Looking for advice from people with Bipolar Disorder...

Ive been through the ringer when it comes to relationships. They start off amazing and slowly but surely, all comes crashing down, including my mood. Anyone have any advice for someone who is bipolar and wanting to have a 'normal' relationship? Ive told everyone ive dated about my disorder, and no one seems to get it, not even the ones diagnosed with it themselves. Im starting to lose hope that i will ever be able to have a true, honest, loving relationship with a man because of my issues...

Don't lose hope. Lots of people with Bipolar are in sucessful relationships, you just havn't met the right somebody yet.

Sorry I don't have any better advice for you except keep your chin up.

JB,

Ive told everyone ive dated about my disorder, and no one seems to get it, not even the ones diagnosed with it themselves.

the only way they can experience the disorder is is through listening to your descriptions and then observing your particular patterns. i can think of three crucial elements to experiencing success in a relationship: 1) educating yourself about your disorder so you have a language to describe it with. 2) open and effective communication about the disorder, as well as communication about how you are experiencing yourself at any given time. 3) deliberate efforts to manage your bipolar through establishing a support system and developing a self-awareness that is higher than the average persons. the later is ultimately what will help the most in balancing the extremes of bipolar and allow you engage your relationships with a deep sensitivity and compassion not just for yourself, but in turn for the other as well.

one more thing...you are not flawed, and the disorder of bipolar is evident only in the negative behavioral results of peceptual shifts and changes (IMHO). allow yourself to become fully aware of these changes and explore them. you may come to realize that what you have is a bipolar blessing and not a disorder at all. start seeking out the benefits and the hidden talents that bipolar may offer you, and reject the negative self-talk. the stigma toward bipolar in contemporary society is bad enough for people like us to walk around beating ourselves up. as you become more comfortable with yourself, others will gravitate toward that comfort and a healthy relationship will surely blossom. take care of yourself first.

be well,

QG