Written by Hannah Blum, author of The Truth About Broken: The Unfixed Version of Self-Love
As a woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I am not naive to the fact that people I date struggle to see beyond the label that society has stamped on me, which is why I wrote this post. If you are dating a girl with a mental illness, toss your preconceived notions aside and try to see the world from our point of view. Here are 17 things you should know about dating a girl with mental illness.
1. She is self-conscious about her diagnosis.
Why are women with a mental illness self-conscious? Well, isn’t it obvious? Society puts a ridiculous amount of pressure on women to be flawless in every area, including our mind. No matter how confident we are, stigma still follows us everywhere we go. If you love her, you’ll find ways to shed a positive light on mental illness. If you don’t have anything positive to say about mental illness, then do us all a favor and do not pursue anything further with her.
2. She is a person, not a mental illness.
Mental Illness is part of her, but it does not define her, and if her condition prevents you from seeing her as an individual first, then it is best to leave her be. People with mental illness are professionals, educated, well traveled, creative, artists and individuals. Do not judge her character based on what the news media persuades you to believe about mental illness.
3. Listen to her, do not try to fix her.
Mental illness cannot be fixed. It is not a flat tire. She does not, or should not expect you to know how to fix her problem. In my experience, when a guy feels like they cannot come up with a logical solution, they become frustrated. When it comes to my mental health, the only people that can help solve my problem are me and my psychiatrist. So just listen to her, or give her genuine advice of ways to help her handle the problem at hand.
4. She wants to feel empowered.
Empowering her as someone living with a mental illness is the greatest gift you could give her. We are punished because we are different, and this is something that cannot be understood by those who don’t live with a mental illness. She has so much to offer the world, and you may be the first person that comes into her life and relays this message to her. Make her feel as though the parts of her that she deems as ‘flawed’ are what ultimately makes her perfect in your eyes.
5. She is different from other girls you have dated.
She is probably different than other girls you have dated. Great! You are here for a reason, and a lot has to with the fact that you are bored with women who act, dress, and think the same. Do not reject her because you are intimidated by the unknown. You are different from her, and she is different from you. She is taking just as much of a risk as you are. Do not make her feel as though you are doing her a favor by dating her. Appreciate what makes her different, and roll with it.
6. Do not blame all your relationship problems on her mental illness.
This is a biggie! Not every argument should be blamed on the fact that she has a mental illness. She is not a scapegoat, and this is a problem that happens too often in relationships. It’s a formula for disaster. It is essential to eliminate mental illness from the conversation unless it is evident that it’s the root of the problem.
I accused my ex-boyfriend of cheating on me. He tried to blame it on my diagnosis of bipolar disorder, calling himself a “victim of mental illness.” Unfortunately, the girl he cheated on me with didn’t get the memo about texting. It turned out he was cheating on me, and every single suspicion I had was justified.
7. She is extremely empathetic.
Women with a mental illness communicate in a language that is more emotional and beyond the surface. No, this does not mean are required to cry or read poems out loud to her. Emotional and sensitive are two different things. It means do not be afraid to communicate with her on a more honest and deeper level. We are empathetic, and this type of communication builds trust.
8. She doesn’t expect you to completely understand mental illness.
She does not expect you to be a book of knowledge about mental illness. Mental illness is a mystery, and those of us who live with it are the only ones who can truly understand the world that exists within us. It is not expected of you to completely understand, however, it is expected that you support us on our journey. I mean that is a rule in every relationship, right?
9. She is not pushing you away on purpose.
I am a pusher! You have to understand that we live in a world that tells us we are unlovable which establishes a high wall up between you and her. We push people away to get an emotional reaction, because, in our world, this is how we determine a person’s intentions. However, it is a defense mechanism that signals the beginning of the end. If you are really into her, be patient, gain her trust without forcing it and when she pushes do not react.
10. She wants you to get involved in the mental health conversation.
Mental health is one of the most significant and most relevant topics in our society today. Learn about the history of stigma, what advocates are doing today and get involved in the mental health community. Send her posts, articles or quotes pertaining to mental illness. We are a unique group of individuals. You may think a six pack will turn her on, but offer to do a 5k for a local mental health charity and see what happens.
11. She will hide her pain.
People with mental illness may try to cover up their internal pain by exerting themselves on behalf of others. Sometimes we run from our pain or recklessly behave. Remember you can only offer her support, and you cannot fix her. If it begins to take a toll on your mental health then definitely take a break from dating or the relationship. I am a woman with a mental illness; however, I understand that other people are not obligated to condone my reckless behavior at times because I have bipolar disorder.
