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Should i break up with someone because of their mental health even though you love them?

8 Answers
Last Updated: 10/05/2020 at 4:07pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jennifer Fritz, LMSW, PhD

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

Day to day life can be stressful and overwhelming and my strength is assisting my clients in a supportive, empowering and practical manner.

Top Rated Answers
Noor9733
June 12th, 2018 7:10am
Hey hun, you seem like you are uncertain of your relationship with your partner because of their mental heath. It seems to me that you love the person very much however their mental health maybe be negatively effecting you. Putting myself in your shoes, I would explain to my partner how I feel and encourage him or her to seek help for his or her mental heath concerns and help for your guys relationship however only are the only one that 100% understand the situation you are in and you are the expert on your life. If you would like anyone to listen we are all here for you. I want you to reach for us and I assure you we will be there. When flowers are growing they always grow towards the light of the sun even when they can't see it or feel it. You are a flower don't forget that
ElaineSaysHello
June 18th, 2018 6:03am
If you believe that it is in your best interest to take care of yourself first before taking care of them, and that taking care of them is too much for you to handle right now, and if you are able to let them know that you simply want to part ways, breaking up with them would not be considered selfish or wrong.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2018 5:52am
Love can be really tricky. Love causes us to share positive experiences with people in our life; we can find ourselves experiencing negative experiences as well. When someone you love begins to develop a bad state of mental health, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to break up with them. However, sometimes we are not capable of helping our loved one through their mental health problem, and sometimes their mental health can cause them to say or do things that hurt you as a result. Whenever your loved one begins to make you feel hurt, threatened, or emotionally drained, it's sometimes best to remove yourself from a romantic relationship with them and take a step back. You can help this person with out becoming close enough to face emotional turmoil from your loved one, you can also offer your love and support with out being in a romantic relationship. Overall, if you feel as if them mental health of your significant other is affecting you, or both you and your loved on, in a negative manner, it may be best to leave your relationship.
Anonymous
June 26th, 2018 4:27am
Good questions. The decision to remain in the relationship or leave is multi-faceted. As someone mentioned earlier, you have to be aware of what the MI means to you and your significant other. Also, be mindful of potential impact on the relationship and its impact on you. Ask yourself, how does my partner handle the mental health issues? Is s/he actively participating in some form of treatment? What are the implications if s/he decides not to participate in treatment? Sometimes it is not a good fit. Other times is not a major issue. Hope this helps.
ValerieHasACupOfTea
July 2nd, 2018 4:32pm
It's very important on how both you and they feel about the relationship. If you honestly believe that the situation would become worse and worse because of their mental health, then maybe it's best for you not to stay with them. But then on the other hand if they need you with them and need you to comfort them through their mental health problems, then that's a reason to stay with them. But you must remind them that you are not completely responsible for them, and they should seek therapy or medical help for these problems.
Anonymous
March 12th, 2019 3:25am
Unless it is affecting your mental health and awareness. My partner suffers mental illness, it is often difficult but my support helps him through it. It may also depend on the situation. If you love someone you are technically saying you love ALL of them as well. It is very tough to decide as it all depends on your happiness as well. Communication is key as well. If their actions are affecting you, try to speak to them about it. It will help both of you grow together. Hopefully whatever the situation is, that it works out for the best.
Anonymous
April 24th, 2020 3:39pm
As someone who doesn't always have the best mental health, the immediate answer doesn't have to be to break up. Try and see how you can best support this partner, and see if they are seeking treatment/doing something productive about it. You are not responsible for anyone's happiness except your own, so it is important to consider how much of you this takes to help them through. If this becomes more problematic, or you feel drained from having to help/support them it may be time to reevaluate your relationship with them.
Fradiga
October 5th, 2020 4:07pm
This decision depends on your own mental health, somewhere. Some people with mental health issues may otherwise be very good inside the relationship you have with them. However, if their mental health affects your relationship, you will need some tools in order to navigate that relationship to the best, both for you and that person. If you are in love, there is probably not much you cannot handle, but once your love life settles, there can be issues which become harder to handle then. It is worth trying, I think, because... even if the relationship ends up failing, you will have learned a lot along the way.