Saturday, 03 September 2011

  • Should I Give My Roller Coaster Relationship Another Chance?



    At first my relationship with Tyler was awesome. We talked all the time, we knew everything that was going on in the other's life, we told each other things that no one else knew. For a few months it really was perfect. We had a lot in common. We liked the same bands, movies, foods; we even had similar sibling issues. Then I started to notice changes in Tyler. 

    He started having mood swings and he wasn't sleeping. Some days he was extremely happy and upbeat, and some days he didn't get out of bed. His parents sent him to the doctor who diagnosed him with depression and bipolar. He started medication and started to get better, but then he stopped taking his medication correctly. He was like a roller coaster, up, down, up, down. Then he started drinking.

    He continued to go downhill until one night it all caught up with him. He had taken more of his meds then he was supposed to and had been drinking at a friend's house. He left at midnight to go home and at 1:33 the police were called by OnStar to the scene of a car accident. They pulled Tyler out of his upside down, crushed car, and rushed him to the hospital. He was unconcious, bleeding, bruised, and had broken bones. 

    I was a wreck. I wanted to be at the hospital with him so badly, but two states and my parents were keeping us apart at that point. I called every day to check in with Tyler's sister. I had her hold the phone up to his ear so I could tell him I loved him and that he was going to be okay. Eventually he was okay. The doctors said it was a miracle that he didn't have any lasting issues. No brain damage and everything else would heal. I was so happy! He came to see me as soon as he could and we talked every hour that we were away from each other.

    For awhile everything was okay, but then Tyler started mistaking his meds again. Suddenly anytime he did anything wrong his excuse was, "Sorry, it's because I'm taking my meds wrong." Tyler and I started fighting a lot, but we still tried to work it out. Or so I thought.

    One day, I got a call from some girl named Carly. I didn't know her but Tyler sure did. He'd been sleeping with her for two weeks at the time. I didn't believe her at first so she sent me pictures of her and Tyler (fully clothed thank goodness). This proved to me that at the very least he was seeing someone else. When I confronted Tyler he admitted that he and Carly had been "seeing" each other.  I broke up with him at this point, and then he dropped the bomb. Carly was late.  A few weeks and doctor visits later confirmed that she was pregnant.

    Tyler wanted us to still be friends and talk but I was way too hurt to even consider that. He was convinced that time would wear me down so he called and emailed me every day. After awhile we did start talking in a semi-friendly way again. Eventually we were confiding in each other and getting close again. Carly wasn't very happy about that, but oh well. Tyler and I didn't get back together even though the baby turned out not to be his and he dumped Carly.

    Lately we've been talking and hanging out more. He's doing much better these days and we've both matured. He wants to try to go out again and I still love him very much. He also lives much closer now which would make things easier. However, even though I think he has changed I'm afraid of a repeat of what happened before.

    What would you do? Should I even be friends with him after what he did? Have you ever had something like this happen to you?

Comments (17)

  • jeezshoua@xanga

    What would I do?  I'll tell you.  If I found out that he cheated on me and possibly may get another girl pregnant, I'll drop him just like that.  I wouldn't even think about being friends with him bc he disrespected me and our relationship.  He was selfish and had no consideration of my feelings when he knew damn well what he was doing.  He can't use the "I'm sorry, bc I'm taking my meds wrong," excuse all the time.  It gets old and it gets old fast.

    Honestly, I think you need to take a step back and realize what you are getting yourself into.  You need to give him time and to prove to yourself and him that he can take his medication correctly and that he can be trusted again.  Don't rush into a relationship with him bc you still love him so much or you think you two have grown and matured since.  I mean, really, how long has it been?  Don't make a decision based on your emotions.  You need to really think about it and his health should be his number one priority.  He needs to keep himself accounted for his actions and not blame it on his meds.  If you really see you two together in the near future, continue casually dating but don't commit yourself to him until you know for sure he is a responsible adult who can take care of himself and be trusted again.  Obviously, since you are afraid of history repeating itself again, you still have doubts.  Take it slow or if not, find someone else who will suit you better.

  • LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga

    Rollercoaster relationships are that way for good reasons. And those good reasons are all BAD!

    If you need someone who will listen to your every word and accept your hugs and affection 24/7 then get a dog.

  • katya_pobedovna@xanga

    Every relationship has its ups and downs, but it shouldn't fluctuate so much like a Richter scale on coffee.  If I were you, I wouldn't even consider getting back with him because I wouldn't be able to trust him anymore.  Not for being faithful, and not for proactively taking medication to keep himself in check.

    While my ex didn't cheat on me, he has done a lot of things that nobody in their right minds would've done to anyone else, much less someone they say they love.  He may not have had bipolar, but his moods and tendency towards domestic violence could've fooled us all.  Leaving him was the best decision I ever made!

  • missmerlot@xanga

    Don't be stupid. Unless you like getting hurt...or the drama....or something.

