Bipolar Disorder and Ghosting: It's a Big Problem
Bipolar disorder and ghosting is a big problem. I didn’t realize the extent of this problem until I saw the number of comments on my recent YouTube video, "Ghosting and Bipolar Disorder: Why We Do It".
What is Ghosting? The Role It Plays in Bipolar
Ghosting is a contemporary term used for when a person completely cuts off all communication with a friend or romantic partner by not responding to texts, ignoring calls and acting as if the person no longer exists. It is done without a reason or an explanation from the person doing it. One day they are a part of your life, and the next day they disappear from it without warning. It negatively impacts friendships and romantic relationships. Ghosting is done by many of us living with bipolar disorder, especially during bipolar depressive episodes.
"I’m guilty of this when I’m hypomanic and in a negative mood and I’m super sensitive and I get easily hurt or angry at people and instead of confronting them, I just ghost them when they try to contact me." ~Xoxofmw, YouTube commenter
Why Do People with Bipolar Disorder Engage in Ghosting?
Those of us living with bipolar disorder definitely have a problem with ghosting people. It doesn't matter whether it's someone we're dating or friends with. Unfortunately, sometimes we're even ghosting our family members.
I have bipolar II and yes, I've ghosted people. Why? It feels more comfortable for me to cut off all communication with another person when I am struggling with highs and lows. Secondly, when I am dating someone, the fear of being rejected due to my diagnosis of bipolar disorder is always present. That makes me push another person away when they get too close. Thirdly, the stigma of mental illness causes severe anxiety in those of us living with bipolar disorder. Although a person we are romantically involved with may not be showing signs of rejecting us due to bipolar, we feel as though it is inevitable that at some point it will happen.
"I just do this on a low episode. I see it as protecting friends from me dragging them down to my level. Plus, in all honesty, I can’t deal with feeling suffocated whilst in the low and just want to be left on my own. It’s easier that way. ~ Claire, YouTube commenter
Self-stigmatizing is another significant reason for ghosting as well. Those of us with bipolar disorder subconsciously believe that we are unlovable and undeserving of friendships and relationships, which causes us to act on ghosting. The stress and pressure to explain the reasons for pushing away creates anxiety; which is where ghosting comes into play.
"I do this a lot. I stop answering phone calls and texts, and avoiding any form of communication with friends and family. In my mind, I don't stop loving them or care for them. I just feel overwhelmed and I feel the need to create a distance between me and them so I can calm down. Now, unfortunately, this can take from a couple days to a couple weeks." ~ Katia, YouTube commenter
The Affect Ghosting Has on Others
Over the years, I have realized that regardless of what is going on in my life, ghosting is hurtful to another person. I have been on both sides of ghosting, and it is very harmful and causes extreme insecurities.
"I just lost a friend who deals with bipolar. She just cut me off. I tried and tried. Dealt with the ups and downs and dealing with my own depression and insecurity, it was very difficult. ~ Embree, YouTube commenter
Bipolar disorder is not an excuse for hurting another person. Although we deal with anxiety and depression and it leads to many of us isolating ourselves, we are still responsible for the way our behavior negatively affects friends, family, and romantic partners. There are people who care about us, and they deserve a proper response even though it is difficult for those of us living with bipolar disorder to do so at times. This is something I am working on as well because I severely struggle with opening up which leads me to ghosting other individuals.
My ex, who's getting well with depression and very positive about her progress, left me since I have bipolar 2 and I isolate myself every once in a while. She doesn't like it since it triggers her. So she broke up with me and told me I can't give her what she needs. ~ Chaz, YouTube commenter
Self-awareness is essential when it comes to behaviors like ghosting. Many people with bipolar disorder do not even realize that this is a problem. Building strong relationships without openness and communication is impossible. Acknowledging the problem is the first step to self-awareness and learning how to properly communicate with others to prevent anyone getting hurt or feeling ignored by someone they care about.
"When I feel like isolating, I "check on" the people around me, my friends in recovery. This way I am not alone, but I am not talking about ME, I am checking on THEM. Seems to help! ~ BipolarLightningBug, YouTube commenter
What about you? How has being ghosted by someone with bipolar disorder affected you? And if living with bipolar disorder and ghosting others has been part of your life, why do you do it? Also, helpful suggestions on how to end this type of behavior are welcomed.
APA Reference
Blum, H.
(2019, January 28). Bipolar Disorder and Ghosting: It's a Big Problem, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, April 20 from https://www.healthyplace.com/living-with-bipolar-blog/2019/1/bipolar-disorder-and-ghosting-its-a-big-problem
Author: Hannah Blum
You can however you feel so withdrawn and sad you don’t like to expose yourself to people when you are so low. You don’t want them to see you when your so down as it’s no fun and kind of embarrassing....and you feel you just want to be alone and quiet.
I’m going through a major low at the moment, will be going back to lay on my bed soon.
