Bipolar Support Group

For several years I have had a hard time making friends because of my behavior during mixed manic episodes that came one after another for years. The few friends I have been able to keep have recently broke of the friendship or seem distant because of my long-term depression and many cancellations for get togethers. I just can't go out when I'm really depressed. Now I feel like I have no good friend and just a couple of nice online friends that have bipolar disorder (the other friends don't have bp). Luckily my husband has been with me through thick and thin and still seems to love me equally.

Does anyone else have these problems?

I am scared at the thought of having to start over and make new friends once I'm well. In the meantime it will be me, my pet bird, my husband, and some of my family (other family members aren't too friendly with me).

Im in the same way as you, excepted I'm not married, but single. I ised to have friends but they slowly left me cause of my switching moods, they didnt how to "handle" me. I used to have a best friend, but she as well left, it's hard. And now I'm scared too to make new freinds, and I dont even now how to make friends.

I feel Like I have been stabbed by people I trusted, because i recognize it's my own fault , because of my switching mood , depression...

If you went to treatment and took your meds, explained the situation and apologized, any good friend would have been there for you. Its not a good friend who leaves your side when you are sick. I have found that older adults are more mature and understanding. If you are dealing with people who don't have bp who are in their 20's or so they just don't understand. Its happened to me. My whole thing is if you don't like me I don't care, its your problem not mine.

I am the most unreliable person you will ever meet. I will make plans and then cancel at the eleventh hour. I constantly change my mind. It's no way to treat your family or much less make/keep friends. I have one friend that I can talk to about my bp, but she admits she just doesn't understand. I have another "friend" that is a friend as long as I'm in an "up" mood. She doesn't have the capacity to understand. My family stands by me, but I know how frustrated they get with me. My husband is the one I really feel bad for... he has to put up with this (among other things) all the time.

I understand exactly.what you are saying. I've had similar experiences. You can make new friends and if you explain your.possible behavior to them before hand, they may be more likely to stay with you.

I have a very very good friend. She has been with me through everything. When I finally got dx with Bipolar she looked at me and said well I already knew that. She said I have another friend who has it and I could tell. She also said I wasn't going to tell you because I knew it would make you mad and you wouldn't beleive me anyway so I just waited until your dr gave you confirmation which I knew he was going to cuz I knew who you seeing. I was very lucky. She knows when I'm up and when I'm down. She ignores it until I'm back on track and I always apolize and she just smiles and says I still love you and it wasn't you talking so we are fine. But other than her I've lost all my other "so called friends" Those who walk away aren't true friends anyway. When you find new friends after a short amount of time explain it to them but tell them it is something you have not who you are. Give them something that they can read about or just tell them how things can get sometimes. It works and if it doesn't then they don't want a true friendship.

Finding true friends in life is hard. They will love you unconditionally and be there for you. When you get better maybe you can reignite your old friendships, just know that the didn't stick by you through the tough times. Making new ones would be a great thing to do. When you are feeling better it's easier. You are very lucky to have your husband. He loves you a lot I can tell. Don't give up on friendships, there are a lot of good people out there. I've let many of mine go from depression and not doing things with them. You aren't alone in this. I hope you feel better very soon. Hang in there.