Partner/Spouse Stories

Coping with Unpredictability

Partners faced upheaval in their daily life as they struggled to support a partner or spouse who lives with bipolar disorder. They all invested substantial time with considerable strain on their emotional or financial resources as they attempted to help their partner reach stability. After years of accompanying their partner through the mood changes of bipolar disorder, three partners moved into stable relationships with their spouse or partner. For the other two partners, one pair divorced and the other pair separated following traumatic events. Learn about how partners and spouses moved on to acceptance and developed self-care strategies to keep themselves healthy.

• Frank: Be firm and be very kind

• Jim: Do the best you can with it

• Brenda: We make the best of today and we go forward

• Holly: I was on a rollercoaster

• Marta: I take it one day at a time

Questions for Reflection and Discussion: Partners/Spouses

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