I have been in a live-in romantic relationship with someone that has bipolar 2 disorder. We were together for 4 years and it has been an absolute emotional roller coaster. She was the first person i had met with bipolar disorder so i was clueless for awhile. I only started realizing something was off with her emotionally stability a few months into the relationship, because she was really good at hiding her emotions. I started to later notice her manic full of energy episodes and depressive episodes, but i had always thought this was a part of her personality due to her past traumas with family and past relationships with exes. She had told me that her broken relationship with her parents was the reason why she had moved out at the age of 18. I met her when she was 20 and i was 21 and at the time i had religous parents that i wanted to escape from so i took the oppurtunity to live with her. I fell in love with her for her sweet, loving, kind hearted and genuine personality. I always had overlooked the savage side of her that was irritably verbally abusive, manipulative, hateful, and full of unnecessary complaints. About half a year into our live-in relationship i had realize that her emotional personality was a mental illness, bipolar disorder. Upon realizing this i was already emotionally invested and had told her that i would try to always be commited to understanding her bipolar disorder. Our whole relationship has been respectfully great. We had spent almost everyday together working multiple jobs for the past 4 years to make ends meet paying the bills and rent. We would always get stoned and go on dinner dates. She would go out of her way to do things for me as she was full of surprises on our monthsaries. She would always assure our relationship and would tell me I was the one she loved the most. She was quite responsible always cooking,cleaning, doing laundry, etc. I've seen her struggle with her depressive epsiodes and i've always comforted her with hugs and kisses. Like any other relationships we've had really bad arguments, but we both maturely always manage to come to an agreement and accept our faults. 4 years into the relationship i really believed that she was a person that i could have a future with and eventually get married. Then came a turning point to our relationship. We both started working at a marijuana grow op and she had started smoking excessively and drank energy drinks every single day for a month straight. I believe the high amount of caffeine worsened her anxiety and ability to cope through her mood swings. She had also met a new co-worker that i have noticed they have gotten uncomfortably close and his intentions were clear that he likes her. I've confronted her about and she claims that they are nothing more than friends. I've even caught her texting him it was nothing sexual but she tried to hide his phone number by saving it under her girlfriend's name. Her excuse was so i dont get butt hurt about it. After work she would be emotionally exhausted and she slowly started to drift away from me. I also had a gut feeling that she caught feelings for this other coworker of ours. We both ended up getting laid off from the job and thats when she was a complete emotiotional wreck. Out of nowhere, out of the god damn blue she was saying she needed space to be alone and that she was feeling alot of pain and hurt inside and she could no longer give me love and that its not my fault. She brought up how she wanted to move back with her abusive parents and that we give eachother space for a month for her to better herself, which made no sense at all. I have been the one supporting her and basically being her therapist for 4 years. Anyways she proposed that we give eachother space for a month and not talk to eachother at all and after she gets to decide if she was better enough to keep our relationship going. I had a gut feeling that she wanted to GHOST me after that one month. So i confronted her about this "space" she wanted and what her intentions were and she literally told me that our relationship is coming to an end. Im 25 years old now , scratching my head asking myself what did i get myself into.
Wow… you almost described my past relationship to a Tee. I almost thought you were my ex, except when were were dating I didn’t know I had bipolar disorder. I am 26 and was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I start my meds tomorrow and pray they help.
Rex it may take awhile to find the correct medication for you personally. ( taken me 15 years )
Didn’t know I was BP2 till about 56, so you have an advantage over me in that sense.
It would be a good idea to keep a diary of your mood swings, high and low, whether you get anxious and if you are having trouble getting enough sleep.
When I get real low just don’t want to interact with people much ( though keep in touch with my brother ), become very withdrawn and there’s not much fun to be had.
It’s important to realise most BP people are “ very creative “ so explore that through writing, painting, writing songs, poetry perhaps...maybe learn a musical instrument.
Examples Winston Churchill with his speeches, Shelly the poet, Motzart and Jimi Hendrix, a number of actors are also Bipolar also.
It’s important you acknowledge you are BP and read up about it.
Rex people with BP should never be getting too much into stimulants, such as high caffeine drinks, coffee , alcohol and illicit drugs are just a no go.
These things will only exacerbate the BP condition and your life will spiral out of control.
At the moment have gone into depression and withdrawal, but know this will not last so just have to ride it out.
I need help. I cant differentiate between my boyfriend being bipolar or just being a jerk. Its been 3 months since we have been dating. The first few weeks he was amazing, literally texting me day and night. Always wanting to meet up and then all of a sudden a month later, he ghosted me for 5 days and then showed back up with no explanation. I forgave him and we moved forward then exactly a month later he ghosts me again. He would show signs of major mood swings. He eats once every 24-36 hours. He has nightmares almost everyday. We have had no problems or any fights. Hes calling me baby one day and then a few hours later he just disappeared. Its been 10 days and ive heard nothing back from him. He posted once on his snapchat story and he knows i can see it but he didnt even care. Idk if im making excuses for him or this is really his disorder.
This is literally the EXACT thing I'm experiencing with my boyfriend. EXACT. We were quarantined together because of covid - and maybe that caused us to drift apart.
Mood swings. Come and go. But, truly a lovely person.
He has told me he has schizophrenic-affected disorder. We've been dating now for 2 months. Our relationship started exactly how you described. eerily similar.
I have been completely ignored for 3 months. It has really helped me to read this article and read everyone's comments. Going through divorce after 14 years. Painful. Thank you all.
