Good day! I am new, this is my first post. Here is a brief summary of my situation: I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type 13 years ago. But I did not think I was sick, nor did I accept the diagnosis. This was due in part to the fact that I was going to school, and I was working even though I was not compliant with my medication. I thought I was fine until six months ago when I had a psychotic break-down. Earlier tonight I was doing some research and it dawned on me that I really am sick. Now that I have accepted my diagnosis, I have decided to stop dating and focus on my recovery.
My questions are
when I start dating again: how and when do I mention my diagnosis? I want to be honest, but I think if I reveal the wrong way or too soon, the person might run.
do you think it is possible for someone who does not have a mental illness to love and accept someone with sz?
what have been your experiences with dating since you were given the diagnosis?
We are soooo withdrawn. I think you have to wait until you realize you really don’t want to mess up. When the relationship is new, the caring has not developed yet., Sometimes, we treat ourselves badly and that makes us tend to treat others badly. Then they will simply go away, unlike yourself whom you are stuck with right or wrong.
Getting on meds helped with my underlying paraoia. I have been married and dated since meds at 29 and it’s something that is achievable for sure. My one rule is don’t marry/date anyone crazier than yourself.
I mentioned my diagnosis from the very beginning basically… after we’d been talking a couple days/before we met in person. I had a job at the time as well, which probably helped.
Yes I think it’s possible for someone without a mental illness to accept/love someone with sz
My experience was a flop till I met my husband. (I was on a dating site for a year)
I had some very weird, as well as inappropriate responses to them finding out my diagnosis.
when I start dating again: how and when do I mention my diagnosis? I want to be honest, but I think if I reveal the wrong way or too soon, the person might run.
This is very much something you need to decide. I decided to reveal before meeting and it didn’t go down well …but the one who didn’t judge me stayed.
do you think it is possible for someone who does not have a mental illness to love and accept someone with sz?
Absolutely.
what have been your experiences with dating since you were given the diagnosis?
I’m married for ten years. Mentioned to my husband about my mental illness in past but didn’t say sz as I thought it was cured. But that year I met him my sza returned in full and so I basically got ill only after I was married. But he stayed and I stayed and it’s ten years later. Our marriage is very difficult because he’s got epilepsy bad so we both ill but we understand each other
I’m happily married. I have multiple diagnoses right now: schizoaffective depressive type, paranoid schizophrenia, depression, and complex ptsd. It’s definitely possible to have live when you’re mentally ill.
A few tips on things that confuse newbies:
Cake day is the anniversary date of when you joined.
The 1515 or other numbers at the end of peoples posts are because there’s a 15 character minimum to post. So people put 15s after until they get to the minimum characters to post.