Has anyone gone through family issues as a result of the bipolar? I am now in my 4th marriage as the result of the bipolar; the First one lasted 12 years. I did not know what was wrong at that time, but was very unhappy, after a while and was in the hospital several times. If only I known, and had treatment at that time. I was seeing a therapist but not being treated for bipolar then. He was a wonderful man, that I just threw away more or less, and I drove him right in the arms of another woman. In my second marriage I knew what was wrong it was the bipolar and was being treated for it. However he didn't know or did not want to know anything about it, he didn't except it all, and did not support me in any way what so ever. That marriage lasted almost 3 years, and I just don't know how. He made things hard for me, and I for him, because of the manic and mania episodes I would go through. He also didn't except my children. He would rather see them stay with their father, while all along I was fighting to get them back.
The 3rd one you could say I more or less drove him away from me. We were married 3 years, but only lived together for 1 week. He moved out of town. He didn't understand bipolar and I guess we didn't even have a chance to live our life together. I can say I miss this man and regret driving him away very much. He was wonderful and treated me like a queen. It's a wonder we even made it down the isle!!! In time I believe he would have learned about the bipolar and would have been a wonderful support system for me. While we were dating we were going back and forth two hours away to see one another, and then only had two days. He did want to go to treatments with me, and support meeting to learn about it. Why did this all have to come to an end????
The fourth one I wouldn't marry for 3 years, cause of how I was, I always tried and drive everyone away, or they leave cause of the bipolar. They couldn't handle and wouldn't handle it. I now have been married for almost two years. It has been very rocky; we have almost split up many many many times. And at times I think we should. This is the one man that has supported me, and stayed by my side through thick and thin. He says I am his queen, and he also treats me like I am. He is so in love with me. He went to meetings and read up on bipolar learned all he could on bipolar, to help him understand what was going on with me, and how to help deal and support me. I didn't know there could be that much love, and that anyone would take the time or effort to learn about what I was going through. I gave him a rough road to hull. It's a wonder he stays by my side.
But then I really didn't give the others the chance to.
It's a very hard thing for us to live with but we don't stop to think about how they feel, and why they react to us the way they do.
I have had a lot of unnecessary things happen in my life because of the bipolar. Both on my part, and their part. I think this is something we should think about, and post our feeling about.