How Does Bipolar Disorder Affect Relationships?

First, thank you all for sharing your experiences - I hope others find this as helpful as I've found your comments. 

My relationship of about a year with a bipolar person just ended.  For the first 10 months or so, everything was wonderful - she was the most caring, loving person I've been with.  I knew she had some past issues with abuse, etc. But it didnt phase me.  I suffer from depression/anxiety, so I am very accepting of others problems.
However, about 2 months ago, my ex totally pulled away from me.  We used to be together every day, but since then we saw each other maybe 4 times.  Briefly before this happened, she told me she was feeling depressed and also hinted at bipolar disorder - having depression myself, I dove into efforts to help her.  We still talked/texted continuously, but our conversations would often end in fights.  She also refused to show any emotion, even when I told her how much I loved her and how important she was to me....it only got worse.
I decided to study the disorder and resolved myself to standing beside her though her difficult time.  I tried to avoid confrontation and show unconditional love, even if it wasnt returned.  I kept telling myself that her true feelings were just hidden under this horrible illness.  But I caught her in a lie in which she admitted she had been seeing an ex from the past.  She also told me that "I never cared for her" and other irrational statements.
I've come to face the reality that it is not something I can fix, regardless of how hard I try.  In spite of all of the fights and neglect from her, I still love her.  But I also love myself and cannot risk my mental health - Ive offered her my help in getting treatment, which she continually refuses.
In the end, she has gone back to a destructive friendship and has shunned all of our mutual friends (all of whom would want to help her).  From past experience, I believe she will bounce around in bad relationships and self medicate.  It hurts me to watch this, but I know I cannot help.  To those of you who can sustain bp relationships (both sufferers and partners), I applaud you.  But I feel that if the person is not willing to help themselves, try to be understanding and help..but in the end please take care of yourself and do not blame yourself for the strains on your relationship.

Bipolar Disorder can really affect sufferer's relationships. Every single relationship they have will be affected whether it is an intimate relationship, a parental relationship, or a friendship.

Some people who suffer from the condition say they get pretty argumentative. They suffer from extreme irritability and that causes them to lash out and to unknowingly hurt the people around them. Often sufferers are too ashamed to tell the people they love what they are going through. They feel that if they do, their loved ones will think less of them. That fear sometimes causes them to keep the condition a secret for as long as they possibly can.

So, if left untreated, relationships can really suffer and it can be hard to keep a successful one. The depression which comes with the Disorder can be really hard to deal with. Many sufferers say they would rather die than live like that for the rest of their lives. That is why treating the condition is so important!

I was in a relationship with a bipolar before...and I can totally relate to what everyone is sharing here. Before I cannot really understand but now after reading all the stories here, I can fully understand why he is like that. At first he was a very caring and loving person that led me to fell in love with him but after a few months he started to change and become different,,he is irritable, has a temper, lies, cheating with other girls or women, etc,,etc..he also blames me for everything bad that has happened and experienced..now after a year and a half,..I just cannot take this bad behavior and attitude anymore and I know that this will keep on happening..he does care about meds or therapy at all..he doesn't really care about helping himself..so I decided to just end the relationship than suffer with all these..

I'm 18 and recently got diagnosed with bipolar last april. It made a lot of sense and answered  a lot of my questions as to why my moods changed a lot.  But anyways, if you are gifted with this lovely disorder you tend to change your mind a lot. For instance, liking or being interested in something and then easily not anymore. Your mind changes just like your mood changes. It's like a big swing going back and forth. I personally think it's hard to keep a relationship because of this. I broke up with so many guys. I've been with about 5 or 6 guys and I broke up with all of them. Thats why you got to make sure that this dude or chick is the one for you and your heart throbs for them. Make you shake of nervousness and give you butterflys. You know what I mean. I'm sure some of you have felt it.