When Do You Discuss Mental Illness During Dating?

Dating is tough. It’s hard to find someone you click with, but it is even harder when you have an illness. A mental illness. And online dating? Well, that brings up its own set of difficulties because when you meet someone online you aren’t really talking to them. They are not able to see you or your personality. And I am not my illness. It is a part of me, but there is a whole lot more to me as a person. So, how and when do you talk about your mental illness: before the first date or after your second? Perhaps you even wait for a third? It depends. But me? I tend to bring it up in the first conversation. I don’t like to hide things and I like everything to be in the open. I know my approach is not for everyone. It can be scary and intimidating. But as someone that is very open and honest about my illness, I feel it is imperative to bring it up right away. I am an advocate; in fact, my dating profiles mention I am an advocate. But still it can be a tough subject to broach. I really can’t just blurt it out from nowhere. What part of the conversation on a date provides an opening to bring this sort of thing up? Of course, I don’t get a lot of answers back after mentioning it, especially when I explain that I have bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, and depression. I am dead in the water most of the time. I don’t get a whole lot of first dates. So, how do you bring up your mental illness? When do you bring up your mental illness? On day one. In the first conversat...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Mental Health America Personal Publishers Relationships Dating Mental Illness Online Dating Source Type: blogs