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We started dating around three years after my diagnosis—when I was just starting to publish my blog and open up about my struggle with mental health.
Some anti-depressants can cause mania in non-bipolar people. For the best chance of success in a new relationship, be sure to communicate openly and follow your treatment plan. You sound like a patient, understanding person. Dating is always fraught with expectations, anxiety and disappointment. Euthymia is commonly associated with bipolar disorder.
Slowly he began to use my diagnosis of bipolar against me. In his mind, everything I said or did was a result of my mood disorder. When I suspected him of cheating, he made me feel as though bipolar prompted delusional ways of thinking. I questioned myself and my sanity, which was the wrong thing to do. But it was not long before concrete evidence of him cheating on me surfaced.
We asked five adults with bipolar disorder to share their best dating tips and relationship advice, here's what they said. Dating during your twenties is an experience in itself, but when you live with a severely stigmatized condition like bipolar disorder, dating can.
After our breakup, it took me almost a year to feel like I could start dating again. When I finally got back into the dating world, I was very skeptical of people. I went into dates automatically on the defense.
My guard was up and still is today. Past experiences with dating also include people asking about my diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
On some dates, I have felt more like a therapist or consultant than a woman being courted. These experiences have only made me stronger and more confident. Bipolar disorder does the dirty work for me and filters out individuals who tiptoe through life. The fact is, we all have issues, whether you live with bipolar disorder or not.
Today I approach dating with one purpose— to have fun. Dating experiences can teach you a lot about yourself. These changes are so extreme that an affected individual may seem like a different person when they are up, as opposed to down. Everybody has moods, but bipolar disorder interferes with normal daily living.
The problem is that people may not know they have it, or if they do, they hide it. They could be the most charming person you ever meet. A little mania can make it possible to be productive all day, then dance all night and be unstoppable in the sack.
A slightly manic person is likely to be talkative, have high energy, and is really enjoyable to be around. The problem lies in the downside. When the mania subsides, exhaustion and depression take over, and often persist far longer than the manic period. When we date, we put our best foot forward. The single Bipolar person is likely to date when they are up and tend to be downright anti-social when they are down.
Lots of people take medications for depression. Some anti-depressants can cause mania in non-bipolar people. Bipolar people have a tendency to go off their meds because they like the high energy manic state. Unfortunately, this increases their odds of crashing back to the bottom of the pit of despair once again. You may find it best to be upfront about your bipolar disorder diagnosis, so you can make sure you are with a person who will be supportive.
But when you add bipolar disorder to the mix it can be extremely daunting. Would you believe me if I told you there are benefits to loving someone with bipolar disorder? Which is precisely why I will be making the case for it. There is no doubt that individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder can often be difficult to interact with. Their episodes, their attitude, their way Dealing with romantic rejection when you have bipolar disorder means using coping tools like positive self-talk that will arrest the slide into depression.
But maybe I should amend my statement and say that finding someone to date sucks. It used to be a holiday I hated.