12. She wants to tell others about her mental illness.
The stigma of mental illness makes people feel obligated to hide their condition. She wants to explain her diagnosis to friends and family at her own time. It is not your place to tell others unless she asks you to do so. It is a very sensitive subject. The last thing you want to hear when introducing her to your friends is, “Wow, you sure don’t look mentally ill!” It’s happened to me, so trust me when I advise you to let her come forward.
13. Like any relationship, there will be challenges.
Challenge is a part of life, whether you are dating someone with a mental illness or not. Do not freak the moment you notice a change in her emotional behavior. Overcoming these challenges will only make you and your relationship stronger. If it is too much for you to handle, then be honest with yourself. She may not be the right fit for you.
14. It is not doomed from the start because she has a mental illness.
Do not set your relationship up for failure. If you go into anything assuming you are going to fail then most likely you will fail. One of my favorite authors Jen Sincero sums it up in one sentence, “What you choose to focus on becomes your reality.”
15. She can be overly sexual or not sexual at all.
People with mental illness can be extremely sexual at times. I know some of you are like Score! However, there will be periods where not much is happening between the sheets. It may be due to medication, or she is going through an episode of depression. Do not be offended or let it affect your self-esteem.
16. Sometimes she will withdraw or be distant.
There is no doubt that at points in your relationship she is going to distance herself from you mentally. We are so used to handling our internal struggle on our own that it comes naturally for us to feel the need to do so once in a while. It is not a reflection of you or your relationship, unless you have obviously done something hurtful.
17. She needs you to understand that mental illness is a disease.
If you believe mental illness is not real, then stop reading this blog post and cancel your next date. Save her from your ignorance. Not to be harsh, but if you believe that mental illness is just some made up condition for people to use as an excuse, then dating a girl with a mental illness makes no sense. If you love her put your personal bias about mental health to the side and educate yourself.
For more mental health content follow me @hannahdblum
In her first book, The Truth About Broken: The Unfixed Version of Self-Love, Hannah Blum redefines what it means to love yourself and takes readers on an unforgettable journey towards embracing what makes you different by sharing captivating stories that will never leave you after reading. A book that will give you a new perspective on mental illness as Hannah shares her unapologetic message rooted in her life as living with a mental illness in a society that has labeled her and others as broken.
Blooming Mind Press 
Personally, I think these are great tips.
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I will send this to my future boyfriend haha!
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one more thing to mention, a thing, I would say, positive. with her you will nnever get bored, because it is so unpredictable that you never know what can happen in the next moment. 🙂 nice post.
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Love it!!! It’s so true!
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Having met a man with this condition, I can say it’s totally true!! He is fun, loving, creative, basically..all the things I love in a partner…but when this is all gone, I’m broken into tiny pieces and to rebuild that is almost as hard as to recover from a tornado. It’s devastating..
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♥️
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I love being a beautiful mess! Love this post!
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Haha! It is a beautiful thing to embrace the messiness. Thank you for the love!
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I feel like this post was talking about me! I have a mental illness blog and this is just so wonderful! Thank you for this post.
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Thank you so much Marley! I will definitely check out your blog. Sending love to you! Appreciate the support;)
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Awesome post!
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Thank you Carla! Appreciate the love!
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Hey, I’m kind of new in this, I’ve recently been dating this girl, she has ADHD bipolar disorder and drepession, quite a bit right? But for some reason I can’t get her out of my mind, she is so entertaining, she’s beautiful and I think the best part is how you can’t tell what she’s thinking, I think that really gotten me, I spent the night with her yesterday and like today she would reply to my texts til like late afternoon, is this normal with dating a girl like this? I’m so confused.
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Hi Dino! First off thank you for being so honest with me, and you came to the right place. Women with bipolar disorder are magical in many ways, so I can understand your connection to this individual. Its interesting because the way you describe her actions are similar to my own. However, we do have the ability to make it very confusing for others to understand what we are thinking, which makes you insecure and conflicted Im sure. As for her response to texts, I wouldn’t worry about the timing. She is probably just busy doing other things. The fact is she responded to you which means theres some type of interest there.
The thing is, those of us with Bipolar, we struggle to truly let someone fully into our lives so we push and pull. So heres what I would suggest-just be patient and establish a trust between the two of you. This means just be patient with it. Its the beginning stage so take the pressure off. We are not easy to read. I cant guarantee what will happen, but if you like her that much then continue, but def don’t base her feelings off the timing of her texts. Keep me informed about what happens. Wishing you the best. Im sure she would be lucky 🙂 -Hannah
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Thanks Hannah, I’d be sure to check in 🙂 you’re great help!
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Of course:) Thank you for reading the post!
