Hi
I'm new here, and am hoping to find the support I need to help me
help my fiance. He has been manic-depressive for many many years,
though I've only been around just over a year and a half. I love him
more than I've loved anyone...it's overall an incredibly wonderful
relationship. I have done a fair bit of research into understanding
manic-depression but have not been able to find what I need to know
about being a helpful support person to him. I have not yet been able
to recognize certain 'signs' of mania or depression in him and get
blind-sided when it hits. I end up saying/doing (allegedly, or so he
says) all the wrong things which escalates the problem. After a
couple of days it is all over and we're back on track. Is this the
way my future is headed forever with him? Are there such things
as 'appropriate' ways to deal with his episodes to avoid things
crashing (as has occurred just last night)? It seems to escalate into
being my fault for not having done something... or having done
something incorrectly.

I want to help and support him, I want to understand more about what
I 'should' or 'should not' do. I do understand he is not 'himself'
when he lashes out as he does during these 'episodes'; I just do not
know what better ways there are to handle them. He is an incredible
man, I've never known anyone as wonderful as he is (when he's not in
the throws of whatever-it-is he's currently in).

I apologize for the length of this posting, I'm at a loss and hoping
someone out there will have some words of support, encouragement,
suggestions, or advice.

Thanks, so very much, for anything you might have to offer.

"Traccose"