My boyfriend is bipolar and self medicated. He has been taking something he buys online in liquid form under the tongue. It wasn’t ideal but it actually did seem to be helping him and I was at the point where if it helps I’ll take it. Over the summer he started to slip into old negative behavior, when he is manic he gets mean and snarky. He picks at everything I do and say, criticizes me and calls me names. A few weeks ago he started going to a psychiatrist for experimental ketamine treatments. Before that he became obsessed with weight loss and fasting. He lost 20 lbs and starting fast for 48 to 72 hours at a time once a week. He was constantly food shaming me and trying to get me on his dieting level. Then he added the ketamine into the mix and was intolerable and mean all the time. Last week I picked him up from an appointment and he picked a fight with me, said a bunch of hurtful things and broke up with me. I went to his house and gathered my things and left. We didn’t talk all week. He sent me a message that night reminding of an obligation I had in the morning. I didn’t respond and I didn’t make the obligation either. I ran into him a few times that week at work (yes we work at the same company so there’s that) the first time we shared an elevator and made pleasant small talk. After I felt ashamed for even being nice to him after how he treated me so the next few times I just ignored him altogether. He messaged me on fb that night and said he missed me and wished I’d come over for some jalapeño poppers he’d made. Then the next day we chatted and he seemed like he was having regret and was still even considering coming on my trip for my bday in October. I tried to reach out the next day but he ignored me. Then I had asked about a couple of things I forgot to grab from his house, I said I’d leave my car unlocked and he could just leave them in my car at work l. That way if he didn’t want to talk he didn’t have to. Days went by and nothing. No returner stuff and no response. I waited a few more days to give him space then I messaged him again. This time on fb messenger so I could at least see if he was reading my messages. I said if he needs more time let me know. If it’s done and he doesn’t want to talk again at least let me know and return my things but either way please don’t leave me hanging. I’ve done nothing to deserve that. Read the message but no response. Even fb says we are still “in a relationship” he hasn’t told his family whom I’m close to and I wanted to give him the opportunity to either figure it out and or tell them first. He has had a history or being in w relationship and then ghosting her. I don’t know what this is or what he wants. I feel like I’m going crazy and not sure what to do
married for 30 yrs. husband was diagnosed this year. he has ghosted me and we live in the same house. it has been for 10 yrs. i was just taking care of things and the kids and figured as soon as kids were all out of the house, we would either separate or just live as roomates as we have been. he has done better since on meds, but the ghosting still happens. i remind him im still here whether you want me to be or not.
Renee, my wife decided after 33yrs and seven children…she never loved me . She cut off all communication like we never existed. Then after two months she’s acting like we’re friends. After watching this video I can see the correlation between overwhelming deep feelings of anything and the unintended destruction caused by a bipolar reaction.
I feel with every single one of you. I’ve been seeing a guy for about 3 months now and wvery 5-6 weeks will just disappear in me. Nosigns before and no explanation. He told me early on that he had bipolar 2 and I said I still wanted to be with him and be there for him.
I’ve told him many times that I’m here for the good and the bad time. And when we are together and things are going good it’s great. He tells me how much he likes me, how much he connects with me and how much he appreciates me.
But then he dissapears for 3-4 weeks without sending me a message, replying to me or even let’s me know he’s okey. I’ve told him that it’s fine if he needs time but that everytime this happens I get worried sick. I just want to know that he’s alive and not somewhere in a ditch dying.
I really really like the guy and that’s why I’m putting up with this. But what bothers me the most is the feeling that if I ever needed him he would not be there for me. If I went to the hospital, weren’t feeling well or really struggeling he wouldn’t care because he is in a dark place and ignoring wverything else in the world.
I’m honestly not sure what to do anymore. I’m currently on season 2 week 4 of him ghosting me.. guess I’ll just wait for him to come back and then talk to him then
Wow, that sounds really rough and I'm sorry to hear that. I'm very empathetic to your situation and your thoughts.
> But what bothers me the most is the feeling that if I ever needed him he would not be there for me. If I went to the hospital, weren’t feeling well or really struggeling he wouldn’t care because he is in a dark place and ignoring wverything else in the world.
This one really hurts me to think about, too. Perhaps you can talk with him, calmly and without judgment, about getting on a medication. Sorry I don't have any more suggestions, as I'm researching my own situation at the moment. Good luck.
