I have PTSD, and my husband was married before to a woman who had another mental illness, but the big difference between how his first wife handled her illness and the way I do is this: When I am feeling bad, when I think my meds need adjusting, the second I feel depressed to the point where I know that I can't do this by myself, I call for help. I call the doctor and make an appointment for as soon as possible, I call my husband home from work if necessary, I call a hotline for help, I call my friends and ask them to watch me. My husband's first wife did not want help; she was put in the state hospital against her will and refused to cooperate, she took no responsibility for her behavior but instead blamed my husband for all the problems, she refused to participate in the in-patient course her employer provided for mental illness, and simply shut my husband out. They lived like roommates.
He loved her and he stayed by her for 3 more years, but she refused his help, anyone's help.
I struggle with PTSD, but I am constantly trying to get better, and I am responsible for my actions. I want to stay married to the man I love, and so I am motivated to go to therapy, get medicated if necessary, and otherwise do everything I can to be as healthy as possible with this illness.