My story is like the other stories here in many ways, but with some unique swists.

I broke up with my ex 5 days ago.

I met him 3 years ago. Enjoyed his company. Always laughing and fun to be with. We remained friends for the next two years. Sometimes I wouldn't hear from him for a month or two..but..that's friends. He is an insulin dependent diabetic.

Last year when it was clear his divorce was coming to the final end..we started dating. We had a wonderful time! Drove to Florida and back.. laughing and talking the whole way.

We moved in together in December and prepared to go to Florida for the winter. There were always flowers and flattery. He was truely the nicest, sweetest man I had ever been involved with.

In early January (as we were preparing to leave) he had a stroke! He was rushed to the hospital where he was given the drug that breaks up clots. The damage from the stroke was very minor. It was a little stroke. BUT..then he refused to allow the doctors to do the critical procedures to make sure that there were no more clots. He refused the drugs to thin his blood and prevent clots. He was acting out wildly! Screaming wildly. Just crazy! Two days past with him totally crazy. Then the hospital declared him incompetent..so that they could force medical treatment on him. Sometime during those 2 days of craziness he had a major stroke... the damage was now much more profound. He was put on drugs against his will and tied down in ICU. I didn't understand that it was him.. I honestly thought the hospital people were just nuts to be doing this to him! I fought to get him out and into a good rehab (the hospital was going to transfer him into a lock-down unit).

He transfered into rehab. He was friendly enough..but..just wouldn't stop talking and DO the work the physical therapists wanted. He was labeled uncooperative. He would spend an entire hour of therapy talking... I would have to get mad at him and tell him to shut up and stand up. He was in the rehab for only 3 weeks. They said that they couldn't justify keeping him because he wasn't making progress. I learned to walk with him and steady him. Go myself certified by physical therapy to handle him independently.

He was out just one week... then hit by a car! He was in the passenger seat, I was driving. Impact was on the passenger side. He broke his neck! Rushed into surgery where he got an aldontiod screw. (they screwed his neck back together).
Within a day after surgery he was fighting with the hospital staff again. Screaming obscene language, etc. I was so angry..and starting to get the idea that this was not the hospital's fault.

He checked himself out of the hospital against doctor's orders. He insisted that he had to get out...I helped him. (wish I hadn't). I didn't know it at the time, but he started reducing his meds at this point. Over the next month there were a few major blow-ups. Screaming at me..calling me filthy names, etc. This was always followed by tears, begging, and gifts. Flowers and flattery.

I worked at getting him into outpatient therapy. He was still not steady on his feet..cannot drive or read (vision impacted...cannot see anything on his right side), right-side neglect. (meaning his brain doesn't pay attention to the right side of the world). He improved steadily...however, so did the cycle of Bi-polar highs and lows. He told me he was diagnosed bi-polar...but...he was 'high' function.. only needed to talk each week with a therapist. Meanwhile, he was still dropping his med intake.

I talked with his therapist, he really didn't shed light on what was coming my way. I don't think he was up and up with me about what it really means to be involved with a bi-polar.

As the months when by.. he required more and more of my time and energy. Screaming at me when I didn't wait hand and foot on him 24/7. I called off the relationship so many times. Kept coming back because he was helpless. He got dropped from outpatient therapy because he was "not cooperative".

About in July he started belittling me and humiliating me in public. We had fights just about every week. I warned him repeatedly that I wouldn't let him do this to me....but... I kept coming back. I couldn't stand the idea that he was helpless. Now..during this whole time he had a series of home-health aides ..all of which quit or were fired in nasty scenes. I had to step in quickly into scenes in public where is was lashing out at someone who was only trying to help him. I told him time and again..he is out of control and needs to be on the meds....he refused to talk about that. It was not his fault..everyone else was stupid and/or nuts and trying to make it look like it was all him. I was the crazy one and needed help. I heard this story time and again. This was always followed by tears and begging.. don't leave me... don't give up on me..I need you.

Two weeks ago he did it to me again in public..this time at a rent-a-car. I walked out. Told him I would never be in a position where he could do that to me again. I had agreed to drive a rent-a-truck to Florida with his furniture. I know that the house he has there is a safe place for him..he needs to be there to be independent...so I agreed to do that for him. On the way down...I got a call... I was informed that he was suing me for a very large amount of money because of the car accident. HE WAS SUING ME!

I put it straight to him... then he started screaming and calling me names. Tried to jump out of the truck while it was moving! I barely got into a service area before he leaps out (interesting how easily he can move when he wants to!)..and making the most wild scene. Hitting himself on the head..and acting like he is going to beat a parked car with his cane. I warned him that I would have to call the police if he didn't calm down. That sobered him up. He knows what happens if he is in the hospital again without someone to fight to get him out. He took off into the trees. I called his cousin in Florida to ask for his brothers phone number..I needed a family member to help me out. She told me that she didn't want to be involved any more with him. No contact, no calls, nothing. That I should please understand, the family has been in this for years and had enough.
After a long period of time.. I got him into the truck by promising that I wouldn't say another word.

On the final leg of the journey down, his brother called him..told him that he wanted no more contact with him .. done..finished. His brother told him, if he could sue me after all I had done for him..then no one was safe from him. He then screamed at me that I made the family think he was crazy when it was really me that was nuts. He then started throwing $100. bills out the window! On interstate I95! (somewhere just south of Port St. Lucie there is about $2000. along the roadway... only been there since Sept. 23rd).

I finally pulled into the driveway at his house in Florida. Told him then..I was leaving right away. He started screaming at me..I couldn't leave him like this. He was helpless... what a monster I was to leave a helpless man..etc. He refused to let me get my suitcase from the truck....until I once again threatened to call the police and they would get it for me. I got my luggage and walked away. Walked 4 blocks to the gas station and called a cab.

I haven't taken any phone calls, and will not.

I am SO DONE.

I am being sued...so I will probably have to see him in a court room in a few months. I hope he is stupid enough to put on a performance for the Judge.

I had to shorten this story.. just not enough room and time to write about every manic phase. Psychosis was the 'hallmark' of his manic phases. He would get an idea in his head and NOTHING could convince him he was wrong. He believed that it was ok to hurt other people if it resulted in a benefit to him. The family was right about that...he was screaming about how he was going to sue all of them.

I wish I had been told the complete story of what I was likely getting into. I think his therapist did me a GREAT disservice.

Finally, I knew he was too far out there for me..and my own safety and sanity was on the line.