Well in your fine installed research look back at the wemon in black and her love for such and how many times has my love almost killed me .(recap 1 st avoided head on collision falling asleep behind wheel. why was I so tired. 2nd it's on fire ya that hurt living with that scar forever 3 time down at the river crying over what I thought was love. Driving not far before live hit me hard in the moments I was dead for days I thought my pain and love and life was over as soon as I was getting ok with death some smart as doctor brought me back to this pain everlasting life FOR GOD SAID THERES NO RESTING THERE FOR THE WICKED SO THE VERDICKET IS IN THERES NO PLACE For me to rest so hears a toast to my pain everlasting) I hope that you and your group sexsest in love and life .for that next time your pain hurts me I afraid it will cost me a retirement to hell
I almost lost my life in that wreck.i am and wont ever get back to my being the man I was before that and I never in my week in the hospital did I see our even feel a presence of your thought. It leaving me 100 0⁰0.00 thousand and more in depth. Wourse yet is I cant walk to the front door without looking as dumb as I am I won't be able to get back what I was crying at the river about just before the wreck but I was a wreck before that I sure but I wish I hadn't been crying I was distracted by all my pain and I didn't see that truck god I wish I hadn't even cared so much I might not have been there our I would have seen that truck so you have no clue at how much loving you will. Honestly this ghost to the end of my days trust me I paying deeply for every once of love I got from you my 1 true love hears to a cold love I paying
I'm sorry Chris, love shouldn't hurt. I hope you find peace in your mind.. I hope your heart heals and you can give and accept unconditional love. ❤
My boyfriend has just done this to me 5 weeks ago. Things were going so well, he had a very rough month in December and I gave him space but we stayed in contact by phone. He was very poorly the last time I saw him, so I helped by taking some essentials around. I haven’t heard from him since, I’ve text him about once a week just to check on him. He reads them but ignored them. I’m so confused and 100 different reasons are constantly going through my head as to why this has happened. I don’t know whether it is to do with his bipolar. I’m just completely lost and don’t know what to do x
Hi Claire, curious how it is going? My guy and I had a rough December also, but the last couple months have been good. Our situation sound the same. There have been times where I gave him space and we always ended up back together. This time I picked up on some signs that the depression was stirring up again. It has now been 2.5 weeks since he just stopped all communication, I have texted him several times and no response. We texted through out the day all the time and now nothing, it is so hard since we were always in touch, I'm scared this time he will not be back. He does have a lot on his plate right now, but he is working and has a lot of overtime as well, I think he just works and sleeps. When it is good, it is great but when it is bad, it's horrible. I don't know what to do and so lost, I cry and cry.. I have thought about Bi-polar in the past and now reading all these comments, I really think that is what he has.
What is the hardest for me is the not knowing . We’ve been dating for 5 months , and he has ghosted me the for the last 6 days. He told me a few months ago he has depression and BP , used to take Cymbalta. I noticed he would hyperfocus on a political issue , definitely had some paranoia. But none of it was horribly alarming. He’s had a rough few months , lost his place in a fire , and had really been struggling . We only see each other once a month or so just due to all the crap going on, and he lives a few hours away from me. I feel like it’s hard to know if this is just him needing space because he has so much crap going on. He has been in a funk for a bit , but then we just had a very passionate , emotional weekend with him telling me all the right things . And then “ poof” a few days later he was stressed about work and hasn’t texted back . This was just so out of character, that I thought he must have broken his phone , or gotten hurt . We literally text all the time , for hours . I couldn’t believe that the very same man who had shared so much with me and been so vulnerable with me would just walk away. Honestly I’m a bit heart broken and so lost and confused. Part of me thinks he just needs some time to sort things out, but the longer it gets without hearing from him , I just think he’s gone . So then of course , I doubt my ability to know someone . We have had such an connection on every level . I feel very taken advantage of . Because we literally talked all the time about the future .
I guess I’m just trying to decide , do I get mad and give him an earful of how hurt I am , which probably will just push him away . Or do I just give him space and hope he comes back , and not contact him until he does. This has been especially hard since he’s the first person I’ve actually dated since getting out of a 23 year marriage 4 years ago. Talk about major trust issues after this !
I doing what I doing out of my pain for my pain is felt by every part of me. I don't like it but look at you doing I just wanted you to knowhow much it hurts me. But I see I am not even 1/4 or even 1/8 of your suckses of showing you how it feels .I can't even keep up so I so far behind I must just drop out the race and be happy for the great leads and success with the resteraunt .it pains me to realize I will never dine of your meals again. I am a sad failure in so many ways love and success is all to you.ghost is so empty .
Dear Lara, i am currently dealing with the same issue, someone I've cared About for a very long time has Bipolar Disorder and he had disappeared once before but it was understandable because we had gotten into a discussion and it didn't end well so it was understandable when he decided to disappear and ghost, i didn't see it as an issue with his disorder. I was very upset with him and he never responded to anything i said which I'm sure just scared him off even more out of anxiety.
I didn't see him for a long time till i bumped into him, we didn't speak but i eventually decided to reach out and we spoke about everything that happened. He apologized immediately to me and i also told him it was alright and we reconciled and spoke last month as if nothing had happened. We were both just happy to be in each other's lives again, he said he was so glad i reached out and that he doesn't want to lose me and was so happy to speak again. We spoke for a week and on the same day that he said good morning to me after speaking all night about wanting to see each other again, poof.... Ghosted. I messaged him a few times asking casually how he's doing... Nothing. Absolutely nothing for weeks and then a month passed and i was just worried... I left him one last message saying that i hope he's alright and to contact me whenever he's ready to speak again and that i wasn't upset, just worried.
It's been a month and nothing.
We have mutual friends but none that he hangs out with so i have no one to ask...
I miss him like crazy and it is so hurtful to have gained and lost him so quickly.
I hope everyday that he reappears and perhaps has some explanation. I keep blaming myself as if it's something I've done but we didn't fight or anything so that wouldn't make sense.
I hope your situation gets better.
Sincerely, lost & confused.
I am trying to figure out what is going on with the guy I was dating - until last week, and wondering if this is it. We dated for several months and everything was going really great, I thought. We moved very slowly, but I understood he'd come out of a difficult relationship and had two kids from a previous marriage as well. We had a great connection and he was always extremely considerate and thoughtful. He messaged me all day every day, was very interested in my work, etc. I saw him one night two weeks ago and then poof. He stopped messaging, stopped responding. I asked him what was going on via text and he said just busy. I knew it didn't seem right so I called, and he insisted everything was fine. The next day he sent me a TEXT saying he had to cancel our plans for the following night, as he was too busy to date. Although I responded that I was extremely hurt he would end things over text, and not even call, he said that he was sorry but still didn't call. At some point my friend (not at my prompting) urged him to call me b/c she could tell how distressed I was by the lack of closure. He said something like ok, but did not. I can't make heads or tails of it. Did I do something? did he have something going on I didn't know about? I did notice he would get obsessive about various subjects, and he admitted it was a thing for him. He also mentioned taking prozac at one point. Could there be much more going on than I knew?
