Yes, it's a tough pill to swallow. You have a lot to deal with now that you know what it is

You need to get educated on the subject. There are a lot of sites online just google bipolar. The more you know about the illness and how it's going to affect you and your fiance the less afraid you will be.

thank you. i've been reading all day since I found out. It's such a relief to start understanding, and at the same time, i see how it truly affects the partners/children as well. another question... he's going to be coming to get me in a little while. He sounds really happy--thinking about our wedding, his new bike, fun things. Do I share what I'm feeling (totally going to cry) or do I just focus on talking about him for now until I understand a little more? Really asking, will my anxiousness/confusion hurt him right now?

Ditto! My words exactly, Beccasp! Education is the key! The more you know about it the less fear you have and the more chance of a gentler recovery process.

Be honest and share with him what you're feeling, don't hide

It's hard for me to say because I don't know him. But if it were me I would just tell him you have been reading up on BP and that you are learning a lot. That should make him feel like you are supporting him. He's going to have to educate himself too.

exactly beccasp! u can always introduce him to this site too, much love and support here...

I hear good things about "Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder" by Julie Fast. Any other suggestions?

I was relieved too when I found out....so was my man after he knew more about what made me tick! Our relationship made it over the "hump" and we're doing soooooo much better now. It was definitely a struggle, but we signed on for sickness and in health, better or worse. If the shoe had been on the other foot and it was him suffering, I would've also stuck by him and learned all I could about it and been with him thru thick and thin as he was for me.

I just bought the book Coping With Bipolar= a guide to living with manic depression. And on Amazon there is a book written for families of BP. I don't remember the name of the book though. Just look up BP on Amazon

thank you again. it feels really nice to talk to you all. my fiance and i share everything, so I love that being open is the way to go. It's funny, as scared as I feel right now, it's also astounding how everything is starting to make sense. the puzzle pieces fit after all. our lives changed today, I guess, for the better. ok, i feel better.

That's the power of knowledge....the fear loses it's power when all the holes are filled!!

absolutely. :)

My Husband is terrified for me. Sometimes he breaks down in tears before he goes to work at night. He says he doesn't want me to do something bad while he's not around. Right now he feels like he has to take care of me and walk on eggshells because the simplest comments set me off. It is a horrible cycle. I do something to hurt him, I apologize, he forgives me, I do something else to hurt him. It is killing me to see him like this but I don't know how to help him.

Boy you must be a really strong woman. hope the best for you. just do everything you can to encourage him to NEVER GO OFF HIS MEDS. chances are it will take several serious lessons w/ the disease before he takes them religiously.

Really figure out if you can handle it to and remember to take care of yourself first. pray to see if its right.

i'm so glad to see there are people out there willing to marry into the illness. gives me hope