Hi, I've just come out of a one and a half year relationship?(if you can call it that, the only person michael was having a relationship was himself- and that was suggested by a male friend of his). Other comments were made about him by his so called close friends such as " He would start a fight in an empty house". They all warned me not to get dragged into his world and that he had mental probs. It was a rollercoaster nightmare. I helped him get his disability benefits, allowed him to live with me through his 6 or longer week depressions and remain in bed, doing absolutely nothing for himself. His volatility, nastiness, selfishness, moodswings, drinking and not taking medication was too much and I forced him to move out. He was dangerous in company would start fights and sustained injuries-for which he is now expecting financial claims. He is on a manic/high phase at the moment and Sept/oct is when he normally takes to bed. He threw a full pint of beer over me on Fri night and walked off shouting obsenities leaving me in the middle of a desserted docklands area in belfast, then stalked my apartment to see if I was home and sent nasty messages- after assaulting me.That was the end- I burned my mobile phone sim card and don't intend to ever look back. Michael would buy presents for me and others, threatre tickets ect, I just saw them as poor compensation for the lack of love and affection and poor treatment of me. When he's high, he believes he is well and will not entertain the idea of taking medication, the doctor has him diagnosed as mildly bipolar?. I can tell you that that is very far from the truth. I had phoned the doctor before and he did'nt want to know and was extremely rude, he said that michael would manipulate me and anyone around him to get what he wanted. Yes that is the case, I found that out to my cost. He was an emotional bully and started bullying and disrespecting me and my friends and trying in subtle ways to control me. As soon as any form of violence comes into the equation- no matter what you have to plan to get away from that person-you have to show them that you are not going to take it- this may be the catalist for their own personal change. Thank god I was'nt tied to michael- no kids e.t.c and can cut all ties. Don't waste your life on someone who will not help themselves, they have a big learning curve to go through and more often than not they have to reach rock bottom before they can even begin to approach it. In terms of relationships I have reached my rock bottom and things can only get better. My advice don't allow them to treat you like a doormat- whether they are bipolar or not- you deserve quality of life don't suffer please - get out. xo take care