hollins2007

Although I don't live with my boyfriend, he has bipolar and it hasn't always been easy the last year and a half. Counseling is an important part of managing it so I'd suggest he start that soon. When was he diagnosed? It sounds like it may be recently from what you've said. Medicine can work, but sometimes it's a trial and error thing. It took YEARS for my boyfriend, long before I met him, to find the right combination. When we first met, he was on Citalopram and Seroquel. The Seroquel had too many bad side effects like lethargy and weight gain that he stopped that last year, and now takes Lamictal in addition to the Citalopram. Needless to say, just because he starts on a medication doesn't mean it will be the right one. It can take time to get acclamated to it and even then if it doesn't work, go to the doctor and see about trying something new.

He may not realize he is hurting you. I would tell him that, after the mean part has passed, to explain that what he said earlier hurt you. But remember that most likely it's his bipolar that is being mean, not him. My boyfriend has done things or said things that hurt my feelings, but I've learned that it's not HIM that is doing it, and he's always apologetic afterwards even though it's really not his fault but his mind's.

Being with someone who has bipolar is not for everyone. If you are commited to this relationship, then recognize that this is something that is not going away. If you don't think you can handle this, and be there with him through it, then you need to do what's best for you. But at the same time, I don't think you should abandon him now when he's just starting to figure out how to manage this. It will be a learning process for the both of you.

Hang in there!