I guess I'm seeking advice or would like to hear what has worked for people regarding this. As someone with bipolar I have a unique dependency with aspects of my routine and oftentimes an extreme sensitivity to stress. After years of stability, honestly, I am entirely convinced that it is 100% impossible for "normal" people to wrap their head around this. There is often a certain rigidity that I need to hold over certain things such as meals, meditation practice, down time, time to get things done, lights out time... and to someone without bipolar disorder that tends to sound absolutely preposterous.

With my family I can just walk away, seek my own space, and do my own thing. But with a significant other there is an aspect of emotion and sharing of space that is not a part of all my other relationships. There is pressure to meet certain emotional needs and this pressure to just "loosen up a little bit" at times. Like I don't have enough of a hard time already! I often WANT to abandon my routine and do whatever I want whenever I want; I want to blow things off and procrastinate and cast aspects of routine aside for that sake. It's hard to be healthy.

My significant other is wonderful and we have a very healthy relationship, but of course there are times that she doesn't realize how much of a "distraction" she can be or when there is that pressure to cater to emotion. When I communicate that, of course there are times that she may take it personally. Sometimes she is unaware when she pushes me to loosen up a bit, and sometimes I do. That's on me, not on her. Of course that comes with consequences, and when she sees that she recognizes it and learns how to support and meet my needs better in that regard.

Overall, she is a very receptive and wonderful partner. I couldn't ask for anything more from her. She does her part and is always striving for growth in playing that role just a little bit better. I commit to doing the same on my end. We strive for that together, and I take pride in that. I guess I'm just seeking counsel on how I can better play my part, both for myself and my own wellness, as well as for herself and the health of our relationship.