Please some advice about my boyfriend
Find a Conversation
| Tue, 05-15-2007 - 10:13pm |
I haven't posted on any of the boards for such a long time...It's such a relief to find this one although I never thought in a million years that I would need to be here.
I met my boyfriend 4 years ago at work and I never knew about his bipolar disorder. We have been dating the past 6 months after wanting to be together all of this time. He is 30 and we have 6 kids together (yes, the Brady Bunch). He told me a month into our relationship that his mother and brother have bipolar and he has been taking medication for it for the last ten years.
The last 6 months have been complete bliss for a few days and then a total hell. His mood swings are so drastic. He either loves me and wants to marry me or he gets so angry that he calls me things that nobody has ever said before. His jealousy is so intense...I made the mistake a week ago of emailing an ex-boyfriend (we are friends) about having my house power washed and my b-friend found out. He approached me at work - knocked my lunch off my desk and I called me a piece of sh*t... it was horrible to say the least... I apologized and begged him to stop. He called my mother who had no sympathy for him and then proceeded to go to my ex-boyfriend's house and tell him that he could have me. The next day he called and begged me back...the worst part is the crying episodes... I have never seen a grown man cry like that...
I want to believe he loves me but maybe it's just the illness? As I write this tonight - he is taking a few days away from me to re-evaluate our relationship. He complains that he can't trust me and he suffers from extreme tiredness and a constant upset stomach.
I know I should walk away but I just can't do it. He is so smart and caring and a wonderful father. He has never displayed this behavior in front of the children. My children and career are everything to me but I can't just let him go. I just want to help him...He does know about his mood swings. Should I just confront him about it and have him go back to the Dr. to evaluate his meds?
Any advice would be appreciated...

Sounds like it could possibly be Borderline Personality Disorder or Bipolar Affective Disorder(the two could be co-morbid--or occur together), does the doctor know about his relational issues? Sounds like a rough and exhausting position to be in though, taking all that emotional abuse. Encourage him to get help.
I'd a least take a break from him--but that's just me.
Edited 5/16/2007 10:02 am ET by tallyn75
Edited 5/16/2007 10:04 am ET by tallyn75
He may have stopped his meds or it may be time for a med change, for him to be having such mood swings--they don't normally happen like this when you're stable.