Sometimes people with bipolar disorder, depression, and other mood disorders have episodes when they feel extremely sad, hopeless, anxious, or confused. When these emotions get too intense, the person may harm themselves with acts of self-injury.

Most couples struggle with communication, and a bipolar relationship is no different.  How do you communicate with your loved one?  One word – LISTEN.

Being married to someone with bipolar disorder can be difficult enough. Bipolar medications can definitely interfere with your sex life and cause other problems as well; however there are several ways to be intimate in your bipolar marriage.

When most people hear the word "intimacy," they associate it with sex; however, the two are quite different.  Although you can be intimate when you have sex, you can certainly be intimate without having sex – especially when it comes to bipolar disorder.

If you have bipolar disorder and are prone to manic episodes, then risky sexual behavior is something about which you need to be very careful.  Hyper-sexuality, promiscuity, and extramarital affairs are some of the sexual behaviors that result from bipolar manic episodes.

 

Bipolar medications are notorious for interfering with your sex life.  Side effects are one way that they can interfere, but another way is that they can take away your sex drive entirely.

Your doctor probably didn't discuss sex when you were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but you may have questions about it now.  However, when considering the topic, think about this:  there's much more to sex than just sex.

Sex and bipolar disorder – Shh… nobody wants to talk about it!   However, if you have bipolar disorder (or are married or in a committed relationship with someone who has it), then I'm sure you at least want to hear about it!

Marriage is a difficult proposition.  You both have to learn how to communicate effectively.  You have to meet each other's needs, intimately and otherwise.  However, when one of you has bipolar disorder, you're climbing up a large mountain – one that may seem insurmountable at times.  Is it possible to survive in a marriage when one of the people has bipolar disorder?  I believe so, but it will take work on both sides.

Are you a long-term supporter of someone with Bipolar Disorder? Are you having difficulty in figuring out exactly what needs to be done to properly care for your loved one and give them the best possible help? Are you frustrated because you can’t get your loved one to a healthy functioning level and stability with their bipolar disorder?  If you are, you are not alone.  Many other supporters feel the same way.