Bipolar Type II Support Group

Does anyone put on a fake face for family and friends? I feel like I have to do it all the time. Sometimes I don't even want to be around anyone is anyone else like this?

Not really fake smile but sometimes better than I really feel. Then I am upset that they don't know how I feel. Not fair to them, I know. But that is around people in general, not only family and friends. And sometimes being with certain friends does improve my mood so the expression is more real.

It seems like when I'm feeling bad and I put on that fake face and smile it just makes it worse especialy when I'm around friends and family I just want to scream how I feel and hope it would make me feel better it would probally make them feel bad I would hope so they could see what I'm really feeling

I feel the same way you're not alone

I do that at work and with some more superficial friends. When I feel like I am going to be a downer then I just don't get together with people--family included.

I'm the same way...if I'm feeling especially agitated, I don't like to be around people much.

I have different masks for different events/places/people. I think we all have masks not just people with a mood disorder. In this respect we are not much different than everyone else, I think we are just more aware than the rest of the population.