Can living with someone who has depression or is bipolar cause you to be as well

i don't think it could cause YOU to develop bipolarity. Depression, yes. It's too hard to not react to a grown up acting like they want to die or throwing unreasonable tantrums. My boyfriend's symptoms manifest more severely in the winter and it's pretty difficult. Sometimes I don't even want to be at home. I don't like to feel as if i'm walking on eggshells, but everything sets him off. So, of course it affects the person who is not bipolar--how could it not?

you cannot get or give bi polar... its ac anctual physical illness.. my guess if ur moods are so much like that and so is ur sleep.. then u need to be re evaluated.... as those are signs of active bi polar... good luck

No. It depends on the strength of a mind of a person. If that is the case, all doctors in mental hospital would have become some sort of psychiatric patients. EVeryone has objectives in the life. When you meet a depressed person, may be your talk with him can be a single major responsible point in improving his condition.

You are crying a lot and sleeping a lot due to the extra stress of having a relationship with someone with bipolar. I grew up with my father and my sister in the same household having bipolar. I had to walk on double the eggshells! And I was diagnosed with depression, but as long as you realize that the bipolar person you are living with isn't always speaking their right mind then you have a chance of making it through without being bipolar as well. Being bi polar also comes from your personal family backround so if you dont have any family members who are bipolar then you have a far less chance of getting it too. But depression may be something that you have to get through sounds like since depression comes from stress and stress comes from depression. Good luck to you and your hubby, keep your head up.

No and where did you get this doctor? My son is bipolar and his wife copes very well she wouldnt think of having the ups and downs he has and he never showed it as a kid and hasnt been on any meds for years so am thinking the doctors were wrong and he never was bipolar he just went into a slump a few years back and drank alot and got down from bills and things but he pulled out of it and is doing well now.

I believe that a person living with someone who has depression or bipolar alone won't cause them to become the same. However, I believe that if a person is empathic and feeds off the positive or negative energy off other people, they can suffer the same effects or symptoms when a person who actually has depression who bipolar experiences it. If the person's depression and bipolar tendencies are that bad that may cause an insecure and uncomfortable living space for an extended period of time, then I believe one could become as such. For myself, I live with my girlfriend who is bipolar as well as depressed. She is naturally depressed due to a chemical imbalance. I also suffer from bipolar tendencies and depression however I've helped myself rid or at least lessen the problem and so I do not really suffer from them all that much or even that often anymore. However when my girlfriend isn't in a good mood or in other words is suffering the depression, I too feel depressed. I'm not sure if it's really saying much since I have an emotional attachment to her but I'm not sure what the ratio is of empathic to not empathic people there are. I'm sure everyone is to some degree empathic so I don't think if two people in the same room and one is depressed, the other can just go about their business and not even notice.

sure..no doubt at all.... it must affect..

I worked with a woman who was bipolar and it was very hard to do somedays. So if its hard to deal with someone at work with this condition I certainly think its hard to do at home. Extremely hard.People who have this condition I believe should be on medication.

Bipolar is NOT contagious.

Yes it may be since ur mind reacts to his but it could also be the fact that u are bipolar anmd the surroundings and circumstances has put u in such situations in the past

I think it is like this in most cases. If the person you are with all the time is happy all the time, it tends to make you feel happy, too. We all play off the feelings of the person we are with. If my husband is depressed or angry I feel that way to some extent. I think that if you try to channel more happy thoughts it does help. But, I think that your doctor has a point, especially if you have had previous problems with this type of behavior. I would look into it more, I am sure there are websites and discussion forums on the internet that you could look into for some help. Good luck!

It is better to know about the disorder before you take care of the person who has it so that you won't get affected on hi/her behavior and be more helpful to the person with the disorder.

If you have the knowledge before the marriage then it's your responsibility to handle things. You must have the patience and courage to take care of your partner. That's why during courtship you have the stage of get to know more of your partner so you will know everything about her being and accepting the truth.

My husband has bipolor I dont feel that being with him would cause me to become bipolor, however if you are living with someone who suffers from depression that can rub off on you. It is contagious just like a smile is. And think about it you are watching someone you love go through pain and hurt that you can not help them with that alone is enough to cause you to be depressed that is not including the symptoms that you have to deal with on a daily basis from the depression that your spouse is going through. I wish you the best of luck and I hope everything gets better for you and your family