Marriages and family life are typically filled with joys and tribulations, whether or not someone has an affective illness. Problems in your relationship may or may not be a result of the other person's illness. Either you or the other person can be insensitive, excited, rude, or engaging at any time, regardless of who is ill. The illness is something that happened to the person who has it. It is not the person.
Affective illness can vary in severity and in their effect on a person.
These illnesses can certainly, by definition, alter behavior. But stress at work, disappointment, family problems, or money worries can also alter behavior. We all have troubles, and when trouble threatens, we all need patience from people who love us. For people with affective illnesses, the illnesses are their trouble, at least for the moment. We hope that they will, in turn, put up with our troubles.