This was a response to a post on my friend CJ's blog. The post was rather personal so I'm not going to provide a linkback.
The last five years of my marriage were impossible. I could do nothing right. My ex husband's pet names for me became "dumb cunt" and "stupid bitch." I actually get along with the man well enough now which is good for family solidarity and less stressful on our son, but those times were horrible. Once I said in frustration "what do you want from me? I'm trying my damndest to be a better person! I don't do drugs any more and I've cut way down on drinking." He sneered at me "well, instead of trying to be a better person, why don't you instead try not to be so damn FORGETFUL?"
I didn't know it at the time, but asking someone who's bipolar not to be forgetful is like asking a shark to become a vegetarian.It seems to me like this woman is impossible to please. I don't want to purport to offer advice exactly, but it's very distressing to be with such an inflexible person.
