying healthy. You need to keep the lines of communication open. Here are some suggestions.

Educate your family and peers. Your friends and family may not know much about bipolar disorder, or they may have a lot of wrong impressions. Explain what it is and how it affects you. Talk about your bipolar treatment. Unfortunately, some people may be skeptical or unsympathetic. Back yourself up with brochures or printouts that you can give them. Tell them you need their help to stay well.
Create a support team. Obviously, you don't need to tell everyone you know about your condition. But you also shouldn't rely on only one person. It's much better to have a number of people you can turn to in a crisis. Placing all the responsibility on one person is simply too much.
Make a plan. You need to accept that during a mood swing, your judgment might be impaired. You could really benefit from people looking out for you. But your loved ones also need to be careful not to push too hard. You don't want to feel like every move you make is being scrutinized.

So work out distinct boundaries. Decide how often your friends and family should check in and what to do if things are getting out of control. If you become manic, you might agree that your loved ones should take away your car keys or credit cards so you don't do anything reckless. If you become suicidal, they certainly need to get emergency help. Coming up with an explicit plan will make everyone feel better.
Listen. After all that you've been through, you may not want to hear the concerns of your family and friends. But the fact is that your condition does affect the people around you. During a manic or depressive phase, you may have upset people whom you care about. So try to hear them out and see things from their point of view. If you've hurt people, apologize. Reassure them that you didn't mean to act the way you did, and emphasize that you're getting treatment.
Talk to your children. If you have kids, you should find a way to tell them what's happening. They're likely to sense that something is wrong anyway; keeping them in the dark might just make it scarier. Explain your condition in a way that's appropriate for their age. Say that it's a disease that affects your mood, but that you're getting treatment for it.
Reach out. Bipolar disorder can make relationships hard. When you're depressed, you may want to retreat from the world. If you've just come out of a manic phase, you may not want to face people whom you treated badly. Either way, it's easy to let some friendships slip away. Don't let it happen. Force yourself to get together with other people, even if it may be hard at first. Isolating yourself is the worst thing you can do.

Answer 3

It can be more difficult for anyone with such a disorder to have a "perfect" relationship because of symptoms and side affects but no one can have a good realationship with EVERYONE. It takes time and work to make any realationship a good one. but as long as you take your meds and keep going to appointments you should be able to keep a consistantly good relationship with the people you love and care for. 1 because you are trying to help your self and 2 because if they love and care for you they will stand by your side through thick and thin.

Answer 4

Just learning myself about being bipolar.
I have been married and divorced five (5) times. Does that tell you anything? I am so ashamed of that fact, but I have to face it myself.
I am finally about to begin therapy and hopefully, I will find a lasting relationship. If not, I will just grow old alone.
Which, right now, seems good to me.

Answer 5

Both of you Please read books by Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD !!
He specializes in providing excellent coping strategies for Bipolar, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, and many other challenges in life which one faces. "Full Catasprophe Living" and also
"Coming to Our Senses" are two excellent books to start with.

If either of you or both of you ever struggle with anger, the book "Working With Anger" by
Thubten Chodron is Most Excellent. She also provides help for stress and anxiety and much help in relationships as well.

People with many symptoms of Bipolar Can have a succesful relationship with each other and other people in life !!! Those authors and books I mentioned help one to say motivated and maintain a strong will to succeed.

R.N. - with Masters Degree.

Answer 6

Things are going to get worse when you are in a relationship with a bipolar.

Answer 7

OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!! Just because you have BiPolar Disorder doesn't mean you aren't still you as long as you keep taking your meds. Following you med routine is the key and that wonderful you will be winning friends and influencing people every day.

Answer 8

I've found that personally, I get along just fine with everyone, as long as I keep up with my meds, and I talk to the doctor when things seem to change so that an adjustment can be made immediately. There is nothing wrong with bi-polar people...we are just like everyone else.

Answer 9

I am the daughter of a bipolar man, and I believe that it is possible for people with bipolar mood disorder to have good relationships. However, I believe that this means that the person who is bipolar has to deal honestly with some issues.

First and foremost is the issue of achieving some degree of stability-- i.e., minimizing the mood swings. This requires working closely with a psychiatrist on a regimen of medication that works for you, and sticking with that regimen even if it seems unpleasant. Those of us who have a bipolar loved one are severely challenged to maintain our relationship if the person who is bipolar resists taking his medication according to the doctor's orders. We understand that medications precribed for the effects of bipolar mood disorder can have very unpleasant side-effects, but we also know that without stabilizing medication, life with someone who is bipolar is like life at sea in a Category 5 hurricane. You have to stay with the meds, you have to work with the psychiatrist to find medications that work for you, and you have to let us know that you are serious about wanting the meds to work.

To achieve stability, you also have to recognize that there are some things you may not be able to do: it may be impossible for you to drink alcoholic beverages and remain stable, and you certainly should not try self-medicating with illegal drugs. You may have to adhere to an absolutely rigid sleep schedule that precludes being spontaneous. You may not be able to party hearty with people, and the problems caused by travelling may mean that you cannot indulge in vacation travel. Possibly there are certain jobs or careers that you cannot undertake because the stress may trigger mood swings, and it might be that you will have to recognize that doing things to maintain stability and minimize the chance of mood swings means you cannot have a "fast-track" career with hope of fast promotions. Stress is the biggest trigger of mood swings, and you have to recognize that minimization of stress gives you the best chance to be stable. You have to be honest with those you love about that: if they cannot accept that this has to be your priority, they might not be the best people to have in your life.

You also have to recognize that when the worst occurs and you do have a mood swing, and you do things that hurt the people who love you and care for you, you have to acknowledge that hurt and accept that you are responsible for it. "Well, I was sick," simply is not sufficient acknowledgement of the pain you have caused others.

Because this aspect of relationships is difficult, both for you and for the people you care about, it is probably best if you can find a therapist or counselor to work with you on the issues that arise from your disorder. It is not a weakness or a sign of failure to get help with your relationships, and people who love you who demand that you get help from a counselor or therapist are not seeking to punish you or implying that you are weak or disturbed. If those who care about you want you to get counseling or therapy, listen to them and get help. Maintain an attitude of willingness to work on relationships.

Be realistic about the particular problems your bipolar mood disorder causes you. If you tend to spend money wildly and beyond your means when you are manic, take steps to minimize the damage you can do: cancel credit cards, make sure that your assets are protected in a way that prevents you from doing something rash when you are in a mood swing, accept that this is a part of who you are and that denial and refusal to deal with what happens when you have a mood swing hurts you and the people who care about you. Take steps to protect yourself and protect them.

There is no doubt that people with bipolar mood disorder can face extraordinary challenges in their relationships with people, but they can have good relationships with friends, family and loved ones. However, those relationships are going to have to be founded on the reality that you are bipolar and what that means.

Good luck.

Answer 10

Why not? take your meds and have a nice life.