Use their answers to discern if this is a relationship that you would be up for or not. I have a severe mental illness, just to be clear. Sometimes I really do wonder if I’m just too much, honestly. © 2023 Healthline Media LLC. All rights reserved.

would you date someone with mental illness?

There’s nothing that can make you feel as powerless as living with a partner with post-traumatic stress disorder . You’re a partner not a mental health professional — you can’t “fix” their depression. What you can do, however, is help them find the resources that might help.

Knowing When to Disclose Details about Mental Health

It means letting them have negative, painful beliefs, even when you really want them to see things differently. You can stop trying to treat their depression and instead offer empathy, care, and love. This is more likely to foster closeness and connection because you’re no longer trying to change their minds.

Dating agencies that provide a stigma-free safe-space for people struggling with psychotic issues also serve lonely bipolar singles in the UK well. Currently, there are no dedicated bipolar dating agencies for singles in the UK. However, feelings of shame must be overcome in order for those affected to be able to live in a partnership without experiencing discomfort. People with psychological problems, however, are exactly the opposite of snobbish or arrogant. Instead, they are more concerned with themselves and their own feelings.

You can still extend compassion and healthy support in any number of ways. You’ll find seven to start you off below. Do not stop, however, taking your medication. Mania https://loveconnectionreviews.com/ or psychosis will likely do worse long-term damage to your relationship than a low libido. Take your time and work with your doctor to reduce negative side effects.

But learning how to connect in our differences with others, and learning to connect in our pain and our partner’s pain, is important because these elements exist in all relationships. When things are difficult, it is helpful to remind yourself of the many reasons you care about your partner, rather than focusing solely on how they are when they don’t feel well. Intentionally focusing on your partner’s positive attributes is one way to support yourself in your relationship.

Recent research reveals the dating lives of people with mental illness.

Depression makes you less confident, unable to laugh and less willing to open up to new people. It can make you feel more vulnerable and hamper your true personality from showing up in the first place. Not having a mental illness is not an eliminating factor for admission by these type of dating platforms. For this reason, especially for the chronically ill, there are alternative dating sites and dating apps that can bring like-minded people in the UK together.

Some people with Major Depressive Disorder have trouble sleeping. People with PTSD experience traumatic nightmares that have them waking up screaming. Think about that when deciding to swipe right on a mentally ill person’s Tinder profile. Mental illness isn’t a “one size fits all” kind of deal.

Obsessions and compulsions are the primary symptoms of OCD. Obsessions are unwanted, persistent thoughts, images, or urges that create feelings of distress and anxiety. Lisa, I don’t think that our relationship is unusual. So I guess I know the answer to this question. But from your perspective, do you think that more people could end up where we are being both exes and friends? And take out children, we don’t have children.

Should You Be in a Relationship if You Have Mental Health Issues?

It’s important to realize that many of your current relationship challenges are not a personal choice. There are some science-backed lifestyle choices you can consider to improve your overall quality of life. You might want to share the specifics of your traumatic experience or you may not. Both options are valid and entirely up to you.

For two months I barely left my apartment. But the issues surrounding PTSD that needed to be addressed called for dedicated commitment, time, and the help of a professional — things he didn’t say he was opposed to. Still, he never made the choices to show he was ready. After years of baby steps forward and monumental steps back, I ultimately made the decision to end the relationship.