If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, you may find that loving them can sometimes be stressful. If they suffer from mood swings or require a lot of support, you may wonder if you're providing them with the help they need or enabling unhealthy behaviors.
Whether it is a friend, parent, wife, or husband with mental illness problems, loving someone who struggles with their mental well-being can be difficult. Especially if you have never personally had a similar experience, it can be challenging to relate to how this individual is feeling and therefore empathize.
People struggling with extreme mental health issues may struggle to articulate themselves or communicate their feelings, making conversation difficult and causing the relationship to flounder. Depression can cause apathy toward communicating and anxiety can cause unfounded mistrust between a couple.
Dating with a mental illness is difficult as the person struggles to navigate when and what to share with their partner. Opening up can be daunting as many people fear how their partner will react, but mental health should be discussed before things get serious.
Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.
Just because someone is depressed, has anxiety, or [insert mental illness here], doesn't mean you should write them off. A condition in and of itself is not a reason to break up with somebody.
Being in a romantic relationship with someone who has a mental illness may not be something that everyone can handle, but those who are compassionate, patient, and proactive can build great relationships and influence their partners to take sound steps toward overcoming limitations and getting better.
Saying something like “My girlfriend has mental health issues” is no valid reason for them to leave their partner. Your mental health issue is also an invalid reason to leave your relationship either. In fact, if your partner is supportive, they'll help to keep yourself balanced.
Obsessive love or obsessive love disorder (OLD) is a proposed condition in which one person feels an overwhelming obsessive desire to possess and protect another person, sometimes with an inability to accept failure or rejection.
Someone with a mental illness not only has the illness to cope with, but also overwhelming waves of emotions to address. Often, it is difficult for the affected partner to articulate how he or she is feeling, or may downplay what is really going on out of fear of being abandoned and feelings of guilt.
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.
feel isolated — disinterested in the company of family and friends, or withdrawing from usual daily activities. feel overwhelmed — unable to concentrate or make decisions. be moody — feeling low or depression; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying.
Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate. Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt. Extreme mood changes of highs and lows. Withdrawal from friends and activities.
Just because your partner is emotionally unstable doesn't mean they are a bad person and that the relationship has to end. There are plenty of ways to help keep your partner in check, as well as potentially help them practice regulating their emotions more effectively.
And if you're single, you may wonder if having a mental health condition rules out romance for you. It's important to know that many people with serious mental illnesses have strong, supportive, long-term relationships.
These may affect how a person feels about being in a relationship. If dissatisfaction with the relationship is a factor, the person may wish to leave. Depression can be a chronic illness, and having depression or looking after someone with depression can be challenging. This, too can put a strain on a relationship.
Anosognosia, also called "lack of insight," is a symptom of severe mental illness experienced by some that impairs a person's ability to understand and perceive his or her illness. It is the single largest reason why people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder refuse medications or do not seek treatment.
Symptoms of a manic episode
Having inflated self-esteem, thinking you're invincible. Being more talkative than usual. Talking so much and so fast that others can't interrupt. Having racing thoughts — having lots of thoughts on lots of topics at the same time (called a “flight of ideas”).
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) has long been believed to be a disorder that produces the most intense emotional pain and distress in those who have this condition. Studies have shown that borderline patients experience chronic and significant emotional suffering and mental agony.