Hyperpatient

Patience is a virtue, but those who are hyperpatient or hypertolerant risk inviting abusers to treat them like a doormat.

Other women will find some of the behaviors of mentally ill men similar to those of emotional predators, emotionally unavailable men, addicts, or abusive/violent men they may have dated. These are men who could be diagnosed with a pathological disorder such as antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder, or with a chronic disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder (perhaps related to combat). […] Women who are drawn to these types of men are often women who are themselves thrill seekers, who prefer a high-speed and exciting life, who like the dramatic ups and downs that "keep life interesting," who have a little "edge" to them, or who have their own histories of crime, addiction, or mental-health issues. On the other hand, it isn't totally unusual to find mild-mannered—even passive—women who like these particular "bad boyz." Perhaps it is their way of "taking a walk on the wild side." Looking at your patterns—and determining whether one or both of the adults who raised you were mentally ill—may help you see which type of mentally ill man you are likely to select in the future or have selected in the past. The bottom line is that a mentally ill man must find women who will disregard his disruptive and sometimes pathological behaviors and erratic lifestyle. He needs a woman who is hyperpatient or hypertolerant and who is willing to forego normalcy for him. Alternatively, he will find women who like the chaos and instability wrought by mental illness.