Dear Annie: I live with bipolar disorder, which I was first diagnosed with in the early 1990s. My husband and I came together after my diagnosis, and he has been my biggest support through everything: navigating different providers , raising my children (not his) who also had their challenges and helping me stay stable.

There were difficult times when I felt guilty about the impact my illness had on him. He didn’t commit to this life, but he had to watch me struggle through hospitalizations, legal issues during severe psychotic episodes, and multiple diagnoses before finding the right one.

I’m doing my best to manage my illness: continuing to take my medications, working with my mental health team, and attending support groups. But recently I had a stroke that worsened my symptoms and led to another hospitalization earlier this year. It put a strain on our marriage on every level: physically, emotionally, financially and socially.

Without support systems like my providers, medications, and groups like NAMI, we may not have succeeded. I know my husband needs time and space for himself too. No one can be everything to anyone and I do my best to let him know how much I appreciate his love and support.

How can I make sure my husband feels supported and cared for in our marriage while I continue to manage my illness? How can we keep our relationship strong despite these ongoing challenges? — Want to do more

Dear wish: You are already doing exactly what you need to do. Your letter is filled with gratitude and love for your husband, and it’s one of the best ways to make someone feel appreciated, cared for, and seen.

Thank you for sharing your story; it’s both heartfelt and inspiring. I hope this will remind others in similar situations that they can lean on their loved ones and that there is hope and help on the other side of difficult times.

Send your questions to Annie Lane at [email protected].