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Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Hey all,

Keen to hear everybody's experience with long-term relationships alongside various mental health maladies.

For years I've had depression/anxiety, but recently been diagnosed with ADHD, and going through the process for potential autism and BPD as well. This obviously makes life quite the rollercoaster and I just always default to thinking "Nobody deserves to put up with this, I'd be better off alone..."

I've been in two long term relationships while going through this – I truly love my partner, and know that she loves me, but to be real the relationship is in a very difficult place. She puts up with a lot while dealing with all my various episodes, especially while going through her own stuff that I'm not good at supporting her with, and I can't help but feel like things are constantly doomed; that love is not enough; that neither of us will be able to move forward in life together with this cloud hanging over us.

I just want to know if anyone else with these (or similar) conditions has any thoughts and insight...

15 replies

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In response to: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Im beginning to understand functional / romance. You are so true, it is not reality tv at all. Yes, I think I am open to your concept of spontaneous or progress.

I used i have this notion (20+ years ago) that anyone could fall in love with anyone - it's about the compatibility, that makes it last or end.

I think there might be other types of love too.

I wonder what your challenges are with romantic love? I don't see any.

I am reflecting on this concept of 'forcing love.' It is dangerous abusive.

There is the phrase about 'if you love - set it free etc. I think you know it.

I might be completely wrong - in my head I am fighting for me, my planet, my life. Fighting for universal love.

In my mind it is an emergency. Drastic action, not one second to second guess. We are dying.

Do I need to let go & watch how it unfolds. I feel like no. It is my duty to take charge now.

I'm stuck in a yin yang balance.

Letting life happen is easy, good....?

Trust the divine universe..etc

And...God helps those who help themselves.

I am a servant of God. God works through me.

I cannot accept 'easy' always. I need to fight harder than I ever had.

I think my mind, directions - flux in extremes. The goal is always health.

@justanotherguy - ironic & exact.

In response to: Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Hi @StanD , sound like you have lot of stuff to deal with. I have for a long time. On the phrase 'if you love something, set it free', it always puzzled me. Why not love it and keep it around? If you say that does it mean the things in your life are the things you don't love?

In response to: Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Yeh I'm stuck in this really weird yin yang @justanotherguy I have never 'forced' anyone to love me. I have insecurities & can be jealous & all sorts of humaness.

I'm not getting what I truly need. I'm not doing anything wrong.

In response to: Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Content/trigger warning
Hi @StanD , just reflect on my question before:

"If people say 'if you love something, set if free', does that mean their life is filled with things they don't love?"

I do think many people fill their lives with things they don't really love, like money, popularity, and power, as they find 'love' not fulfilling enough. Or maybe deep down they feel they don't really deserve it?

In response to: Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Re: Complex mental health disorders and long-term relationships

Oh thanks for the trigger warning just another guy.

Apologies for my treating you as my relationship counsellor.

These are healthy topics to discuss.

How can one be sure what they feel deep down?

I know I enjoy love. I know I have walls that prevent me from falling too far. I think it's ok to protect myself.

The right person for me help me to break down these walls. I would know they are honourable.

Do I deserve love...I want to say yes, we all do. It's difficult to know the hurts endured that may block. It's difficult to endure these hurts over again without falling back into patterns of self protection.

It's difficult to answer if one has not experienced love before. What is it? How can I say if I deserve what I don't know?

I think it's a knowing.

I don't think I've ever had this in a consistent way.

I have accepted less, trying to change myself to be lovable.

Is love with a person or on my own?

I like having the freedom to be.

I don't like fitting in.

Love would mean I never have to change myself or have boundaries or question or need for more, or feel any type of hurt.

I have never had this. Is it because I don't think I deserve or is it because I have not found it yet?

The person who is worthy of my love accepts me. It is easy.

If I don't believe deep down I deserve. The person would love me regardless & make me believe I am.

It is not me that is not worthy, if I don't believe.

That is a strange answer.

@justanotherguy

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