Managing Relationships

Most people feel the need for love, friendship and belonging. Having a friend to talk to and share interests with can add much meaning and enjoyment to your life. Caring about other people and helping them in their lives can add satisfaction to your own life.

Learn more about:

Friendships
Intimate Relationships

Friendships

New friendships often begin between people who have similar interests. Here are a few ideas you may want to consider:

Share your hobby with other people by joining a club (art, music, book club, etc.)
Meet people at your place of worship by helping with volunteer work
Be open to friendships while you're at your group session, in class or at work
Join a support group to meet others who have bipolar disorder
If you have a computer with Internet access, you may want to try chatting on the Internet with people who share your interests

Getting involved in activities is one of the best ways to meet new people. But remember to pace yourself – keep your activities balanced. It's just as important to rest as it is to keep busy.

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Intimate Relationships

Meeting new people and developing an intimate relationship can be very stressful, and having symptoms of bipolar disorder can make things more difficult.

You may be unsure about whether to tell others, as you get to know them, that you have a mental illness. As a relationship develops, your illness may make it harder to handle problems that occur in a relationship. It may be helpful to discuss these issues with your therapist.

Here are some tips that may help prepare you for an intimate relationship:

Stay aware of your stress level — too much stress can make your symptoms worse
If you aren't quite ready for an intimate relationship, you may find it easier and less stressful to focus on relationships with your friends
Before dating, it's a good idea to decide whether you will tell the person about your illness, and how you will tell him or her

If you wish to enter into a sexual relationship with someone, it's important to consider the following:

Let your relationship develop naturally from a caring, long-term friendship
At the beginning of your relationship, you may have difficulties with sexual performance (such as getting an erection, if you're a male). This is normal, and usually improves as you and your partner become more comfortable with each other
It's extremely important to practice safe sex by always using a condom, which will help protect against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
If you're a woman, pregnancy is a concern. Some medicines can be harmful to an unborn fetus, so if you think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor right away

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have additional questions or concerns about this topic, talk to your doctor.