He sounds like my boyfriend….same situation. Did you know he was bipolar? Boyfriend also had two kids from a previous marriage and one from one before that his name wasn’t John was it lol just kidding
I dated a trans man for a month a half. Everything at first was great, but he knew I was moving back to my country so I told him that I just wanted to enjoy what we were having. I remember I settled boundaries and explained how much communication was important to me, and that I needed someone with patience because I'm dealing with trauma. He seemed understandable, telling me how good and huge he was at communicating.
At first when I met him he was always full of energy,
making plans until my last days here, he even wanted me to meet his friends, etc.
Then he started becoming more cold, tired until he told me one day that he is bipolar and just recently started getting his medicines.
He told me he was fine and just needed time to readjust. I didn't know anything bipolarism and that was also my first time dating a transgender person, but I was happy he felt enough comfortable to share that with me and told him that I was glad he was taking care of himself, and that I was there to support no matter what.
I asked many times if everything was ok, that I didn't want to overthink anything, and wanted to make sure that there was communication, but he was always saying that everything was fine without asking back how I was feeling about it.
Several times he wanted to meet up with me, knowing how busy my schedule was, and when I was finding time to meet him he was then making up last minute excuses to do not show up.
The last time he made up an excuse by text I told him that I was sorry but it wasn't working out anymore in that way.
I hoped he was going to try to make it up and try to fix the situation since the time before I told him that it was okay but asked him to do not do it anymore and just talk. He ghosted me right after my message, avoiding confrontation and any kind of conversation. He didn't block me because after a couple of days I tried to reach out back explaining myself and telling him that even if I'm leaving soon do care about him, but that it wasn't right just disappearing from nothing, especially when he knew how important for me was communicating. Even after, and telling him how I felt and that I would like to see or talk to him he never answered back.
I just don't even understand if even cared at this point, I felt stupid because I trusted him and shared so many things with me... I'm trying to tell myself he is just going through many things, but I can't accept the fact he wasn't able to communicate at all....
I could use your help. My son has bipolar and is ghosting me. It’s been a year with no contact. What should I do. I love him so much. Pls help!
My daughter does the same thing to me off and on for the last 3 years. She is almost 21 now.
I was looking for and online virtual support group---but I am very poor at tech
I don't know. My son is 43 now and came down with the illness 10 years ago. He has not communicated with me know for 3 years. My doctor has told me not to drive down to where he lives and that I have to try to find other things in my life to put my attention to. Well, that does not work so well for me. But, if they won't go on meds, you can not make them if they are an adult. I feel for you, I am in pain every day without my son in my life.
I ACTUALLY AM BI POLOR AND WHEN I FEEL REJECTED I BECOME MANIC AND I GO FULL ON MAIC MODE I CALL A THOUSND TIMES I BELIEVER THINGS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING AND I MAKE IT SEEM REAL THEN I END UP SABOTOSING THE RELATIONSHIP AND HE FINALLY BLOCKED ME WITH NO EXPLANATIONS
I havent gotten officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder only an "unspecified mood disorder" but my mom has it and I have a family history of it. I have many of the symptoms and they've gotten worse as I've gotten older. I've been told that I have mood swings and someone even told me they thought I had borderline personality disorder but I've been struggling for a while and I go from being okay to hating myself and wanting to die or just disconnected/isolated. I've been around others before for example at school I was sitting in the library with my friend and other people in my grade and I just spaced out the entire time mostly. When my friend would ask me why I would say "Im thinking about something or im trying to figure something out" I've also dealt with compulsive lying and I dont know how to stop. Its like its become a natural thing for me and I hate myself for it but I've always been ghosting my friends and I'll take a few days to answer my mom and I always apologize for it and then I keep doing it and I feel terrible. I left my old school and I told my friends I wouldnt ghost them and thats basically what I did unintentionally. I just get so busy all the time and I didnt respond for a few days to one of my friends but its been weeks and I dont know what to say to them because nothing I say will make it better. I have days where Im doing good and I feel happy and sometimes energized like I have energy. Thats been happening for a few years now, I'll just randomly feel like I have a lot of energy and then other times I'll make a mistake or do something wrong and I'll feel like I should die. I take a mood stabilizer but it doesnt help it just makes me feel empty sometimes and I dont want to lie to my friends about why i didnt respond. I miss them so much I just dont know what to say and I feel like its too late for me. I've also gone from trying to do anything I can to stay alive or not doing things so that I wouldnt die or just having anxiety around death and then other times I feel like I deserve to die because of things I've done. Ive been taking meds for years and I go to therapy once a week. I just lie to my therapist not completely but mostly I do so everyone thinks Im okay so I dont have to go to the hospital again I just dont know what to do and I sometimes feel like some people are better off without me
I feel the EXACT same way! I went to church today, then decided to go for a walk at the beach but my mind. I’ve isolated myself, changed my phone number and I just don’t know what to do anymore.
