Health, Sickness, For life ? Yep !

Shame that many judge me without knowing all the details of an illness that engulfed me & controlled me. Many friends & family forgot the real me , and my values & beliefs that sometimes were ignored due to a terrible & powerful illness. Yet, I clung onto my vow "until death do us part", I didn't quickly abandon when things got really bad or hard. In other words I wasn't the one who quit, I sought help.  I had struggled with illness a couple of times before, but on the opposite pole & much different symptoms. But, I had been in a medical health care center only a few months before for Four weeks, before my partner threw in her cards. Wasn't interested in it for the long run. I found out not the fighter I was. Unfortunately, the other person quit, couldn't stand by a few of the vows. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death..

I don't remember a free get out of vows card ever being issued. 😒😒 I tell you this I wouldn't have endured a couple of relapses if the vow wasn't broken.  

It's not the story or tale that many heard or believe . 😒

AJS

https://www.bphope.com/hope-harmony-headlines-making-a-marriage-as-strong-as-possible/

For better or worse, in sickness and in health …

When we get married, we make a devoted and sacred vow to be there for that person no matter what, to honor them forever. Exchanging wedding vows may be one thing, but the reality of marriage, and committed relationships, is that it’s challenging.

Promising to be there for one another can take on new levels of meaning when dealing with the ups and downs of mood episodes—and when one person is thrust into the role of caregiver.

There could be real tests of those vows if symptoms like overspending, substance abuse, or hypersexuality enter the relationship.

But couples—married or not—who actively commit to strengthening their relationship come out of episodes not only intact but stronger than ever.

In fact, research shows that having a supportive partner may be just as important as medication and psychotherapy in preventing relapse, according to Sagar Parikh, MD.

The first thing to remember is that neither of you actually want the dysfunction that often accompanies depression and mania. You’re on the same team. The partner with bipolar needs to avoid denial when it comes to their diagnosis; the partner without bipolar may need help recognizing subtle cues that signal early signs of symptoms.

It’s common to fear the unknown, and when symptoms arise, it can make the future feel tenuous. But when life is less stable—especially when life is less stable—it’s helpful for each of you to show compassion for the other.

In the meantime, find ways to regularly celebrate why you fell in love in the first place.

Carin Meyer says that while it takes practice, being able to stay as stable as possible in her marriage requires moving past acknowledgment of her diagnosis into ownership.

“Instead of running away from it, I have to face it, head-on,” she explains. “This does not mean it becomes my identity or my excuse. Instead, I choose to take bipolar on and do my best to make it better, for me and my family.