How do you manage/cope with your bipolar in relationships?

I am schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, though am putting it in this forum section as I feel I am struggling with my bipolar components.

I have been with my boyfriend for 3 years and we live together.

My ongoing problem with my relationship with him, is my emotions and moodswings. I have no reason to be unhappy in my relationship, he is a beautiful man, caring, ambitious and overall gives me the space and freedom I want. Though I am unhappy, extremely unhappy.

I feel I cannot trust my emotions on him though as they change at least once a day. One minute I could be so happy, over the moon and can see myself planning a life, the next minute feeling claustrophobic, trapped. I start fights often to break up, then when we have "split up" I am in tears because it's not what I want, and we are quickly laughing together again.

Now it has gotten to a point where we are both exhausted, its a daily thing if not twice a day. I feel an underlying pressure to get married to him which I don't want, and I know he doesn't want to get married though I feel he expects it from me? I just feel trapped now, I have told him this and we are going to speak about it. Now I don't know what to trust?

Is it better to get myself away from this relationship and work on myself?
How do others cope and manage their relationship with bipolar?

Thanks

is there something about your relationship that is keeping you from working on yourself? lots of question marks in your post. second from the last though would be determined from the answer to the above. and unfortunatly, the last question is a hard one, since bipolar usually manifests itself with relationship difficulties, and most of us have trouble with that. it sounds however that you need to see your psyche-doc to review your meds, if you get yourself in control, then the relationship to others can be better appraised as to "should i stay or should i go now".

If you don't want to get married, then do not get married. That is a big choice and both people need to want it. You aren't going to want it more after it happens.

I think part of success is knowing yourself and your partner knowing you. My husband knows what mania and depression look like, and we've found a way to kindly express that. I take my meds regularly, and keep appointments (or promptly reschedule.)

It may not be that he's not a good man, but your personalities clash.