Bipolar Husband, Wife, Parent

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Revealing your diagnosis in a relationship can be difficult and feel risky. I prioritize honesty and try to separate reactions from my self-worth. Romance & Revelations Starting a new romantic relationship is often an exciting time. Experiencing new feelings, stretching horizons, and learning about each other is often thrilling, with exciting dates, a longing to...

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When the routine I relied on for years changed suddenly, I found myself with new questions—and opportunities—for how I really wanted to spend my days. Routines & Bipolar Disorder Everyone talks about how important routines are when you live with bipolar disorder. This is because routines often keep us away from unpleasant emotions, such as...

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I adore my growing family and happily shared “baby bump” updates with friends and family. Still, I spent each of my pregnancies in survival mode, coping with sadness and the risk of another depressive episode. Bipolar Disorder & Pregnancy Thriving and surviving. Those are two terms I often hear when people explain how their pregnancy...

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Parenting can be challenging on its own. Add bipolar moods, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way. Parenting road maps are difficult to sort out as it is; we have so many choices to consider—whether we are working with one tiny baby or a pack of tweens...

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When Carin Meyer’s bipolar symptoms take over, she questions her very value as a human being. Her husband’s support helps her find balance. When the sun is warm and I am fly-fishing on an Alaskan river, I concentrate all my energy on catching fish. Each time I fish, my husband—who knows I love fishing more...

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Parenting can be messy, beautiful, fun, and—at times—really difficult. Because my “bipolar brain chemistry” can complicate the way I interact with the world, I turn to the wisdom of science, others’ lived experiences, and my own intuition when it comes to being a mom with bipolar. Parenting with Bipolar Disorder Having “bipolar brain chemistry” can...

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After battling bipolar for so long, I feel like my life is only just beginning now that I’ve finally hit that lifetime milestone of getting married. I’ve learned so much about being a partner since the wedding bells rang! A “Late Bloomer” in Life with a New Start in Marriage My husband and I got...

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Having bipolar disorder does not mean that you are incapable of being a loving, supportive, and kind mother. But it does mean that you need to proactively prioritize physical and mental wellbeing. All moms must be unbalanced to one extent or another. After all, if committing to decades of, in the words of author Elizabeth...

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Having a partner over-involved in your recovery plan can result in frustration, resentment, and confrontation. When you collaborate, though, you can work as a team on your recovery. Over-Involvement & Feeling Disempowered, Stressed, and Triggered I couldn’t stand my spouse “helicoptering.” It was part of his over-involvement in my care which disempowered, discouraged, infantilized, and...

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Parenting is tough even without a bipolar diagnosis. However, there are strategies that can help you maintain healthy family bonds through the challenges.   I am the proud father of two daughters, age 23 and 20. My girls are each the “apple of my eye” and anyone who knows me understands that this is the...

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Sometimes it helps to trust that our loved-ones can provide valuable insight into our behavior to help us cope with symptoms. My mom is by far my biggest support. She has always been here for me even when she had no idea how to help me. It has been over 20 years since my diagnosis...

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My husband could say I am “worth it” despite my bipolar illness, but he does not. Instead, we both say that is a question that should never be asked.   When it is below zero and I am ice fishing on a frozen Alaskan lake, I concentrate all my energy on catching fish. Each time...

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When you have bipolar disorder, no medication can truly change your attitude or thinking, as I learned from my late father. It takes hard work to make changes for mood stability. My dad was the first person I knew who had bipolar disorder. It was back in 1975 that he had a “nervous breakdown.” For...

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I often wondered what parenting with bipolar would be like, but nothing could prepare me for the reality of having a new baby to love and to care for.   On March 2, 2017, I became a new parent to our first living child, Pablo Phoenix Wise. It’s been a whole new adjustment ever since....

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Even in a great marriage, handling major life changes while also managing bipolar disorder is challenging. Step back, take a breath, persevere! The return to our beloved Colorado last spring after 17 years happened quickly, though we had been planning it in our hearts for some time. It was a matter of my husband finding...

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As a new mom, I think the key to maintaining mental health postpartum is vigilance – whether it’s by taking your medications, seeing your therapist, or whatever else you find works. I am a new mom, and I have bipolar disorder. There may be nothing particularly unique about this, but let me rephrase it –...

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When I met my husband, I was completely honest and open about my bipolar disorder. But now, 9 years after we married, I am still ashamed to tell my husband about my depression. Damn stigma. I am still ashamed. And I really don’t understand why. I told my now husband weeks into dating, nine (9)...

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Here are a few simple relationship tips & ideas to keep you and your sweetheart in synch when living with bipolar disorder. Cultivate connection: Even during severe depressive episodes when she wants to isolate herself, LaRae of Maine can deeply feel her husband’s love in one of his hugs or an offer to clean up...

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Breakups can be brutal—and can easily trigger bipolar symptoms. The end of a relationship often ushers in dark feelings like abandonment, guilt, and rejection. Even if the relationship was toxic and getting out was the right decision, there may be a sense of failure or self-blame. In any case, there’s typically a period of destabilizing...

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Building a strong relationship takes work. When one partner has bipolar disorder, thriving together takes a more focused effort. Here is what helps couples cope. Maureen met her husband, Gary, 24 years ago. They were both on a bowling team for people in the music business—she booked internationally known artists, he was a touring jazz...