Oh yeah, I'd say so anyway. I'm very people-avoidant when I'm depressed, that's for sure. Sometimes it's intentional -- I know I'm excruitiating to be around and don't really feel like it anyway. Sometimes I'm just so out of it, buried in my own head that I'm not even doing it consciously. So it can be either intentional or unintentional.

When hypomanic, I can get *very* sociable, a flippin' laugh a minute and will talk anyone's ear off, even people I don't like(!) but not always. Somtimes I am very wired and am just too self-conscious of my, well, it's almost like vibrating(!) and get hinky about being around people then (I didn't go out last night for this very reason). Or if I'm up but super irritable, I try to self-quarantine for everyone's sake--theirs and mine. But sometimes one must be out. If that's the combo, then I am one helluva snarky ***** and am very likely to say JUST what I'm thinking. And loudly. It's pretty bad. I'm like the little dog who doesn't even stop to think they couldn't take that big dog on, you know? And have. (If you saw me, you'd laugh, but I refer to that mode as my "inner wolverine".) It's a wonder I haven't gotten myself into a whole lot more trouble at those times.

BUT. There are also a lot of times when I'm pretty normal, or not hugely depressed or hypomanic in a bad way. Then I'll get back on track with people, just kind of picking up where we left off. Often as if nothing happened in between. Sometimes these are long stretches, it just depends what's happening mood-wise, combined with the usual challenges everyone has with coordinating schedules and timing.

If I had to explain why, I'd say I tend to insulate when I really really don't want to explain myself. It just makes me hugely uncomfortable. (It's also why I've always managed to make it into work, even when I'm feeling pretty useless -- I just don't want to have to explain myself, and the horror of the thought drags me in there.)

Hope that helps!