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Yeah cuz they tend to sleep all dsy when depressed. She probably woke up late and replied. Also they are self absorbed
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I dated someone with bi polar for 13 months. I would advise anyone reading this that unfortunately, yes, mire often than not these types of relationships ARE doomed from the start. They are emotionally draining, and unfair, and many have major issues with understanding boundaries. If you don’t want to lose yourself while playing caregiver to another person, avoid dating someone who is bi polar. I am truly sorry, it is just the truth. 12 months later I still think what was done to me was unfair and yes it WAS her mental illness that ruined us, because of the things it caused her to do. I got out before she actually cheated.
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A beautiful post.
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Thank you so much David! -Hannah
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Oh I wanted to say that just through observing people I am close to – including my wife of 20 + years – I have developed a way of coping with the challenged to me and supporting them – and they read a LOT like your main points…
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I will list them as best I can…what I say to all
1. I am here for you right? You know that…
2. No pressure – if you want to talk or laugh with me or watch a movie or go for a walk by the river – i will love that totally because I adore your beautiful soul – but I can also handle it if you don’t want to…You gotta learn to not personalise the need of them to withdraw at times.
3. I defend them from attacks from others like a guard dog…lol here! I cannot bear the injustice.
4. talk about it when they want to – I think actually that we have all had minor breakdowns in our lives as a response to deaths and …..well….kinda deaths in the midst of life if that makes sense. sometimes your soul is battered and wont ignite…not for long…life is full of joy and sorrow and this is just part of the mix.
5. Just be around and don’t get fed up with them.
6. Let them know they are appreciated for themselves. I am a musician and I could not stand being involved with anyone on any level who was mundane.
7. Realise that maybe…just maybe…your purpose on earth is to help others; to put others first.
8. I always think that there are no bad emotions. The only really bad one is not feeling at all.
9. Always let them know how wonderful they are…they are brimful of charm/insight/profundity and talent – in my experience…
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Hi David!
Everything you mentioned here makes so much sense. I also met a man with this condition and it’s amazing how connected I felt while it lasted..and I am sure he felt something for me too..but since I’m new to this kind of relationship, I would like to know how do you “handle” those moments (days, weeks, months even) without her? I mean when you are on your own…don’t you feel lonely?
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So reading your article was so much in line with what I have lived through for the past 25 years. Thank you!
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Finally – ah green. The colour of moving forward. All the best people are synesthetic!
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erm…any thoughts?
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How can I best reach out to someone that is trying to push me away to let her know I am still there for her?
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Hi! It is common for those of us living with bipolar disorder to have trust issues especially in romantic relationships. All you can do is let her know that you accept and love her as she is, regardless of her diagnosis of a mental illness. Sharing information (social media accounts or blogs) that talk about bipolar disorder might be helpful as well. Hope it all works out for you. Thanks. Sending love. -Hannah
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Thank you!
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Hi David!
Everything you mentioned here makes so much sense. I also met a man with this condition and it’s amazing how connected I felt while it lasted..and I am sure he felt something for me too..but since I’m new to this kind of relationship, I would like to know how do you “handle” those moments (days, weeks, months even) without her? I mean when you are on your own…don’t you feel lonely?
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Hi Hannah I recently started dating this girl 3 months ago I graduated HS With her back in 1985 her husband passed away unfortunately coming up on 4 years ago, I knew her husband when we were younger we hung out together but I never knew that they were married until her and I met, we found each other on Facebook dating on our profiles we both said that we wanted long term relationships, we have gone away for 2 long weekends so far and totally enjoyed ourselves, some of the things that I do for her she says are too overwhelming, and that now she has changed her mind and doesn’t want a LTR, she is going away on vacation soon with family and friends and has told me that while she’s away she doesn’t want to have to think of a man ( me), during this time away it will be her husbands 4 year Anniversary so that’s why she wants to be away to help cope with the loss, I know that I love her but she has said that she told her therapist that she doesn’t think she’d be able to love again, Her family has a history of mental Illness and mine as well, My Mom and my Brother had it but I don’t, do u think there might be a chance she could feel different someday and love me back.
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Hi Thomas! Your comment touched my heart because I can feel both your love and hurt by the situation. It sounds like she struggles with many emotions, and relationships require a lot of effort. I am sure she cares about you, but she does not have space for someone else. I know heartbreak hurts, but you never know what the future brings. The more you try right now, the more it will push her away. I would give it time and space, also, to take care of yourself and your mental health and honestly start dating again. Sometimes, we get too caught up on one person because being alone is scarier than not being loved back. However, it’s the opposite. You are a loving and caring man who is clearly empathetic. These qualities alone make you deserving of love. I don’t know if she will return someday, but no one knows the future. And mental illness is not as much a factor here. Sure she could have a diagnosis, but whose to say that will change anything if she gets help. Keep hope, but also take steps to move on. Maybe this will help her realize what she had in you, but don’t want for that realization. I am sending you love and I hope you heal. You deserve love. -Hannah
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