Do you think it is possible to love somebody better?

I am thinking more along the lines of mental illnesses, like bipolar or depression. More importantly if they suffered an abused or disturbed childhood. Do you think loving them regardless of their behaviour could in fact help them to stabilize? I in the past have used tough love on a certain family member with very bad results. I myself have personal issues and am finding being loved is really helping me. Even when my behaviour is not so good. I know this is truly a converse of today’s thinking. Which is more the ‘Kick them out let them starve’ kind of slant to things.

I am not talking about removing medications or anything like that.

I started to think about this a while ago when I met a woman whose husband had suffered a very bad childhood and he was filled with rages. She let him rage on, she said for around 6 months. Now he is passive and not at all angry with the world. His behaviour has changed totally.

What do you think?