Dating Someone with a emotional Illness -June 27th, 2013-
Dating them and their emotional illness.
By: Jacob Alan
Love, the emotion that is one of the most important to people. They strive to find it, and to connect with someone on that level is a magical feeling. That feeling though, can be horrifying to one with a emotional illness. With having a emotional illness you are almost two different people. You are you, and then you are you with your emotional illness. I'm going to break this article up into two different sections. One being to those in the relationship with the emotional illness, and the other being to the one in the relationship without the emotional illness.
Partner with emotional Disorder. I will preface this with saying, that there is finding love while dealing with a emotional illness. With finding the right partner they will be one to help you overcome, cope, etc with your emotional illness.
You are in a new relationship. The infantile stages of getting to know each other, dates, and the procedure of learning about your new partner. The dates have gone amazingly, and you feel yourself getting to like this person more and more. However there is a something you haven't spoke about with them because you are afraid it will scare them away... You have a emotional illness. Whether it be depression, PTSD, Bi-polar, etc the key thing is communication. Even in the young stages of the relationship. You, especially having a emotional illness need a partner who will understand your disorder, and who will make the steps to continue to understand your disorder. As someone with severe depression, severe anxiety, and bipolar disorder, coupled (no pun intended) with PTSD I have trust issues. I have fears that a person will leave me, or feel as if I'm crazy. These are common thoughts for those looking for love while having a emotional illness. You need to be sure, as i mentioned earlier, to communicate. Your emotional illness will inevitably show itself sometime in the relationship. Having a prepared partner makes those times easier. Your partner will know when to talk to you, will know what they can do to help, and will UNDERSTAND where you're coming from. |
Partner Without emotional Disorder. So you have found someone you are connected with, and someone who you see yourself being with long term. However you find out / they tell you they deal with a emotional illness. Though this isn't a relationship ending thing, It is most definitely going to be a factor in the relationship.
As I mentioned in the 'partner with emotional disorder' communication is key. For you, it may be something as simple as listening to them when they need to talk about their disorder, or it may be something like making sure they take their medications on time. Us, with emotional disorders sometimes feel we are a burden or feel as if we are doing something wrong; That is the perfect time to show how you support, and how you are willing to understand your partner's emotional disorder to the best of your ability. You could be the key factor is helping your partner with their emotional disorder, and helping them continue to grow and improve with overcoming their disorder. It's up to you, the partner without the emotional disorder, to research your partner's emotional disorder. To understand it, you'll also need to understand your partner. Various people have depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc... However with EACH person it affects them differently. That is what I cannot stress enough. You can have a very amazing, passionate, healthy relationship with someone with a emotional disorder, however you must take the time to learn about them and their disorder. Some days may affect them worse than others, and it's then that you need to know what to do. Sometimes its letting them have alone quiet time. Other times it will be your partner and you going out, and having a dinner out, or a afternoon snack at their favorite place. |
If you have any more questions, though im not a professional, please email NMS at:
no.more.scars@outlook.com