Please, please tell your therapist the truth. He/she cannot help you if you don't tell them what is REALLY going on. Trust me, your therapist won't be surprised by the things you say. The people who care about you want to know you are OK.
My wife disappeared four weeks ago for the first time in our five year marriage/seven year relationship. I believe many years ago she was diagnosed with bipolar. I am full of regret for not knowing the signs or doing more to encourage psychiatric evaluation (we talked about it now and then but definitely left it in the busyness of life). Reading through this blog and all the responses I feel even more afraid. So many of the things written here sound like her. I am desperate to find her but she is not speaking to anyone.
My husband left for the first time two weeks ago in our 8 year marriage. Reading more on bipolarity makes me feel hopeless that he won’t come back from his episode for another good two to three months… I feel the same way as you. I feel like I should’ve seen it more from his perspective. BUT for it to truly be a mental illness, it shouldn’t be her fault- not yours, or mine. I tell myself it’s not my fault every night because it’s really hard to endure. We will get through it. Emotions are fickle after all, that’s the point of bipolar. It flips between the good and the bad. Right now, it is bad, but I’m keeping hope the good will come back. Unfortunately, I think the winter and the holiday season in general are terrible time for those with bipolar. Stay strong!!! I will too.
So glad I came across this article and so sorry for all the people in the comments. I fell very much in love with someone I'd known in the past, online, over lockdown and we were super close (never felt so close to anyone) for 4-5 months. I wasn't sure we were compatible overall, despite our passion and closeness. I think this hurt him, even though it wasn't personal, and things seemed good with us most of the time. In the end, after a minor argument, he hung up on me, bread-crumbed for weeks and then sent me a terrible, hurtful email. He'd told me he was ill with autistic burnout (and he's bipolar) so I'd tried to stay in touch and be supportive. But he cut me off in the worst way he could in that email. I haven't had a proper explanation and right before this happened, he seemed totally fine. He was always kind with me before. I think his mother has a negative effect on him and influenced him to cut me off (from what I've heard). It's been almost 3 months since he last video called me and 2.5 months since he sent that email. The first two months since the email were extremely hard. Felt so devastated. Now am doing better but I still want a conversation with him. He told me he'd never speak to me again but idk how seriously I can take that since he was really ill when he said it. It doesn't seem healthy to just cut off with a cruel message and no explanation. I can only put it down to his bipolar disorder. I hope he's doing okay.
My boyfriend recently stopped talking to me and is trying to end the relationship. We have been together for 7 months. He has blocked me and won’t respond to me. I love him and know he loves me, this is extremely hard and hurts 200% it has been a couple days, he said he doesn’t have the energy for a relationship. He also said he has a lot going on in his life and doesn’t have the time. I just want him to talk to me and for things to be better.
goin through same thing with my girlfriend, i feel for you, it definitely hurts, i love my girlfriend but she’s pulled away and is in a low, good luck from someone who understands exactly what your goin through.
I think I’m being ghosted by my male best friend after an argument, and I think he may be bipolar.
We got insanely close over the last 6 months, shared a deep connection and told eachother everything. We were practically inseparable and everyone would say we’d make a good couple, etc. I ended up falling for him and sadly he didn’t feel the same way, and that was when it all went downhill. Initially, hurt by rejection, I didn’t want to be friends with him anymore but he was persistent on remaining friends with me and didn’t want to let me go. We eventually got back to speaking but it was never the same - we were constantly arguing and at first I thought I was to blame. I would unintentionally comment on every questionable thing he did, which was a lot, and he’d get on to me due to his defensive nature.
We eventually spoke about it and sorted it out, and I decided to not let my emotions get the best of me and I was no longer rude to him. With that said, over the past week and I’d say since we started arguing he’d become increasingly hyper, aggressive in the way he speaks and easily irritated. Despite me no longer provoking him and saying things that could be perceived as rude, he would constantly mock things I say and tell me to shut up when I’m speaking. For the sake of peace I let it go, didn’t retaliate and just put up with it for the whole week, but it was hurting me inside. Alongside that, he was annoying me a lot and draining me to the point where sometimes I’d prefer to stay away from him.
Then suddenly, a few days ago his mood switches and he goes quiet and says that it’s because he’s tired. He was also avoiding speaking to me, but was speaking to others, which really hurt my feelings because I like him a lot, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d done something to upset him. When I asked if he’s okay, he said that he just has mood swings and nothing can help him, not even therapy which he attends weekly. He says that they’re just normal, which clearly in his case they aren’t.
Now yesterday, I was feeling very hurt about how he’d treated me the whole week and I didn’t see the point in talking to him about it, because I’ve done that several times and nothings changed. I made a few mean comments on a group chat, where literally everyone was being rude to him and he decides to leave the group chat and private messages me saying that he tried to be cool with me but I’m taking it too far, and that I should stop messaging him. Bear in mind at least 3 other people were also being rude to him on the group chat, it was more banter than rudeness but I’m the only one he’s angry at. I tried to explain my side of things but to no avail, he completely ignores what I say and says after all he’s done for me this is how I act, that all I do is hurt him, he wants to put himself first now, that I should shut up and stop spamming him with messages. He also called me an enemy of progress and that when he’s happy and doing great I’m coming to make him sad.