  • anonymous

    I know what it's like to be with someone that is bipolar. My boyfriend is, too.
    Luckily for me, I met him in a time of his life where he is (finally... sigh) mature enough to take his meds regularly, or at least regularly enough. But during the first months, I had to witness him completely fall out of touch with the world. It got so bad that he had to be hospitalized for more than 2 months. Trust me, I know it's hard.

    The thing is, having this disease makes it easy for a man to use it as an excuse. If you feel like he truely regrets his mistakes, sees the faults in his actions and takes responsibility, then I think you two could have a chance. But don't let him use it as an excuse. He's got the medication, so if he's really willing to change, he'll make sure to take it.
    Sure, the meds suck, he might feel like they take away some of the quality of his life and they take so many months to get used to and get the dosage right. But it's worth it. His disease might get worse and he might end up missing out on months or even years of his life. If he's serious about wanting to change and you feel like he knows all the consequences and is willing to deal with them, then you can give him a second chance wholeheartedly.

    Good luck. :)

  • TiredSoVeryTired@xanga

    There are plenty of nice guys out there (or at least, so I'm told) go find one.  Good luck!!

  • superGchik@xanga

    the whole thing is a deal breaker.  it's more than a roller coaster relationship.  i've been in roller coaster relationships but nothing with cheating.  i always believe in second chances but cheating is one that i won't forgive.

  • P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga

    that happens quite often...when I pay attention to him, he doesn't seem to really care. then when I ignore him and want nothing to do with him, he suddenly pays attention to me again and wants to start over again*rolls eyes* my answer is: no way he missed his chance and blew his second chance the moment he cheated. not only does he not value himself, but he doesn't value others or takes them for granted.

  • ChuuCheee@xanga

    Hells to the nos deary. He sounds like a complete douche and I'd rather get knocked up than be with him. :/


    It'll just end baaaaaad. Well, worse than it did.
  • ccccourage@xanga

    The blame game, labeling, etc are all beyond the point. In the end it boils down to this, can you be happy with this person?

    It doesn't matter why, or why not. No one is the good guy or the bad guy. There is nothing to be gained by spending your life upset trying to make something taste good when you don't like a lot of the ingredients. If you have a lot of good compatible raw material to work with, and a hefty investment of life in a relationship, it makes sense to work at it. If those things aren't there, just move right on and find a happier match. No one owes any other random person their time, self respect, or energy.

    The other person doesn't have to be proven a douche or irresponsible for it to be ok that you don't want to be in a relationship with them. You can just not want to be in a relationship with them, no questions asked.
    It's really easy to get distracted by and hung up on the details, circumstances, etc. But really and truly just ask yourself "can I be happy with this person?"

  • eatdrinkandbemaryy@xanga
  • written_conversations@xanga

    I'm sorry to be blunt - but are you mad?! No way should you go back. You deserve better than someone who doesn't care enough about themselves to try and get better. I know people with bipolar but none of them use it as an excuse to go off the rails, drink and cheat on their partners. Hold out for the guy that respects you and doesn't put you through things like that - it'll be worth it, I promise :)

  • Btrfly_Wngs@xanga

    I've been in a similar situation (no cheating). Mental illness is not an excuse to mistreat someone. "Mistaking your meds" is a conscious decision. I would leave. It's always going to be an issue.
    People diagnosed with bipolar disorder are often said to have issues controlling their sexual desires. That said, I was with a bipolar schizophrenic for 5 years and he NEVER cheated on me. He also didn't treat me like crap for the first 3 1/2 years.
    When he first started treating me like crap, I stayed. He was newly diagnosed and was making every effort to get better. He went to every doctor appointment, followed what he was supposed to do to a T, went back if he was having side effects, quit drinking, etc. After a few months, things got better for a long time. When he started drinking to cope and not taking his meds correctly for various reasons and using his illness as an excuse, I knew it was time to leave. As much as I loved him, and as much as it hurt to watch him go through all of that emotional pain, it wasn't worth putting myself in emotionally (and sometimes physically) dangerous situations.

  • anonymous

    I personally think the majority of people with kids, especially unborns/newborns, on the way are just bad news and too much baggage to deal with.  there's always a chance that the parents could get back together in the future for the sake of their kids, and i wouldn't be in the middle of it.

    he sounds incredibly unstable.

  • anonymous
  • anonymous
  • lforletty@xanga

    I'll be the minority in the comments. I think what he did was crazy- it must've had an impact on you. I can relate to you 'cause my ex cheated on me too but wasn't as bad as yours though it was still really bad. People are going to tell you no, but your heart wants to find a justification to say yes, you know what people are going to say to you but you want to try anyway. The rational answer would be no, but if you really love this guy and he's changing for the better, go for it. If he does similar crap again, walk away from him and never look back. My friend's cheating ex came back and she gave him a second chance, he was great for a few weeks but did the same crap to her and they seemed to have ended it for good this time. She still loves him but what can she do really? My ex never came back, I think the way you do too, despite the things he did to me, I still wished for him to return 'cause that's how great my love for him was. Anyways, turn him down only if you can do it fully. I believe some people can change, some never do but you don't know that yet.

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