Hi Po, i think if you are open and honest with your partner he will understand - you could find some information on bipolar and print it for him to read up on.

my 2 cents...bipolar disorder/condition/whatever is not a mental illness but a condition of the heart. yes i know of course that it stems in the brain, but the problem is everything else things your bloody emotions come from your heart so mental condition dosen't get through to them. we suffer from broken hearts.

Thanks for that Frederick! I honestly NEVER even thought of it that way---the heart! Gotta pass on that one, ill be taking that to my shrinks office today, and will let you know what he says!

sfco@ptd.net

I have been bipolar for years, and I just had my appointment with my shrink! I asked him about your theory! First he asked me if I have a broken heart! NO, I don't have a broken heart! I have NO bloody emotions! This is a mental illness!

sfco@ptd.net

a great website is www.Bipolarhappens.com

written by Julie Fast an amazing women who explains what living with bipolar is like in words people can connect to.

Took me a moment. But I understand what you are saying now. At first I was going to rake you over the coals for not understanding bipolar. LOL

I would say that it is without question a mental illness one of whose side effects, if you will, is constantly getting into relationships for which one is not adequately prepared, either mentally or especially emotionally. I submit you are putting the cart before the horse. And asserting that bipolar illness is an emotional disorder without taking into account what is specifically taking place in brain chemistry is a form of denial. It's a mental illness according to DSMV and claiming that it is anything else cannot be supported by the science. No need to shy away from it. They don't provide much medication for the emotionally distraught. But a combination of excellent medications are available to manage this illness as I am living proof. Once I began to become compliant on them, my relationships also improved. Haven't has a broken heart in almost 20 years. Before the medication and treatment, it was one disaster after another. That sort of speaks for itself then.