I have been crazy about someone before. Does that count?

Since I believe most people suffer from mental illness...at least at one point in their life...yes! I have fought depression for over half my life. I have recently started fighting anxiety. I still have a full life. I still have the capacity to love and be loved. I have amassed amazing coping skills.

What is 'real love'?

Mental illness as a whole, without discerning anything more specific is too broad a generalization. I have mental illnesses. I have medications which greatly improve my quality of life. I'm quite capable of love.

This is a question not easily answered. It depends on the condition and the persons willingness to accept that it is an illness and compliance with treatment.
Also depends on you and your patience and understanding.

Oh, this post really fires me up. It is absolutely NOT a deal breaker!! There are MANY degrees to mental illness -- true, someone who's severe may not be a good candidate. But to lump ALL mentally ill people together and assume they can't be in a full loving relationship is misguided and archaic.

Never. Relationships take work. If the person is a great match then the relationship can work.

EDIT: I realize there were multiple questions asked. Yes love is possible. No, mental illness is never a deal breaker.

Not a deal breaker.. but i guess the simplest answer is.. it depends.

I'm not sure I know too many people who have zero mental illness so the short answer is yes. But it also depends upon the type and the intensity. Some people just don't have it in their capability to be there for somebody else, though they can become vulnerably dependent, so that's something.

I was told many years ago that all people fall within the range of 1-10 that exists to measure each known psychiatric illness.
So let him or her outside of the range cast the first stone.

Real love would be someone who stands by a partner with mental illness, through the good times and the bad.

Depends on the people involved, what type of mental illness, what's the trend of the illness is it getting worse? Lots of variables!

Maybe the severity of the illness could be a deal breaker. I have met several people with bi-polar disorder who manage it well with meds and therapy and they have intimate relationships.

If someone is verbally abusive stay the hell away! That's the main sign that there only gonna make your life hell but I think talking and dating someone for a good while before you start having sex is the best way to determine if you match even if one of you deals with some form of mental illness

depends on degree of mental illness

Yes. It is possible. Although, like many other emotions love is felt at extreme levels. Passion is intense. As long as that person is aware and working on managing emotions it can be wonderful. Just like everyone else has ups and downs a person with illness just has higher ups and much lower downs.

So many people deal with some form of mental illness . Saying that if the person is not abusive physical, or mental I say why not. But if their mental illness is something the discussed daily and they aren't seeking some path to help them then no.

Depends takes I strong person my wife soon be exwife waiting on Divorce paperwork. Has many mental illnesses as such as Schizoaffective disorder. We were together 8 years. With little ups and Downs but some how this disorder turned her against me and it was to much on all my mental health as well as hers so. It depends. We tried meds(her body doesnt digest them much like Jerry hormones. So there were many factors but I still believe it can be done with trust and openness

I think there is someone for sombody... no matter how unusual they may be or what wavelength they may be on. We are a rather varied species... where no two people are exactly alike. Its all a matter of finding your balance or your compliment... or in some cases your accomplice? All thats required is an open mind and a somewhat positive attitude. A sense of humor is also a plus.

Kinda vague question. Some might work some might not, but they are probably going to be in for a bumpy ride!

My mother's first husband tried to kill her with a pitchfork in their living room. I owe my existence to his inaccuracy with his choice of weapon. Her local church congregation treated her as an outcast because she divorced him. She had a young daughter to protect as well as herself. What was she supposed to do? She met my father and emigrated to New Zealand with him and my sister (probably to escape the misery). My father can be grumpy, unreasonable and contrary but he is also caring and gentle. Despite his faults, my parents have been married for 58 years. My 80yo mother is currently working herself to exhaustion to care for him as he is incapacitated with poor health and dementia. They are facing the reality of their need to go into an assisted-care residence but they'll be together until the end of their days. To me, that is real love and commitment.

Is risky sadly