The more common way bipolar disorder may impact general divorce proceedings will be a situation where a person suffering from bipolar disorder may behave erratically during the legal process of divorce and complicate the proceedings. There may be an increased level of vindictive and frivolous legal manoeuvres.
If you spouse fully accepts the diagnosis and resolves to get treatment, you could begin working together and make the marriage stronger than ever. Many people with bipolar disorder have happy, successful marriages.
In the United States and Canada, at least 40 percent of all marriages fail. But the statistics for marriages involving a person who has bipolar disorder are especially sobering—an estimated 90 percent of these end in divorce, according to the article “Managing Bipolar Disorder” in Psychology Today.
Your spouse's moods may vacillate between debilitating depression and frantic energy. Over time, the ongoing strain of this situation may be too much for the marriage to handle. Divorce is never easy and having to go through it with a bipolar partner, can make the process less predictable and more stressful.
Mental illness of a person itself is not a ground for divorce; according to law, if a person has mental disorder of a kind that the spouse cannot be reasonably be expected to live with them, then divorce may be granted.
Saltz said that several signs may indicate an unhealthy relationship, particularly with a partner who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder: feeling that you're a caretaker in the relationship. experiencing burnout. sacrificing your life goals, values, and needs to be with your partner.
“Living with a spouse diagnosed with bipolar disorder presents unique challenges. The disease involves frequent periods of unpredictable mood swings from being very depressed and withdrawn from family and friends—to periods of mania, anger, fights and risk-taking behaviors.
Bipolar may worsen with age or over time if this condition is left untreated. As time goes on, a person may experience episodes that are more severe and more frequent than when symptoms first appeared.
When Is It Time to Walk Away? In some cases, the decision to leave is obvious. If physical abuse is present to any degree, and especially if the individual fears for their own life or well-being or that of their children, it's important to leave as soon as possible. Safety is the number one priority.
Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can cause stress and tension in the home. On top of the challenge of dealing with your loved one's symptoms and their consequences, family members often struggle with feelings of guilt, fear, anger, and helplessness.
The authors found that the pooled life expectancy for patients with bipolar disorder, after removal of 1 outlier study, was 67.4 years (95% CI 65.2-69.7), with no evidence of publication bias. Life expectancy was significantly shorter in men (64.6) compared to women (70.5).
Ups and downs are natural in any romantic relationship, but when your partner has bipolar disorder it can feel like you're on an emotional rollercoaster. Not knowing what to expect each day is stressful and tiring. Over time, it wears on the relationship.
People with bipolar disorder may experience libido changes, impulsive sexual behaviors, and other intimacy challenges.
Bipolar disorder can also affect your sexuality and sexual activity. During a manic episode, you may experience hypersexuality, or an increase in sexual activity. It may place you at an increased risk for actions that may have negative effects, such as contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Bipolar Disorder and Marriage
But when one partner has bipolar disorder, simple stressors can reach epic proportions. That may be why as many as 90% of marriages involving someone with bipolar disorder reportedly fail.
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.
A bipolar person may avoid relationships because they don't feel good enough for other people. Sometimes these feelings come on quickly and cause those with mental health conditions to push away others in existing relationships. This can lead to social isolation.
Crimes committed by defendants suffering from Bipolar disorder may be able to prove that their crime was caused by this illness which took control of their behaviour so that, consequently, criminal acts committed were not intentional.
Your spouse's mental condition will not prevent you from obtaining a divorce, but it can certainly slow down the process. If your spouse has a debilitating mental health issue, the judge may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent them to ensure that the ill spouse's legal interests are represented.
Childhood trauma
Some experts believe that experiencing a lot of emotional distress as a child can cause bipolar disorder to develop. This could be because childhood trauma and distress can have a big effect on your ability to manage your emotions. This can include experiences like: Neglect.