If I have a wife or a girl friend and she falls sick to any sickness I will be there for her and stick to help her as long as it takes . But if I am going to meet someone new that I do not know she must be sane and healthy as there is no emotion attached there . This is just a clarification to my last post on this subject .

Some with Bipolar like the feelin they get when they're in a manic state. It's almost a high to them.

I think mental illness can run in families at least for some conditions. My brother has Bipolar an ADHD. My middle son has Mood Disorder, ADHD an ODD. I also have a nephew with ADHD. It's all about a chemical imbalance in the brain like Quiet said earlier. The psychiatrists really don't know how much genetics an diet really contributes.

My ex was bi polar and had several other diagnosed problems too. One of the problems with treating multiple problems is that the interaction of the drugs becomes so complex, the doctor doesn't know if the symptoms are human or drug side effects. Making it much more difficult is the fact that the human body develops a tolerance to most drugs so the ones that work the best, don't work at all after a while.

Heredity plays a big role. Her brother became severely bi-polar at a young age and her mother at a much older age. The disease affects many people in many different ways because the chemical imbalance is a little different for each person affected. Inner strength plays an important role as people who eventually make a decision to take responsibly for their actions and treatment do well, or at least much better than those who do not.

Many people have minor cases of depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, bi-polarism, etc., and function well in their family environment and at work. They just deal with the internal feelings, do what they need to do, and go on with life. Others have too large of a chemical imbalance for the meds to compensate and end up suicidal or even homicidal.

Should you date someone who has mental illness? It's all a matter of degree. Is any human completely normal?

A very good friend has a mental illness,when he stays on his meds he is fine, also have an aunt that is mentally ill, she won't stay on her meds, mostly she just sees things, also I would like to state mental illness does not always = violent behavior, most people with mental illness are not violent.

^^^ Just bringing this point back up to further state that I think it's a shame to put a stigma on mental illness or to play the "blame game"... Everyone has experienced some sort of "imbalance" from time to time...

It's been my experience that those with schizophrenia tend to be more violent than others, dependin on the type of schizophrenia. Most with Bipolar just tend to get angry an vocal.

Really. I dare you to find me ANYONE who isn't crazy in one way or another




Don't Panic!

In your case, Kenny...I'm gonna say...uh...PANIC!!!

Who swiped my Thorazine? Alright, I ain't responsible for my actions if I don't get my meds.

Yes, mental illness has touched my life in a bad way. My uncle who goes in and out of mental institutions molested me when I was about 4 or 5. I don't really hold him responsible because of his illness but I always worry when they let him out if he does it to other children. He doesn't like to stay on his meds either.

As for dating someone who has a mental illness, I don't know if addicts fall into this catagory technically but I have had my share of them in my life. It is hard for the person who is dealing with it and just as hard for the people who love them.

There are many addicts who have mental illnesses who just aren't bein properly diagnosed. They're 'self' medicatin. I dated a man for several years who I'm convinced is Bipolar. He self medicated with pot. I've heard from several other parents who have children with mental health illnesses who've said that their children got into doin drugs to self medicate.

*sigh* I hear ya' on that one, Dragon...my ex-husband died with a coke rig in his arm...

I'm sorry T!

This was an enlightening thread.

Hmmmm mental illness....if we all went through every evaluation that there currently is....we would all be medicated and quite mad.


For people who struggle with social interaction through mental illness, and they find they are more supported/able to manage through medications, then more power to them.


For me personally, having a very mad grandmother, a highly neurotic nervey mother and a schizophrenic younger brother...it is highly likely it is genetic....my older brother and I are adopted, so do not have issue with possible inherited mental illness.

My partner says I am mental....says I am completely enigmatic, and a paradox unto myself....all this time I thought it was a way to initiate foreplay!


Some forms of mental illness I feel I would be unable to manage in a partnership, as the role moves into carer/manager rather than equal partner....


The romantic relationship may end, but the love for the other would not....so therefore could be a carer/manager/supporting role for them.