Then today, I reflect on what happened and realise I had been rude and I desperately wanted to fix things, despite him also hurting my feelings A LOT so I called him and he answered but didn’t say anything so I hung up and called him again several times and he declined. He also ignored all the messages I’d sent him. I decided to put my hurt aside to fix things but he simply won’t respond, and I’m starting to suspect he has bipolar and he’s ghosting me.
He has mood swings often and I’ve noticed, either being hyper or low. I think, when we were arguing constantly, he was having a hypomanic episode and yesterday’s events have led him to have a depressive one and I’m to blame. He has no diagnosis so I can’t be certain but he has a family history of depression and bipolar so he is susceptible to developing the illness, and he displays so many of the signs it’s hard to think otherwise.
I know I should run, and in all honesty I’ve been given the opportunity to, but I love him too much to let him go. The sad thing is, I don’t know if he’ll ever talk to me again. I don’t think what I did is enough for me to be ghosted, and I’m wondering if him being bipolar explains it.
I am so sorry to hear you are feeling rejected by your friend. I, too, am going through a marriage separation, due to my husband's request. Bipolar runs in his family also and he has an upcoming therapy session with a professional. He is also starting to see the possibility and I often feel neglected and rejected by my hardly-ever-around husband.
Perhaps some distance and time will give him better perspective, but I believe he won't get there without a proper diagnosis.
Good luck and realize "it isn't YOU". That is most important to remember.
My partner has been diagnosed as bipolar three times and refuses to accept the diagnosis. I have been here for him through every episode, but had to create some distance by moving to my own place for safety and security. However, I have told him over and over that I want our relationship to work and I am here for him. He regularly blocks me and does not accept my calls or texts for days and weeks. It is so hurtful! I start to feel very insecure and depressed myself. I worry that he has moved on, etc. I don't know what else to do to support him because this can happen when things are going great between us.
Hello Sara, You sound just like me & my fiancé We been back & forth for a little over a month & as of right I have not Head from him in over a week, No phone call, no text msg, he blocked me. I also worry that he has moved on sometimes as well. He also regularly blocks me & pushes me away What makes it more hard he lives up North by San Francisco & I live near Los Angeles he moved up there about 2 months ago… & yes him going MIA on me also happens when things are going good with Us. I’m so glad I Saw Ur comment because now I don’t feel so alone.
This sounds so much like my current situation with my boyfriend. It’s like a cycle. Every few months he pulls away and won’t explain anything or talk to me. I struggle with anxiety and depression so when he does this I usually blame myself. Then I’ll keep texting and calling because I’m so hurt that he’s treating me this way and then he’ll end up blocking me. It’s so exhausting because he always manages to find a way to blame me even though he’s the one who pulled away. He hasn’t officially been diagnosed but his mom is bipolar and she thinks he could be too. I’m just so tired and I wish I was better about giving him space, but it’s hard to do when you’ve been with someone for years and they just refuse to communicate with you.
I have what I thought was a close, best friend. She deals with bipolar and I have had struggles with depression. Weve been friends for twenty years. In january, she stated she wanted space from me because she was overwhelmed with life and many responsibilities. I dont know if this was the real reason or not. Its been two and a half months since we talked. I am trying to respect her need for space but she will absolutely not communicate with me in any way. We live in two different states but have put the effort and love into the relationship to keep it going. She has a daughter who is four years old and I feel very close to her, like she is a grandaughter. My friend does not facilitate in any way to keep my connection going with her daughter. It feels very selfish from my end. I feel like all she cares about is her own needs and that she wont be there for me if I go through a hard time. She has not consideration for how her actions are affecting me. I have no idea if she has completely walked away from me as a friend or not. It seems very insensitive to me, to cut me out of her life.
Hello, I experienced something really similar. But we knew each other half a year from summer 2022. We are from different countries as well. She suffers from Bipolar 2. In the summer and autumn, everything was beautiful, we communicated a lot and enjoyed ourself. She explained me her mood shifts, that she is afraid of winter season, because she regularly comes to depression stage.
In winter, the communacation begun to drag. Eventually, you could say out of nothing, she told me some really rude words, called me out and ghosted me - she blocked me everywhere. There wasn't a rational explanation for this. The only thing I concluded was, that she needed a space, because she was overwhelmed.
The next 6 months, I was trying so much to do something (to communicate with her sister or to send her a letter). After about half year, before the summer, she contacted me at night (but she immediately deleted the message, but I noticed it). Therefor I contacted her in the morning. We were talking for one day. It was a full moon that day and I reminded her, how we had been watching the moon together. She blocked me again. Strange feeling. Maybe it was too much for her.
After another half year (exactly 1 year after the first ghost) I updated my bio on IG (I mentioned there, that it's 1 year and I wish for a miracle). She contacted me the same day (she saw the update). She apologized for her behavior 1 year ago. She told me, that she had done that to protect me from her mood shifts. She then opened up about her current depression, I was trying my best to communicate as much as possible. There were lows, when she stopped to communicate (for weeks, maybe few months). There was also a big crisis which needed an emergency. She had a period, when she focused on saving animals, she desperately was trying to help and slept only a little... Then again not communicating. But she didn't block me. I knew I can't overwhelm her and that she needs a space.
Communicating with a depressed person is seriously complicated and not simple at all. They need a space, but they also feel alone. If they don't have a space, they get overwhelmed and can get irritated and more depressed. When they are alone, they can get depressed more as well.
I decided to remain in contact with her. From time to time I send her a supporting message or a small gift. I think she appreciates it. But my life is not attached to her only and the priority to me is myself. Btw, this is important, if you want to save others, save yourself first. I am not saying to remove her from your life. You don't have to. You only need to start to care for yourself first. Love yourself first. Then give a love. And good things will come (it could be her as well).
Hope it helped and good luck! You can contact me on my e-mail.
Thank you for sharing, I'm going through a similar thing with my BF. Although we've only been together a year and a half, it feels like a lifetime because of the highs and lows. He decided to ghost me last week, and it nearly killed me tbh. I don't feel like I can walk away tho, when I said I loved him and would be there I meant it. So I have decided to do a similar thing to you, just drop off a small gift and a positive 'thinking of you/I'm still here for you' type note. Its freaking hard tho, cos at the same time I have to move on and look after myself, and it feels like Im leaving my love behind. Mental illness is such a curse, being with him has taught me levels of empathy I never knew I was capable of. I just need to make sure to prioritise myself while supporting him. I have no idea wha the outcome will be, and living with that uncertainty is the hardest thing. I hope, and pray that we will be together, but have to face that fact that I don't control that. And still be true to myself and support him, because I know he's at the lowest ebb of his life.
Hi I am going through the very same thing my friend for 20 years decided to just ghost he has disappeared before but this time felt more intense and cold I am heart broken bc I was there for him constantly I respect the fact that he’s stressed which then puts him in depressive mode but this is the first time the disappearing and ghosting felt personal. I have cerebral palsy and have been very I’ll for a few years so this behavior makes me feel like it is my disability or that I was too much, I realize it’s the nature of bipolar but it’s horrible ❤️
Omgehioso it’s everything she accused me of… why do they try to project it and make you their enemy? This ruined my life my furure and mental health she did it all to hurt me in the ways she hurts it’s so messed up. I was used for her growth like a practice husband to teach her to live it makes me sick … then she tortured me to make me look crazy because I was, she did everything she promised never to when I was weak and she planned it… she planned to pretend it was an emergency, she set it all up to make me look abusive so she could leave guilt free and have a reason to talk to her drama buddies and womens groups. Some of it is so absurd it’s funny now but still it ruins peoples lives to be accused to things like that. It’s just a game to her she get bad online advice or from her psycho friend and she pretends it’s their fault nothing is hers. My prom blend she invented pushed her away it was all just an act from a very sick girl
I have been seeing my bf for 5 years. I worked for him. I noticed a few strange things, like he kept me at a distance, he took very long to trust me. Our love grew over time. The first time he blocked me was when I resigned because of all the bullying from the people at work, after they found out I was seeing him. It was for 36 days. He had a kidney transplant 10 years ago & he told me he was very irritable then. He had another one now, which was so extremely stressful for everyone. He is on 18 tablets. He has been speaking so fast and so much, he is extremely moody, went out an purchased 3 businesses (4 weeks after the transplant) he doesn't sleep - in Hypomania. This is the first time I realize what is going on with him. He always said he cannot have a relationship- I thought he kept me at arms length because of his kidney problems, but I think he is Bpd. Just guessing. I have been under tremendous stress, lost my nephew last year over a long awful suffering, which destroyed my family, 2 job losses, my dog, Bella is dying & I know i have to take her. I am stressing financially. He has blocked me, now during his manic phase. Told me a female colleague is driving him around the country. And said "I should bugger off" When I phone he screams he will block me, we can only whatsapp. I am so down, I don't know how to pick myself up. He' s been under such stress, for years, worrying about surviving. So i understand & these pills he has to take, to stop his kidney from rejecting- i wish i knew long ago that he might be bipolar, I would have been better prepared. I supported him, went through bullying, him not telling his children and ex about me. His ex donated the kidney. I thought we were about to have a future, now, after the long struggle. Instead everything is falling & I have no one to speak to - don't feel like it even helps. I have to find work - just all too much. I want him to be ok and find happiness, I wish I could just speak to him. I also freaked out, thinking he is messing around with this other woman, that made him angry, that is why he blocked me. I read through these comments and I see I am not alone, maybe they just cannot deal with emotions.
My ex-fiance and I were together 7. years. We lived together from the beginning, pretty much, as I was living with mutual friends and everyone hung out a lot and I was trying to escape my crazy, abusive family after moving out of there and moved in with him. He was my rock, he fully took on financially supporting me, etc. He's always disappeared a lot and ghosted everyone, including family. I would pretend to leave him and move my stuff and then I couldn't get in touch with him to go back. When I'd go back, it took about a week to calm him down as he was really agitated and a complete mess. Once he said "why didn't you come sooner?" Three years ago, when we were between apartments, my worst nightmare happened. I was at my parents as we were in a fight and he completely disappeared. During the three years, he did go to therapy once and then ghosted her too. He moved to another state also. I feel so helpless. I've never been more sad about anything or felt more like nobody understands. My therapist says nobody CAN tell me if he's coming back or not as no one else was there. I feel so alone and scared. That feels kind of nice to get it out though I have major trauma response from this (and from before this) and I ask that people be sensitive.